ATLANTA — Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes and Indiana’s defense forced three first-half turnovers, each leading to a score, as the top-ranked Hoosiers routed No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal Friday night.

Indiana (15-0) advanced to the national championship game Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where it will face No. 10 Miami. The Hoosiers’ balanced attack—two rushing touchdowns from Kaelon Black, a blocked punt, and a defense that held Oregon to nine rushing yards in the first half—underscored their dominance.

Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and a Miami native, completed 17 of 20 passes for 289 yards, with scoring strikes to Elijah Sarratt (two), Charlie Becker (36 yards), Omar Cooper Jr., and E.J. Williams Jr. He added 34 rushing yards on five carries.

“I thought he was incredible,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “He was great. I also thought our receivers made some great contested catches. He was on top of the game and his performance was a huge difference in this football game.”

Oregon (13-2) was hamstrung by the absence of top running backs Noah Whittington (undisclosed injury) and Jordon Davison (collarbone). Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns but lost two fumbles and threw a pick-six on the game’s first play.

Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown 11 seconds into the game. “It all started with Ponds’ pick-6,” Cignetti said. “We created some turnovers on defense and capitalized on offense and that was the story of the first half.”

After Oregon tied it 7-7 on Moore’s 19-yard scoring pass to Jamari Johnson, Indiana scored 28 unanswered points. Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown to Cooper Jr. put the Hoosiers ahead for good, and turnovers led to Black’s 3-yard run and Mendoza’s first scoring pass to Sarratt for a 35-7 halftime lead.

Moore lost a second fumble when hit by Daniel Ndukwe, and Mario Landino recovered at the Oregon 21, setting up the Sarratt touchdown. Ndukwe also blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, leading to Mendoza’s second scoring pass to Sarratt.

Indiana will try to give the Big Ten its third straight national title. “There’s nothing like having a home semifinal game,” Cignetti said, noting the Hoosiers’ fans made up at least 80% of the 75,604 in attendance.

Mendoza, projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, will return to his hometown for the championship game. “I thought he was incredible,” Cignetti repeated.