Oregon suffers first loss of season to Indiana 30-20

 

EUGENE, Ore. — Indiana came to Eugene with belief. Oregon left with questions.

Behind a punishing defense, efficient play from quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and a pair of bruising touchdowns from Roman Hemby, No. 7 Indiana stunned No. 3 Oregon 30–20 on Saturday afternoon, handing the Ducks their first home loss in nearly three seasons and planting the Hoosiers squarely in the Big Ten title conversation.

It was a game that echoed history — twenty-one years after Indiana last upset Oregon in Autzen Stadium — but this time, it felt like more than déjà vu. This was validation for Curt Cignetti’s rising program.

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A Sluggish Start and Missed Chances

Oregon’s night began with the sound of pads popping — unfortunately, it was their own quarterback on the turf. Indiana, which entered allowing just 9.6 points per game, sacked Dante Moore on the opening snap and quickly set the tone.

Moments later, Oregon failed to convert on a fourth-and-short near midfield, giving Indiana a short field and an early 3–0 lead on a 43-yard field goal.

Moore briefly answered with a spark — a 44-yard touchdown to Malik Benson midway through the first quarter — but it was one of the few clean pockets he’d see all day. From there, the Hoosiers’ front seven swarmed.

Linebackers Aiden Fisher and Rolijah Hardy led a relentless assault, combining for 26 tackles and 2½ sacks as Indiana held Oregon to just 81 rushing yards on 30 carries.

Oregon tied the game 10–10 with an Atticus Sappington field goal midway through the second quarter but missed a 36-yarder just before halftime. Indiana’s Nicolas Radicic made them pay, drilling a 58-yard field goal as time expired to give the Hoosiers a 13–10 halftime lead.

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A Defensive Duel Turns Personal

The second half opened like a chess match. Oregon’s defense, keyed by A’Mauri Washington and Bryce Boettcher, forced an early three-and-out, then flipped field position with a punt downed at the Indiana 2-yard line.

But the Ducks couldn’t cash in. A short drive stalled again, yielding a 30-yard field goal to tie the game 13–13 midway through the third.

Indiana answered methodically. Hemby finished a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to restore a 20–13 lead late in the third quarter — the kind of possession that sapped energy from Oregon’s defense and life from the stadium.

By then, the Ducks’ offense looked out of sync. They were just 3 of 12 on third down and had allowed four sacks. Still, Autzen found life early in the fourth quarter when cornerback Brandon Finney jumped a crossing route, intercepting Mendoza and returning it 45 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 20–20.

The roar was deafening. For a fleeting moment, Oregon’s defense had given the Ducks new life.

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Indiana’s Composure and Oregon’s Collapse

Then came the gut punch.

Mendoza — calm and precise — led Indiana on a 64-yard drive, finding Elijah Sarratt for an 8-yard touchdown fade to regain the lead, 27–20, with 6:23 remaining. Sarratt finished with eight catches for 121 yards, consistently beating single coverage on the perimeter.

Oregon’s response unraveled immediately. Moore was sacked on first down, then intercepted by linebacker Isaiah Jones after a tipped pass — his second pick of the night. The Hoosiers smelled blood.

Hemby and Kaelon Black pounded the ball inside as Indiana drained the clock. With 2:06 left, Radicic’s 27-yard field goal made it 30–20, all but sealing the upset. Oregon, out of timeouts and out of rhythm, saw its final drive end on four consecutive incompletions at the Indiana 33.

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Final Numbers Tell the Story

The stats mirrored the scoreboard: Indiana more disciplined, Oregon more erratic.

• Indiana (6–0, 3–0 Big Ten) outgained Oregon 326–267.

• The Hoosiers won time of possession 33:47–26:13 and averaged 4.9 yards per play.

• Mendoza completed 20 of 31 for 215 yards and a touchdown, while Hemby rushed for 70 yards and two scores.

• Oregon’s Moore finished 21 of 34 for 186 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

• Benson’s 44-yard touchdown remained Oregon’s lone explosive play.

• The Ducks’ rushing attack managed just 81 yards on 30 carries (2.7 avg).

In the fourth quarter alone, Indiana outgained Oregon 114 to –8, controlling every snap and denying the Ducks a single first down.

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Statement Win, Sobering Loss

For Indiana, it was another step in a season that’s beginning to look historic. Cignetti’s team is now 6–0 and has beaten two ranked opponents in three weeks. For Oregon, it was a sobering reminder that potential doesn’t equal polish.

As the Hoosiers celebrated on the Autzen turf, their fans chanting “B-I-G” into the cool Oregon night, it was hard not to feel the symbolism. Two decades after their last trip to Eugene, Indiana once again left with something bigger than a win — belief that they belong among college football’s elite.