Dave Portnoy makes astonishing Indiana Hoosiers declare as they crush Oregon to achieve nationwide championship remaining
Dave Portnoy called the revival of Indiana Hoosiers ‘one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in the history of sports’ after their blowout win over Oregon saw them set up a college football final against Miami Hurricanes.
Led by the nailed-on No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft later this year in quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers blow Oregon away 56-22 with a mercilessly dominant display at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mendoza threw five touchdown passes in another commanding display. And Portnoy, a huge Michigan fan, could not help but tip his hat to Indiana and their coach Curt Cignetti.
Taking to X in the final moments of Friday night’s game, the Barstool Sports founder wrote: ‘What Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in the history of sports.
‘Indiana was one of the worst football programs in the history of college football. I thought Cig was a clown during that initial presser when he said “google me”. I was like this guy is gonna get throttled by the big boys.
‘Instead it only took him 2 years to turn Indiana into a dominant national power. Sure NIL helps but still this is insane.
Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes as Indiana Hoosiers crushed Oregon Ducks
Portnoy heaped praise on the Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after his team made the final
Portnoy said Cignetti’s leadership has produced one of the best stories in sporting history
‘It seemed beyond impossible to ever do it but to do it this fast? I still can’t believe it. The Big 10 now goes through Ann Arbor and Bloomington. Who would have ever dreamed it?’
The No. 1-seeded Hoosiers will meet the Hurricanes at the Hard Rock stadium on Monday January 19, in Miami and they will be the favorites to emerge victorious.
It has already been a historic season for Indiana, and Mendoza is largely to credit.
Indiana won its first Big Ten title since 1967, beat Ohio State for the first time since 1988, earned the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, won its first Rose Bowl, and in December, Mendoza became the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner.
Mendoza has performed well under bright lights, and the Peach Bowl was no exception. He finished the game completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards on top of his five touchdowns.
He added 28 rushing yards on six carries and had a passer rating of 241.8.
After the final a week on Monday, Mendoza’s attention will turn to his impending NFL career.
His is the overwhelming favorite to be taken with the first pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, who badly need a quarterback to lead the franchise.
