What should Oregon Ducks expect from Indiana offense in rematch?

5 days ago 2

It's been almost three months since the Oregon Ducks dropped their only game of the season, a 30-20 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in Autzen Stadium early in October. Since that day, Oregon fans have largely shared the same sentiment: let us play Indiana again.

Well, they finally have their chance. The Ducks and Hoosiers will meet for a highly anticipated rematch on Friday night, this time in the College Football Playoff semifinals with a trip to the national championship on the line. The game will be played at the Peach Bowl down in Atlanta, and it will offer an opportunity for Dan Lanning and his team to avenge their only loss of the year and get to the game that they've had circled all season long.

After dominating the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl last week, 23-0, Oregon is riding high, feeling like one of the best teams in the nation. However, they have seen first-hand how good the Hoosiers are, and know that winning another game is not going to be easy.

Both Indiana's offense and defense are among the best in the nation, and they are one of the best-coached teams left standing.

So what can we expect to see from this Texas Tech team, and in particular, what type of challenges will they present? Let's dive in.

What do the Indiana Hoosiers do well on offense?

If you're searching for a balanced offense that can beat you at every single level, then look no further than the Hoosiers. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, Indiana has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, capable of dominating at the line of scrimmage, in the running game, and through the air.

Mendoza has established himself as one of the best passers in the nation, running a dynamic RPO-heavy offense that gives him full control, either handing the ball off to a dangerous duo in Roman Hemby or Kaelon Black, or distributing it to the likes of Elijah Sarratt or Omar Cooper Jr. through the air. If that's not enough, Mendoza is also a dynamic runner, as well, and while he's less likely to out-run a defense entirely, his decision-making when scrambling and ability to pick up meaningful yards has served as a back-breaker for many defenses this year, Oregon included.

In the Ducks' first game vs. Indiana this year, it was this balance that ended up hurting Oregon the most. The Hoosiers threw for 215 yards and rushed for 111 more, keeping the Ducks spread out across the field.

Who are the top players to know about?

QB Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza has the entire package as a quarterback: size (6 feet, 5 inches, 225 pounds), arm strength, accuracy and much-improved decision-making. He's also deceivingly mobile, using his long legs to escape the pocket and pick up speed. His play in 2025 has led to his draft stock soaring; he's considered by many to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

WR Elijah Sarratt

Standing 6 feet, 2 inches and weighing 229 pounds, Sarratt is a reliable receiver on the outside and one that is dangerous after the catch. He's physical at the point of attack, coming down with the ball thanks to exceptional hand strength and body control. Though Cooper has more receiving yards and is arguably more dynamic, Sarratt is Mendoza's go-to target in critical moments.

RB Roman Hemby

In his first year with Indiana after transferring from Maryland, Hemby has been great for the Hoosiers, rushing for 1,007 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 160 yards receiving as well. Hemby serves as a great 1-2 punch with Kaelon Black, who also has 898 yards and eight touchdowns this year.

Are the Oregon Ducks built to stop Indiana?

Looking back at that Week 7 game in Autzen Stadium, the Ducks' defense actually did a pretty good job of slowing down Indiana's offense. The Hoosiers only had 326 total yards, and Oregon was able to get a pick-six from Brandon Finney Jr. off of Fernando Mendoza in the fourth quarter. The Ducks' defense wasn't the issue in this game, and before a pair of late-game interceptions, Oregon had held Indiana's No. 4-ranked scoring offense to just 20 points. If they can do that again, it could potentially be a different story for the Ducks, but that all depends on how Oregon's offense comes to play.

What should we expect on Friday?

I expect a really competitive game, just for starters. I think these are the two best teams left in the playoff, and if it plays out anything like what we saw in October, then we could have a classic on our hands. Indiana is a more polished team than a couple of months ago, and they are playing with all of the confidence in the world. The key for the Ducks will be to find success defensively on early downs, keep Mendoza out of 3rd-and-short situations where the entire playbook opens up to him, and continue to cover well downfield. As with most games, this could very well come down to who turns the ball over and who converts their third downs, sustaining drives.

Either way, I don't see a blowout happening. This feels like a close game that ends up somewhere in the mid-20s as far as scoring goes.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What the Oregon Ducks should expect of Indiana Hoosiers' offense

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