Behind a composed performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a relentless defensive effort, No. 7 Indiana stunned No. 3 Oregon 30–20 on Saturday night at Autzen Stadium, snapping the Ducks’ 18-game home winning streak — the longest active streak in the nation.
Mendoza threw for 215 yards and a key fourth-quarter touchdown as the Hoosiers (6–0, 3–0 Big Ten) handed Oregon (5–1, 2–1) its first Big Ten regular-season loss and notched Indiana’s first win over a top-five opponent since defeating then-No. 3 Purdue 19–14 in 1967.
Running back Roman Hemby powered the Hoosiers’ ground attack with two touchdown runs, while kicker Brendan Franke booted three field goals — including a 58-yarder to end the first half — to help seal the landmark victory.
“This was a hard-fought, disciplined win,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said afterward. “We’ve got a mature football team that believes it can compete with anyone.”
Oregon started fast, but Indiana’s defense set the tone early. After the Ducks failed on a fourth-and-1 on the opening drive, the Hoosiers capitalized with a 42-yard Nico Radicic field goal. Oregon answered when Dante Moore hit Malik Benson for a 44-yard touchdown strike, but Hemby’s 3-yard run put Indiana back in front 10–7 before the end of the first quarter.
The teams traded field goals in the second quarter. Oregon’s Atticus Sappington tied the score at 10, but a missed 36-yard attempt later in the period proved costly. Franke’s booming 58-yarder as time expired gave Indiana a 13–10 halftime lead.
After another Sappington field goal tied the game early in the third, Hemby capped a physical Indiana drive with a 2-yard score to make it 20–13 heading into the fourth quarter.
Oregon appeared to seize momentum early in the final period when defensive back Brandon Finney intercepted Mendoza and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, tying the game 20–20 with 12:42 left.
But Mendoza responded like a veteran, leading a 75-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt — the play that gave Indiana the lead for good with 6:23 remaining.
The Hoosier defense took over from there. On Oregon’s next possession, Louis Moore picked off Dante Moore — one of two interceptions on the night for the Ducks’ quarterback, who was also sacked six times. Franke’s 22-yard field goal with 2:06 left pushed Indiana’s lead to the final 30–20 margin.
“We just couldn’t finish,” said Oregon head coach Dan Lanning. “Credit to Indiana — they made the big plays when it mattered most. This is a learning opportunity for us.”
The win capped a remarkable night for an Indiana program that continues to rise under Cignetti’s direction. The Hoosiers’ defense limited Oregon’s high-powered offense to just 317 total yards — nearly 150 below its season average — and dominated the line of scrimmage.
“It means a lot to our fans and the guys in that locker room,” Cignetti said. “But we’re focused on what’s next. We’ve got a long season ahead.”
The victory not only keeps Indiana in the thick of the Big Ten title race but also positions the Hoosiers firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Oregon, meanwhile, will likely fall from the top five but remains very much alive in both the conference and national picture.
Indiana (6–0, 3–0 Big Ten): Hosts Michigan State next Saturday in Bloomington. Oregon (5–1, 2–1 Big Ten): Travels east to face Rutgers next Saturday in Piscataway.
With Saturday’s upset, Indiana not only announced itself as a legitimate Big Ten contender — it made history in the process, toppling one of college football’s most formidable home-field dynasties.
