ATLANTA — No. 1 seed Indiana took control with an interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and never let go for a 56-22 rout of No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Peach Bowl.

The pick-six by D’Angelo Ponds sparked the latest jaw-dropping victory for a team that stands one win away from the most unexpected national championship in Bowl Subdivision history. Indiana will face No. 10 Miami in the title game on Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Peach Bowl was a rematch of the Hoosiers’ 30-20 win at Autzen Stadium in October. Indiana becomes just the second team to beat an opponent in the regular season and then again in the playoff since the format debuted in 2014.

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 20 throws for 177 yards and finishing with more touchdowns, five, than incompletions. Wide receiver Elijah Surrat had 75 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Kaelon Black led the running game with a team-high 63 yards on 12 carries and two scores.

Donte Moore completed 24 of 38 passes for Oregon for 285 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Dierre Hill Jr. led the Ducks with 85 rushing yards, 71 coming on one long run, and Jay Harris added 35 yards on 16 carries.

A junior who had only 26 carries on the year heading into Friday night, Harris was thrust into a bigger role because of injuries to leading rusher Noah Whittington and top backup Jordon Davison.

It took the Hoosiers only 11 seconds to get on the board. After a short kickoff return placed Oregon at its 20-yard line, Moore threw an out route to the left sideline that Ponds jumped and ran back 25 yards for a 7-0 lead, delighting a Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd that leaned heavily toward Indiana.

Oregon’s offense settled down to even the score on the ensuing possession, converting three third downs as part of a 14-play, nearly eight-minute drive capped by Moore’s 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jamari Johnson with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter.

Indiana’s offense responded on its first drive. Mendoza completed all four of his attempts for 41 yards, including an 8-yard score to receiver Omar Cooper Jr., as part of a 75-yard drive that put the Hoosiers back in front 14-7 with 40 seconds left in the opening frame.

After punting on the next possession, the Ducks stopped a promising Indiana drive by stripping and sacking Mendoza on third down and took over at their 13-yard line.

But Moore fumbled on the next play for his second costly turnover. Winding up to deliver a screen to his left, the sophomore’s hand hit Hill on the shoulder and bounced away before being recovered by IU at the 3-yard line.

Black then punched it from a yard out to put Indiana up 21-7 with 8:17 left in the half.

The lead would mushroom by the end of the half to put the Ducks in an insurmountable hole.

First, another Oregon punt led to a 61-yard touchdown drive ending with Mendoza finding receiver Charlie Becker on a perfectly thrown 36-yard heave, pushing IU ahead 28-7 with 3:13 to go.

Then Moore was sacked and fumbled again, setting up the Hoosiers on the lip of the red zone. Six plays later, Mendoza hit Sarratt from 2 yards to make it 35-7 with 59 seconds left before the break.

Both teams exchanged scores coming out of the locker room, with the Ducks converting the two-point try after a short Harris touchdown run to make it 42-15 midway through the third quarter. Oregon looked to make it a three-touchdown game late in the quarter but was stopped on fourth-and-short at the Indiana 31-yard line.

The Hoosiers’ exclamation point came after an Oregon punt near its own goal line was blocked with just 13:04 to play. Under two minutes later, Mendoza hit Sarratt from 3 yards out on third-and-goal to make it 49-15.

But the Hoosiers weren’t done yet. After forcing a turnover on downs, IU ran five times for 65 yards, ending with Black’s 23-yard score, to go ahead 52-15 with 5:13 remaining.

A Moore touchdown pass to Roger Saleapaga with 22 seconds completed the scoring and helped the Ducks avoid the biggest loss in Peach Bowl history.

With a win against Miami, the Hoosiers would become the first 16-0 national champion since Yale in 1894. Prior to hiring coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana had won 16 games in a two-year span just once (1987-88) in program history.

American golfer Brooks Koepka applied for reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership on Friday, according to ESPN.  Koepka is a five-time major champion who was a member of the tour from 2014 to 2022.

Koepka, who recently left LIV Golf, is ranked No. 244 in the Official World Golf  Ranking because LIV golfers were not receiving points for those respective events in the standings.

Despite his ranking, Koepka could compete in the four major tournaments in 2026 because of his five-year exemption as a result of winning the 2023 PGA Championship.

Koepka decided to leave the PGA Tour in 2022 to join the newly formed LIV tour.

He won just five events during his LIV tenure from 2022-25 and completed a 3-0 playoff record, earning a victory in three consecutive years.

Koepka had a year remaining on his tour, which was financed by a Saudi Arabian group, but decided to leave early. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said Koepka and the league ‘mutually agreed’ that he would no longer compete as a member in December.

The PGA had not commented on Koepka’s potential return. Koepka cited family reasons as part of his decision to leave LIV and explore his options. Koepka’s wife, Jena, posted on Instagram last October that she had suffered a miscarriage. 

The national championship game for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff has been set between No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami.

So, who is going to win?

That’s a question college football pundits and fans will be debating for the next 10 days until the big game on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers, for their part, have already declared a favorite as the season winds down in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Opening odds from BetMGM have the Hoosiers as the early betting favorite to win the national title following their dominating Peach Bowl win over No. 5 Oregon.

Fernando Mendoza finished with five touchdown passes against the Ducks’ defense, and the Hoosiers scored 21 of their 56 points off turnovers, including D’Angelo Ponds’ pick-6 on the first play of the game. Indiana’s win over Oregon improved its record to 26-2 under Curt Cignetti in just two seasons.

Carson Beck gave the Hurricanes a ‘home’ game for the national championship with his 3-yard rushing touchdown in the winding seconds of the fourth quarter in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 6 Ole Miss. After sneaking into the 12-team field, the Hurricanes have been playing some of their best football in the last three games, led by Beck and star defensive players Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.

Both teams are appearing in the national championship game for the first time in the CFP era.

Here’s what you need to know on who is favored in the national championship game from the opening odds:

Indiana vs Miami national championship game odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Jan. 9 at 11:30 p.m. ET

Spread: Indiana -7.5
Over/under: 48.5
Moneyline: Indiana (-300) | Miami (+240)

When is national championship game? Date, time, where, TV channel

Date: Monday, Jan. 19
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

The 2026 CFP Championship between Indiana and Miami is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 19 inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti isn’t one to smile on the sidelines.

But there appears to be something that can get a smile — even if only for a second — out of the Hoosiers coach, who has orchestrated one of the more remarkable turnarounds in college football history in just two seasons in Bloomington: a cold beer.

‘I’m really not thinking about the next game. I’m thinking about cracking open a beer,’ Cignetti told ESPN’s Molly McGrath following No. 1 Indiana’s 56-22 win over No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal.

Indiana opened the game with a pick-6 from D’Angelo Ponds, the defensive player of the Peach Bowl, on the first play from scrimmage. It didn’t stop there, as they scored seven touchdowns on 10 drives (excluding the final drive, where they went into victory formation).

Fernando Mendoza was once again phenomenal for Cignetti’s program in the Peach Bowl, completing 17-of-20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns.

Indiana’s 34-point win over Oregon is the sixth-largest win in CFP history. It is also just the second time in CFP history that a team has beaten the same team in the regular-season and the CFP in the same season. The team that lost the regular-season meeting entered Friday’s Peach Bowl with a 4-1 record in the rematch.

With its win, Indiana picked up its 26th overall win under the 64-year-old coach. The Hoosiers will now face No. 10 Miami in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Concerns about the ice hockey arena being built for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, continued after a test event confirmed the venue remains unfinished amid ongoing construction less than four weeks from the first game of the Olympic women’s hockey tournament.

Santagiulia Arena was open to the public for the first time for an Italian Cup game held on Friday, Jan. 9 after numerous reported problems in recent months as organizers scramble to get the building ready in time for the Games.

International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif said during a news conference earlier in the week that although parts of the rink and arena might not be complete in time, the playing surface, practice facilities and dressing rooms would be ready when the men’s hockey tournament begins on Feb. 11. The women’s tournament begins on Feb. 5.

Tardif also revealed that the arena’s capacity would be 11,800, short of the 14,000-seat capacity originally planned.

This is the first Winter Olympics in which NHL players are slated to participate since 2014. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said last month the league would renege on sending its players if there are any safety concerns with the ice. The league is sending its own experts to Italy. The rink is slated to be smaller than NHL standards but within IIHF standards.

What observers said about Olympic hockey arena

The Athletic’s Chris Johnston was at the test event and shared video.

He said the ice surface and seating are in place. He also reported:

‘The ice surface appeared soft and snowy in its debut, and there was a delay in the first period after a hole developed in front of one of the goals.’
‘There were still multiple large holes in the exterior of the building as of Friday night, which poses a major challenge to icemakers since they can’t properly regulate the conditions inside the arena.’
‘The permanent dressing room area is also still under construction, with only three of the planned 14 rooms anywhere near complete.’ 

Johnston added, however, that ‘there’s no sense on the ground that the Olympic tournament is in jeopardy.’

Florian Wieser, who played in the game, said the hole in the ice was a small one and was fixed in five minutes.

‘Ice was really good,’ Wieser posted on social media. ‘I was surprised how good it was and it will only get better.”

The Hockey News reported that a new coat of ice would be put down after this weekend’s event.

“Today the ice was not perfect, but it will be done again with new ice next week and I’m confident that it will continue to improve,” local Italian RAI play-by-play commentator Matteo Floccari told The Hockey News. “The Olympic Games here will be the biggest occasion ever that Italian ice hockey has ever had, having the greatest players in the world here. It will absolutely help grow the game in Italy, with (Sidney) Crosby and (Connor) McDavid coming here.

‘The jobs being done here have been growing in importance day-by-day and the situation is improving. I’m sure that for the beginning of the Olympics everything here, inside and outside will be ready.’

The Dallas Mavericks, once again, are set to be without Anthony Davis.

An MRI taken Friday, Jan. 9 revealed that Davis, 32, suffered ligament damage in his left hand, the team said in a press release. The Mavericks added that Davis is seeking multiple opinions.

Davis suffered the injury Thursday, Jan. 8 in a game against the Utah Jazz. It came late in the fourth quarter of the game, an eventual 116-114 Utah victory, when Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen drove to the basket along the right baseline. Davis went to defend Markkanen and when the two made contact, Davis immediately favored his left hand.

He briefly remained in the game but was then later substituted.

At the time he left the game, Davis had scored 21 points on 10-of-20 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

For Davis and the Mavericks, it’s another frustrating setback that has kept him from assimilating with the team; earlier this season, Davis dealt with a lower foot and Achilles injury that also sidelined him for a few weeks. Dallas traded for Davis in February 2025 as part of the deal that shipped Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Since acquiring him, Davis has played only 29 out of 80 games.

The Mavericks have struggled amid injuries to Davis and veteran point guard Kyrie Irving, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in March 2025. That has left No. 1 overall rookie Cooper Flagg to carry the Mavericks. Flagg only recently turned 19 years old and has a diverse skill set, but his effectiveness has been limited at times when opposing teams have focused their energy on limiting him as Davis and Irving have been sidelined.

Complicating this further, Davis had been expected to be a potential trade target, as the Mavericks are undergoing something of a rebuild. The team fired former general manager Nico Harrison Nov. 11, 2025, and Davis’ age and salary may not align with Dallas’ long-term plans to compete.

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5; given the projected timeline of Davis’ injury, that likely means he will remain sidelined beyond the deadline.

In 20 games this season, Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Veteran NBA official Bill Kennedy suffered a non-contact injury during a game between the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, Jan. 9.

Kennedy is known within the NBA community for his entertaining challenge verdicts during basketball games. Several of his verdicts had gone viral throughout the early part of the season.

Kennedy was seen running up the court late in the first quarter as the 76ers were running up the court after stealing the ball from the Magic. He left the game in a wheelchair.

Michael Smith and James Williams continued to officiate the game. A backup official was not named to fill in for Kennedy in a brief statement by the verified NBA Official account on X.

Bill Kennedy’s entertaining moments

One day after Trinidad Chambliss’ 2025 season came to an end, his college career did, too.

The Mississippi quarterback’s waiver for an additional season of eligibility was denied by the NCAA, with college sports’ governing body announcing its decision on Friday, Jan. 9.

Chambliss was asking for a medical redshirt for the 2022 season, when he was at Division II Ferris State and didn’t play any games while dealing with persistent respiratory issues that ultimately led to the removal of his tonsils.

“Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student’s incapacitating injury or illness, which was not provided,” the NCAA said in a statement. “The documents provided by Ole Miss and the student’s prior school include a physician’s note from a December 2022 visit, which stated the student-athlete was ‘doing very well’ since he was seen in August 2022. Additionally, the student-athlete’s prior school indicated it had no documentation on medical treatment, injury reports or medical conditions involving the student-athlete during that time frame and cited “developmental needs and our team’s competitive circumstances” as its reason the student-athlete did not play in the 2022-23 season.”

The NCAA added its decision “aligns with consistent application of NCAA rules.”

In his first and ultimately only season at Ole Miss, Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for an additional 527 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.

Chambliss helped lead the Rebels to one of the best seasons in program history, with a 13-2 record and a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they fell to Miami 31-27 on Thursday, Jan. 8 in the Fiesta Bowl. Chambliss threw for 277 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Prominent sports attorney Tom Mars represented Chambliss during his waiver process. Mars said in a statement that he assumes Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA and that ‘there is now an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary instead of some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who couldn’t care less about the law or doing the right thing.”

‘I deserve (another year),’ Chambliss said Dec. 30. ‘I’ve only played three seasons of college football. I feel like I deserve to play four. I redshirted in 2021. That was my freshman redshirt. Then I medically redshirted in 2022. Played in 2023, 2024 and this is 2025.’

Chambliss took a traditional redshirt season during his true freshman year at Ferris State and did not play during the ensuing 2022 campaign.

The NCAA said that this academic year, it has received 25 eligibility clock extension requests that cited an incapacitating injury, nine of which came from football players. Of those 25 waiver requests, the NCAA approved 15, including six in football. All 15 that were approved provided medical documentation from the time of the injury while all 10 that were denied didn’t.

Chambliss had previously committed to return to Ole Miss for the 2026 season if his waiver was approved, shutting down speculation that he could follow former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin to LSU.

Without Chambliss, Ole Miss and new head coach Pete Golding will likely have to look elsewhere for a quarterback for next season. Austin Simmons, who started the season ahead of Chambliss before being sidelined with an injury, entered the transfer portal and signed with Missouri earlier this week.

What is Trinidad Chambliss’ NFL draft projection?

Chambliss is projected to get a shot in the NFL. He’ll probably be drafted in the middle of the 2026 NFL Draft, according to experts.Chambliss is ranked as the No. 6 quarterback prospect on Mel Kiper of ESPN’s 2026 NFL Draft preview published Jan. 2.

Pro Football Focus ranks Chambliss as the No. 5 quarterback and No. 83 player overall.

Clarion Ledger Ole Miss reporter Sam Hutchens contributed to this story.

Indiana dominated on its way to a 56-22 win over Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 and is one win away from securing one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history.

The No. 1 Hoosiers (15-0) finished 3-9 in 2023 but are moving on to the national championship game two seasons later after hiring Curt Cignetti. It’ll be a homecoming for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who grew up in Miami.

Mendoza, whose dad played football alongside Miami coach Mario Cristobal in high school, passed for five touchdowns against the Ducks. The Heisman Trophy winner has eight touchdowns to six incompletions in two College Football Playoff wins over Alabama and Oregon this season.

Indiana scored 28 points off turnovers, including a pick-6 from D’Angelo Ponds on the first play of the game. Indiana and Oregon were tied at 7-7 in the first quarter before the Hoosiers scored 35 unanswered points, continuing their dominance that carried over from a 38-3 win over Alabama at the Rose Bowl.

Here are the highlights from Indiana’s 56-22 win over Oregon at the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 to advance to the national title game:

Peach Bowl Indiana vs Oregon score

Peach Bowl highlights: Indiana vs Oregon

Indiana to face Miami in national championship

Indiana dominates Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl to advance to the national championship against Miami. The Hoosiers are one win away from one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history.

Oregon scores

Dante Moore throws a 1-yard touchdown pass to Roger Saleapaga to make the score 56-22 with 22 seconds left.

Kaelon Black scores

Kaelon Black gets back in on the fun, rushing for his second touchdown of the night from 23 yards out. Indiana extends its lead to 56-15 with 5:13 left in the fourth quarter.

Mendoza tosses fifth touchdown

Indiana extends its lead to 49-15 in the fourth quarter on Fernando Mendoza’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt with 11:36 left. Mendoza is now 17-of-20 passing for 177 yards with five touchdowns on the night.

Sarratt has seven receptions for 75 yards and two scores.

Indiana punts

Fernando Mendoza’s pass intended for Omar Cooper Jr. deep downfield falls incomplete on third-and-5, forcing the Hoosiers to punt from their own 37-yard line. Oregon might have gotten away with some contact against Cooper Jr. on the defense.

Indiana stuffs Oregon on fourth down

Oregon pitches it outside on fourth-and-1 at Indiana’s 31-yard line, but All-American linebacker Aiden Fisher sniffs it out and tackles Jay Harris for a 1-yard loss.

The Hoosiers regain possession with a 42-15 lead just before the end of the third quarter.

Indiana punts

Indiana punts for the second time tonight after its drive stalls out on fourth-and-3. Mitch McCarthy’s 49-yard punt is downed at Oregon’s 5-yard line, pinning the Ducks deep inside their own territory.

The Hoosiers are dominating even when they punt.

Oregon scores

Oregon shows some signs of life despite the huge deficit. Jay Harris plunges in a 2-yard touchdown before Jamari Johnson catches the 2-point conversion throw from Dante Moore.

Oregon cuts its deficit to 42-15 with 7:50 left in the third quarter, scoring on two plays.

Oregon with explosive play

Dierre Hill Jr. runs for 71 yards on the Ducks’ first possession of the second half, putting Oregon on the 2-yard line threatening to score.

Indiana scores again

Mendoza tosses his fourth touchdown of the game on a 13-yard pass to E.J. Williams Jr. to give Indiana a 42-7 lead with 8:52 left in the third quarter.

The Ducks have no answers for the Hoosiers tonight.

Fernando Mendoza CFP stats

Mendoza is proving why he was the Heisman Trophy winner this season in the College Football Playoff so far. He is 24-of-27 passing for 302 yards with six touchdowns and no turnovers through six quarters against Alabama and Oregon combined.

Mendoza is 10-for-11 with 110 yards and three touchdowns at halftime against Oregon at the Peach Bowl.

Curt Cignetti says Indiana is ‘whipping them up front’

The difference in the game so far is clear to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti.

‘We’re whipping them up front right now,’ he says to ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath at halftime.

Oregon misses field goal before halftime

Atticus Sappington’s 56-yard field goal attempt falls short as the clock expires before halftime. Indiana leads 35-7 heading into the final two quarters of the Peach Bowl.

Indiana takes 35-7 lead

Make it 28 unanswered points for Indiana, which takes a 35-7 lead on a 2-yard touchdown catch by Elijah Sarratt. The Hoosiers are dominating in every facet right now.

Indiana causes another turnover

Daniel Ndukwe sacks Dante Moore on the second play of Oregon’s next drive and forces a fumble that’s recovered by Mario Landino at Oregon’s 21-yard line.

It’s Moore’s third turnover of the game so far, and Indiana is threatening to go up 35-7 before halftime. The Hoosiers just keep rolling in the CFP.

Indiana scores again

Fernando Mendoza drops an absolute dime in a 1-on-1 situation to Charlie Becker, who climbs the ladder over Oregon’s Brandon Finney Jr. for a 36-yard touchdown. What a throw and catch for the Hoosiers, who take a 28-7 lead with 3:13 left in the first half.

Mendoza is 8-of-9 passing for 102 yards with two touchdowns.

Indiana sacks Dante Moore on back-to-back plays

On second-and-3 from the Oregon 47-yard line, Indiana sacks Dante Moore on back-to-back plays to stall another Oregon drive. Dominique Ratcliff and Daniel Ndukwe get to Moore on second and third down, respectively.

Indiana’s defense has four tackles for loss for 18 yards so far.

Kaleon Black extends Indiana lead with TD

Three plays after the turnover, Kaleon Black scores from 1 yard out to extend Indiana’s lead to 21-7 with 8:17 left in the first half. The scoring drive is three plays for three yards and takes 1:12 off the clock.

Dante Moore loses fumble

Dante Moore loses a fumble as Dierre Hill Jr. bumps into him at the mesh point as he attempts to make a throw. Mario Landino lands on the ball and Indiana begins the drive at Oregon’s 3-yard line with a chance to go up two scores.

Nasir Wyatt sacks Fernando Mendoza

Oregon denies Indiana a chance to build on its lead when Nasir Wyatt sacks Fernando Mendoza for a 20-yard loss on third-and-7 from the Oregon 37-yard line. That forces an Indiana punt.

Oregon will begin its next drive from its own 13-yard line, trailing 14-7 with 9:35 left in the first half.

Oregon goes three-and-out

Oregon hands it off to Jay Harris on third-and-2, but Mikail Kamara beats his man for a 1-yard tackle for loss. Indiana regains possession looking to go up two scores on its own 18-yard line.

Indiana takes 14-7 lead

Indiana drives right down the field, ending in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr. The Hoosiers lead 14-7 with 40 seconds left in the first quarter after an 11-play, 75-yard drive that takes 6:31 off the clock.

Mendoza is 4-of-4 passing for 41 yards with a touchdown.

Oregon responds

Oregon ties the game at 7-7 on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Dante Moore to Jamari Johnson. The Ducks respond from their turnover with a big-time 14-play, 75-yard drive that takes 7:38 off the clock.

Hello, D’Angelo

One play, one touchdown for Indiana. D’Angelo Ponds jumps the route and comes up with a 19-yard pick-6 on the first play from scrimmage, giving Indiana a very early 7-0 lead. What a play.

Oregon starts with possession

Dante Moore and the Oregon offense will start first, with the drive starting at their own 20-yard line. The second-to-last college football game of the season is underway.

‘College GameDay’ picks for Indiana-Oregon

Each of ESPN’s Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit picked Indiana to beat Oregon and advance to the CFP Championship game.

Why is Mark Cuban at Peach Bowl?

Billionaire mogul Mark Cuban is an Indiana graduate and is on deck for the Hoosiers’ game against Oregon at the Peach Bowl.

Is Noah Whittington playing tonight?

Oregon running back Noah Whittington is listed as a game-time decision, per the CFP pregame availability report. However, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports he’s expected to play, although he won’t start.

Roman Hemby stats

Indiana running back Roman Hemby has been one of the most productive rushers in the Big Ten this season and is a 5-year starter dating back to his time at Maryland. Here’s his stats in 2025:

Rushing: 194 carries for 1,007 yards with seven touchdowns (5.2 yards per carry)
Receiving: 14 receptions for 160 yards

What channel is Peach Bowl on tonight?

TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The CFP Peach Bowl semifinal between Indiana and Oregon will air nationally on ESPN, with Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (analyst) calling the game and Molly McGrath serving as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Announcers for Peach Bowl

ESPN’s Sean McDonough will handle play-by-play with Greg McElory providing color analysis.

Peach Bowl Indiana vs Oregon start time today

Date: Friday, Jan. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Indiana and Oregon are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Peach Bowl prediction: Indiana vs Oregon picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Jan. 4

Spread: Indiana (-4)
Over/under: 48.5
Moneyline: Indiana (-190) | Oregon (+160)

Prediction: Indiana 31, Oregon 20

Indiana feels like the team of destiny right now and is coming off a masterful performance against Alabama. That said, the Hoosiers defeat the Ducks again behind a strong performance from Fernando Mendoza and their run game. Indiana also forces Dante Moore to a pair of turnovers.

Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win the Peach Bowl:

Indiana 35, Oregon 21: The Hoosiers’ 30-20 win over the Ducks in Eugene in October started to convert IU doubters into believers. Indiana’s Rose Bowl demolition of Alabama proselytized even the most ardent skeptics (cough, Paul Finebaum). The Hoosiers’ defense sacked Dante Moore six times and picked off the Ducks QB twice in the first meeting. And while Oregon shut out a piddling Texas Tech offense in the Orange Bowl, Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza leads one of the nation’s most balanced attacks. It sounds unbelievable to say, but Indiana football will play for the national championship. – Matt Glenesk, USA TODAY
Indiana 20, Oregon 17: Going with the old Vegas trick of laying three points on the favorite in a coin flip of a game. Oregon is an incredibly good team, and as Curt Cignetti said after the Rose Bowl, it’s tough to beat a good team twice. But it’s tougher to beat a great team once, and Indiana is a great team. Ultimately, Fernando Mendoza vs Dante Moore isn’t the matchup here. It’s in the trenches, where Indiana is among the best in the country, and weapons vs weapons. Stars matter, but Indiana is comprised of under-recruited guys with a chip on their shoulders. With that in mind, Indiana wins a grimy game in a low-scoring affair against Dan Lanning, turning the coach’s ‘no one believes in us’ motivating tactic on its head (of course, the irony of not believing in Oregon here is not lost on me). – Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY
Indiana 24, Oregon 20: The old adage about how it’s hard to beat a team twice in a season has its merits, but it can occasionally belie a deeper truth — sometimes, one team is simply better than another. Whatever fans may think of Indiana football based on the program’s mostly putrid history, the Hoosiers are the best and most complete team in the sport this season, as they showed in a Rose Bowl demolition of Alabama. They’ll stymie a Ducks offense that had difficulties against Texas Tech’s front seven and Fernando Mendoza will continue to dazzle while leading Indiana to a once-unimaginable destination. – Craig Meyer, USA TODAY

Peach Bowl injury updates: Who is out for Oregon vs Indiana

∎ For Oregon: The initial availability report for the game came out Tuesday and the Ducks had 14 players listed as out, including running back Jordon Davison, who is the team’s No. 2 rusher with 667 yards and top scorer with 15 TDs. Also out with injuries are wide receiver Evan Stewart, offensive tackle Gernorris Wilson and running back Da’Jaun Riggs.

Eight of the players listed as out are those who have entered the transfer portal: defensive backs Daylen Austin, Kingston Lopa, Sione Laulea and Solomon Davis; running backs Makhi Hughes and Jayden Limar; and wide receivers Justius Lowe and Kyler Kasper.

∎ For Indiana: The Hoosiers will be without defensive linemen Andrew DePaepe, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt; defensive backs Amariyun Knighten and Bryson Bonds; and kicker Brendan Franke. Knighten and DePaepe are in the transfer portal.

When is the Peach Bowl kickoff: Indiana vs Oregon time, date

The Peach Bowl is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9.

Where is the Peach Bowl played?

The Peach Bowl is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Who’s in CFP Championship game?

Here’s a full look at who has advanced to the CFP championship game:

No. 10 Miami
TBD

When is national championship game?

The College Football Playoff national championship game is 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 19

Where is the national championship game?

The College Football Playoff national championship game is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Because of injuries, the race for the NBA Most Valuable Player may get interesting.

Numerous players who are atop the conversation – Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo – have each missed extended time with various health issues. That has opened the door for a somewhat unexpected player, Jaylen Brown, to shoot up this list; Brown has his Boston Celtics in contention in the East despite missing star Jayson Tatum, who has yet to play a game this season as he recovers from an Achilles injury.

What is further complicating the race is that the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has hit a bit of a road bump, as his Oklahoma City Thunder have shown vulnerabilities.

Here’s the latest iteration of the USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings:

USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings

5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

He gets a slight nod over Giannis Antetokounmpo here for a couple of reasons; for one, the Spurs (26-11) have outperformed the Bucks (16-21) and are No. 2 in a crowded Western Conference. And, for another, while Antetokounmpo is a solid defender, no one is better in the NBA than Wembanyama, who leads the league with 2.9 blocks per game. Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo have both played in 23 games and have ineligibility concerns with the 65-game threshold, but, for now, Wembanyama gets the edge.

4. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

The big knock on him is his lack of defensive buy-in and effort. Teams constantly attack Dončić on the other end, but he remains the most prolific bucket in the league. Dončić is averaging an NBA-best 33.7 points per game, which is nearly 2 points per game greater than the No. 1 player on this list. And while the Lakers can sometimes look disjointed on both ends, Dončić continues to make them competitive, although they have struggled against some of the West’s best teams.

3. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

He would be higher, but his left knee hyperextension that’s expected to sideline him for at least a month, sucks the momentum out of the incredible season he had been having. Across 32 games, Jokić is averaging a triple-double (29.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game) and continues to be the player who most elevates the performance of those around him. Given the gravity he draws and his superb vision, his teammates always shine. Denver will sorely miss him.

2. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Somewhat quietly, Brown has been excelling for the Celtics, who have been flying under the radar without Jayson Tatum but nonetheless are 23-13 and just ½ game back of the No. 2 seed in the East. Brown has been doing it on both ends, averaging 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists, taking on tough defensive assignments and using his length to clamp down opposing players. He has taken on more of a leadership role and has shown he can be a star, even when teams can focus their energy on stopping him.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have certainly hit something of a rough patch, losing six of their last 13 games. And, not surprisingly, some of those defeats have coincided with quieter performances from Gilgeous-Alexander, particularly when he’s unable to get to the free throw line. Opposing defenses have worked to avoid biting on his fakes, and NBA officials seemingly have let more physical play against Gilgeous-Alexander go, so this bears watching the rest of the season. Still, SGA remains the most consistent player in the NBA.