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Indiana crushes Oregon to advance to first championship game in program history, stunning sports world

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Indiana crushes Oregon to advance to first championship game in program history, stunning sports world


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The 2025 Indiana Hoosiers became the fifth team in modern college football history to go 15-0. Now they can become the first team of the modern era to ever go 16-0, and only the second of all-time, joining an 1894 Yale team that played with leather helmets. 

With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history. 

Head coach Curt Cignetti has left the college football world breathless with a dramatic turnaround of the Hoosiers program, going from one of the losingest teams in the Big 10 to potentially the most dominant single-season of all time. 

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Elijah Sarratt #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Ify Obidegwu #7 of the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Many prominent sports figures took to social media to express their amazement of Indiana’s unprecedented dominance during and after their win over Oregon. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also chimed in. 

Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes, improving his case to be the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.

INDIANA WINS FIRST OUTRIGHT BIG 10 FOOTBALL TITLE SINCE 1945 AFTER OHIO STATE FLUBS SHORT FIELD GOAL TRY

Fernando Mendoza

Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Aaron Flowers #21 of the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) was doomed by the three first-half turnovers while also being short-handed by the absence of two of their top running backs.

Indiana’s defense didn’t wait long to make an impact. On Oregon’s first snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown. Only 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers and their defense already had made a statement this would be a long night for Moore and the Oregon offense.

Moore’s 19-yard scoring pass to tight end Jamari Johnson tied the game. The remainder of the half belonged to Indiana and its big-play defense.

After Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. gave the Hoosiers the lead for good at 14-7, Indiana’s defense forced a turnover when Moore fumbled and Indiana recovered at the Oregon 3, setting up Black’s scoring run.

Moore lost a second fumble later in the second quarter when hit by Daniel Ndukwe and Mario Landino recovered at the Oregon 21. Mendoza’s first scoring pass to Sarratt gave the Hoosiers’ the 35-7 lead.

Indiana extended its lead to 42-7 on Mendoza’s 13-yard scoring pass to E.J. Williams Jr.

Oregon finally answered. A 70-yard run by Hill set up a 2-yard scoring run by Harris.

The Hoosiers led 35-7 at halftime as the Ducks were held to nine rushing yards on 17 carries. Noah Whittington, who leads Oregon with 829 rushing yards, was held out with an undisclosed injury after Jordon Davison, who had rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns, already was listed as out with a collarbone injury.

Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore. Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.

Following their undefeated regular season, the Hoosiers have only gained momentum in the CFP. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

Now, the Hoosiers will prepare to face Miami on Jan. 19 in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Miami beat Mississippi 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday night.

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Roman Hemby

Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs out of bounds before the endzone against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Indiana will try to give the Big Ten its third straight national title, following Ohio State and Michigan the last two seasons. Few teams from any conference can compare with the Hoosiers’ season-long demonstration of balanced strong play.

The country will be watching to see if this unprecedented team can finish the job and really punch their ticket into the history books. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





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‘The Naked Gun’ actor Paul Walter Hauser bloodies opponent at Maple Leaf Pro’s first US show

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‘The Naked Gun’ actor Paul Walter Hauser bloodies opponent at Maple Leaf Pro’s first US show


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Paul Walter Hauser is an actor who has been in “The Naked Gun,” “Blackbird,” and “Richard Jewell.” But on Friday night at Maple Leaf Pro’s first U.S. event, MLP Multiverse, there was no acting going on.

Hauser squared off against QT Marshall in a sin city street fight at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. It was the final show of Slam Fest. The two pro wrestlers pulled out all the stops and left the ring in complete disarray.

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Paul Walter Hauser competed against QT Marshall at Maple Leaf Pro Multiverse on April 18, 2026 in Las Vegas. (Fox News Digital)

It was a rematch of their brawl at Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor event. Marshall went on the attack first, throwing in all kinds of foreign objects into the ring, including a piece of wood wrapped with barbed wire, a table, a cane, chairs and even a door was brought into the match.

Hauser was able to regain momentum in the match. He set up the barbed-wire object in the corner. Marshall countered and was trying to whip Hauser into the barbed wire. However, Hauser stopped himself. As Marshall tried to take Hauser by surprise, the movie star avoided Marshall and tossed him into the barbed wire.

Marshall was busted open, but wasn’t done. Hauser was trying to inflict more pain. He set up a table near one corner of the ring and poured thumbtacks on top of it. Marshall was able to powerbomb Hauser through the tacked table.

Paul Walter Hauser standing and looking forward

Paul Walter Hauser is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Nathan Congleton/NBC)

BLUE PANTHER AND ÚLTIMO GUERRERO STEAL THE SHOW AT CMLL’S FIRST-EVER US EVENT IN LAS VEGAS

Hauser was left with thumbtacks in his back and one in his head. He managed to power through and put Marshall into a sharpshooter. Marshall tapped out. Hauser picked up the victory.

Hauser got his start in pro wrestling in 2023 at Pro Wrestling Revolver. He worked his way through appearances at All Elite Wrestling before he signed with Major League Wrestling in 2024.

He’s currently Progress Wrestling’s Progress proteus champion.

Elsewhere, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) world heavyweight champion Hechicero defended his championship against Jonathan Gresham, Maple Leaf Pro Canadian women’s champion Gisele Shaw fended off Shotzi Blackheart, Persephone and surprise entrant Killer Kelly to keep the title.

Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Amazing Red celebate

Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Amazing Red defeated The Rascalz at Maple Leaf Pro Multiverse on April 18, 2026 in Las Vegas. (Fox News Digital)

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The show started with Subculture, the tag team duo of Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, defeated Vaughn Vertigo and Guy Cool. The Demand’s Ricochet, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona defeated Sidney Akeem, Michael Oku and Rich Swaan, Steve Borden defeated Kiran Gray and Mistico, Mascara Dorada, Amazing Red defeated The Rascalz – Desmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed.



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Transfer rumors, news: Liverpool eye Wharton amid Man United, Real Madrid interest

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Transfer rumors, news: Liverpool eye Wharton amid Man United, Real Madrid interest


Liverpool face competition from Manchester United and Real Madrid to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, while Arsenal want Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

Liverpool lead the race to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, TalkSPORT reports. Liverpool face strong competition from Manchester United and Real Madrid for the England international’s signature, while he is under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2029 and Palace are demanding a fee of at least £80 million. Curtis Jones‘ exit from Liverpool could help the club raise extra funds, and he has been linked with a move to Italian giants Internazionale.

Arsenal are keen on signing Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga, as per The Telegraph. Monga, 16, has already agreed terms on a professional contract with the Foxes, but attention from the Premier League may yet complicate matters. The winger has played 25 times in the Championship this season, scoring once and grabbing a pair of assists.

Newcastle United‘s asking price for the transfer of Anthony Gordon this summer is around £80 million, according to iNews. Bayern Munich have serious interest in the winger and are expected to make a formal bid to sign him at the end of the season. The England international has also been linked with a move to Arsenal, while Liverpool are thought to be long-term admirers.

Tottenham Hotspur have struck an agreement in principle to sign Bournemouth center back Marcos Senesi on a free transfer, TalkSPORT has revealed. The Argentina international is expected to make the switch to North London at the end of the season, once his contract expires, though Spurs potential relegation could complicate things. Indeed, the proposed transfer hinges on them staying up as Senesi is not prepared to play in the Championship, while Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are also tracking his development.

Borussia Dortmund have internally discussed a move for West Ham United defender Konstantinos Mavropanos in recent weeks, Sky Germany reports. The 28-year-old is wanted by several Bundesliga and Premier League clubs after a string of impressive recent performances, and is reported to be “seeking a new challenge” so will push to leave the club at the end of the season, despite having a contract until 2028.

EXPERT TAKE

ESPN’s resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen looks at Adam Wharton’s skillset.

Less than two years after making his debut, Wharton is now undoubtedly one of the Premier League’s most accomplished distributors of the ball. He constantly asks to receive it and is trusted not to lose possession under pressure. Then, once in control, his pass selection is outstanding: he can hit 35-yard switches with precision, incisive line-breaks through pressure, or well-weighted deliveries played into a teammate’s stride.

The quality of Wharton’s left foot is one standout feature, though it’s also his vision and ability to “map” the play around him that is key, as they allow him to move the ball at tempo with ease and fluidity.

Wharton has also shown he is comfortable in a high-intensity style of football. Under Oliver Glasner at Palace, the England midfielder has performed in an energetic, vertical scheme, where demands on speed of thought and defensive reactions are higher. Though he was impressive last season, he has lifted his key-pass output by roughly 10% this year, while still maintaining accuracy and pass variation. Crucially, the distribution isn’t location-specific either and he is as reliable starting attacks from deep as he is contributing in the final third.

OTHER RUMORS

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Burley praises Lampard’s ‘amazing job’ after Coventry’s promotion

Craig Burley reflects on Coventry City’s promotion to the Premier League.

– Newcastle United are ready to cut their losses by letting striker Yoane Wissa leave the club at the end of the season for as little as £15 million after a disappointing £55 million transfer from Brentford. (iNews)

– Wolfsburg have reignited their interest in West Ham United striker Niclas Füllkrug. The Germany international is expected to return to East London this summer after AC Milan opted against activating his £5 million permanent option. (Sky Germany)

– Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, 29, is a target for Dutch club Ajax after falling down the pecking order in the Spanish capital. (AS)

– Defender David Alaba, 33, is expected to leave Real Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Fabrizio Romano)

– AC Milan are among the clubs monitoring Sporting center back Ousmane Diomande. (Nicolo Schira)

– Bournemouth and Besiktas are tracking Internazionale winger Luiz Henrique heading into the summer transfer window. (Nicolo Schira)

– Eintracht Frankfurt and Roma are leading the race to sign Bayern Munich youngster Noël Aséko (currently on loan at Hannover), whose transfer is valued around €12 million mark. (Florian Plettenberg).

– Manchester City remain interested in signing Troyes youngster Mathys Detourbet, although no agreement exists between the two clubs at this stage. (Santi Aouna)

– Defender Jack Hendry will be leaving Al Ettifaq on a free transfer this summer. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Everton are expected to try to sign Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney this summer, as he is open to a Premier League return. (Ekrem Konur)



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Pakistan ‘in talks’ with Argentina over potential friendly match

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Pakistan ‘in talks’ with Argentina over potential friendly match


Photo collage shows Pakistan’s Ahmed Salman (R) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (L) in action for their respective national teams. — Facebook/PakistanFootballOfficial/Reuters

KARACHI: Pakistan and Argentina have held initial discussions over the possibility of an international friendly between their football teams, as part of broader talks on football development cooperation, sources privy to the matter said.

According to sources, officials from the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) held early-stage discussions during an online exchange, where they reviewed multiple areas of cooperation, including coaching development, technical training programmes and a potential friendly fixture.

Both sides also discussed the possibility of Argentinian coaches visiting Pakistan under a structured development initiative and explored a wider technical collaboration framework aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s football structure.

An official statement shared by Pakistan’s mission in Argentina said a “productive and forward-looking meeting” was arranged and coordinated by the mission, bringing together the PFF and the AFA following AFA’s launch of the “AFA Pakistan” brand and its expressed interest in building “meaningful engagement with Pakistan’s football ecosystem.”

The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Hassan Afzal Khan, was attended by PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani and his team, along with AFA Marketing Director Francisco Lemmi, the statement said.

According to the statement, Ambassador Hassan said the development presented “an excellent opportunity to strengthen collaboration and contribute to the growth of football in Pakistan”. 

It added that Gilani welcomed AFA’s outreach and emphasised the importance of developing the partnership in a “structured and sustainable manner” aimed at long-term cooperation and mutual benefit.

If finalised, the proposed friendly would take place after the Fifa World Cup, with both federations agreeing to continue working on various logistical and technical aspects before any confirmation.

The statement described the engagement as a “promising step toward international collaboration in sports development” that opens new avenues for football advancement in Pakistan.

Sources emphasised that discussions remain at an early stage, with further coordination required before any agreement on a friendly match or formal development programme is reached.





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