Live Game Thread & Updates for Indiana vs Oregon: Hoosiers Lead 42-15

Indiana and Oregon are set to square off in Mercedes-Benz Stadium this evening in the Peach Bowl to determine which team participates in the national championship game. It is the second College Football Playoff Semifinal being played in as many days following Thursday's thriller between Miami (FL) and Ole Miss, in which the Hurricanes came out victorious.

This matchup is gearing up to be an instant classic and could bring the Hoosiers one step closer to the program's first-ever national title. For those who cannot watch the game live or need to track the score online, refresh this page periodically for constant updates from Indiana on SI.

First Quarter

15:00 - IU wins the toss and opts to defer. Oregon will start with the ball. Let's get underway.

14:49 - First play from scrimmage, and Dante Moore tosses a pick-6 to D'Angelo Ponds. He read the route perfectly and jumped the throw. The Hoosiers couldn't have gotten off to a better start. Indiana leads, 7-0.

12:10 - Oregon is starting to move the ball downfield following its disaster start. The Ducks have picked up three third downs early on and just converted a 3rd-and-7. They now have the ball on IU's 40-yard line.

8:35 - Moore now has 31 passing yards and has brought the Ducks into the red zone. Oregon has a 1st-and-10 opportunity at the 17-yard line, putting them in scoring territory.

7:11 - Jamari Johnson breaks free on third-and-long for a 19-yard touchdown catch. It capped off a 7-minute, 38-second drive. Now, the ball turns over to Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers for the first time tonight. Indiana and Oregon are tied, 7-7.

3:51 - A couple of big third-down conversions have the Hoosiers in good position to score. Elijah Sarratt made an excellent contested catch to put the Hoosiers in Oregon territory. They sit at the 35-yard line now.

0:40 - What a drive for the Hoosiers. Mendoza found Omar Cooper Jr. for an 8-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone. Roman Hemby added 26 rushing yards on five carries as well. Indiana leaders, 14-7.

Second Quarter

14:12 - A big three-and-out forced by the Indiana defense. Nice bounce-back for the Hoosiers after Oregon's long scoring drive the last time they took the field.

12:13 - Mendoza uses his legs for the first time today on third down. He breaks off a 21-yard scramble, avoiding a sack and keeping the drive alive.

9:35 - Indiana avoids disaster after Oregon strips Mendoza in the pocket. Fortunately for the Hoosiers, the Heisman recipient recovered the loose ball and took a sack. Oregon will have the ball inside its own 15, but IU had a chance at a field goal attempt before Mendoza coughed it up.

9:29 - Dante Moore just made his second costly mistake of the game. He lost a fumble inside the 5-yard line as he attempted to wind up a pass attempt on the first play of the drive. Indiana recovered and will start in the red zone. The Hoosiers have an opportunity to break this one open.

8:17 - Kaelon Black runs it in from one yard out to give the Hoosiers their third touchdown of the contest. Indiana is up by two possessions, and the crowd is in a frenzy. Indiana leads, 21-7.

5:49 - The Indiana defense continues its dominant showing with a defensive stop. The Ducks are sending out their punting unit again after a Dominique Ratcliff sack.

3:13 - All Indiana needed was four plays to drive down 61 yards and hit Charlie Becker for a deep 36-yard touchdown in a 1-on-1 situation. The Hoosiers are playing absolutely flawless football right now. Indiana leads, 28-7.

2:39 - It's hard to believe what we're seeing right now. Indiana forces its second fumble of the game, both of which have been recovered by Mario Landino. IU has yet another chance to put points on the board before halftime.

0:59 - Touchdown No. 2 for Sarratt on third-and-goal. Pure dominance from the Hoosiers and Mendoza, who has thrown just one incomplete pass and three touchdowns tonight. Indiana leads, 35-7.

Third Quarter

15:00 - IU starts with the ball in the second half with a chance to make this a five-possession contest.

10:19 - The Hoosiers were driving to begin the final 30 minutes, but Mendoza nearly coughed up a fumble on a first-down scramble. Luckily, Pat Coogan was right near the ball to recover the loose ball. IU is now in the red zone at the Oregon 18-yard line.

8:52 - Indiana opens the second half with an 11-play, six-minute drive that ended with an E.J. Williams Jr. touchdown catch. The onslaught continues in Atlanta. Indiana leads, 42-7.

7:50 - Jay Harris runs it in from two yards out to cut the deficit to 27. Dierre Hill Jr. broke off a 71-yard flash on the first play of the drive to set up the score. Oregon went for two and was successful. Some life for Lanning and Co. Indiana leads, 42-15.

5:42 - A 62-yard burst from Kaelon Black was wiped away by a holding call, which Hoosier fans across the stadium loudly disagreed with. However, Mendoza was still able to find Sarratt for a toe tap grab on third down to extend the drive.

4:19 - Mendoza throws his second incompletion of the day, forcing a punt. Fans might get to see a drive or two conducted by Alberto Mendoza, depending on what the defense does on this drive.

Fourth Quarter

N/A

How to Watch Indiana vs Oregon

Time: 7:30 PM EST
Channel: ESPN
Link: Watch ESPN

Indiana vs Oregon Preview

Indiana is in the midst of a magical season, having gone 14-0 so far with a Big Ten championship victory over Ohio State and a quarterfinal CFP win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl. They are led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza (3,172 yards, 36 TDs) and a defensive unit that surrenders just 10.3 points per contest.

Meanwhile, Oregon boasts a 13-1 record, its only defeat coming earlier in the season against IU. Dan Lanning's squad is potent on both sides of the ball thanks to quarterback Dante Moore (3,280 yards, 28 TDs) and a three-headed monster in the backfield that has totaled 26 scores on the ground this season.

In its first CFP matchup, Oregon shut out No. 4 seed Texas Tech 23-0, showing off its excellent defense. That likely won't be the case today, as the Hoosiers scored 30 points on the Ducks in their first meeting.

The betting spread is neck-and-neck, with most sportsbooks maintaining a line of -3.5 Indiana. The winner will go on to face Miami (FL) in the national championship on Monday, Jan. 19.