Indiana football's 2025 national championship season is in the rear-view mirror, but it's a year that will live in IU history forever. In just the second season under Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers went 16-0, won the national title, the Big Ten title, the Rose Bowl, claimed their first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, and completed arguably the greatest turnaround story in college football history.
Peegs.com is counting down the 10 greatest moments from Indiana's 2025 season. From D'Angelo Ponds' pick-six against Oregon in the Peach Bowl, to Fernando Mendoza's game-winning touchdown run in the national championship, to Omar Cooper Jr's "catch of the year" in a comeback win over Penn State, the Hoosiers provided countless memorable moments from this past season.
At No. 5, we look back at D'Angelo Ponds' interception return touchdown against Oregon on the opening play of the Peach Bowl. Ponds' early score helped set the tone at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and propelled Indiana to a dominant 56-22 win in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
Check back each day to see which moments made our top-10 list. Peegs.com will also include Honorable Mentions for the moments that barely missed the cut but are deserving of recognition.
PREVIOUS COUNTDOWN: No. 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6
No. 5 — D'Angelo Ponds' interception touchdown to open the Peach Bowl
Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds returned an interception for a touchdown against Oregon on the opening play of the Peach Bowl and College Football Playoff Semifinal. (Photo: Jared Kelly/Peegs.com)
D'Angelo Ponds nearly set Mercedes-Benz Stadium ablaze before fans had a chance to catch their breath. It was the interception of all interceptions. The pick-six to end all pick-sixes. Arguably the greatest, single crowd pop in recent college football memory.
If you blinked, you probably missed it. But the deafening roar that echoed throughout Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 9 told the entire story.
It was No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl. The winner would advance to the National Championship. IU was attempting to pull off the improbable, beating the same opponent twice in the same season. Dan Lanning's Ducks had other ideas.
Just before kickoff, however, it was clear who Mercedes-Benz Stadium belonged to that night. Hint: It wasn't Oregon fans. Droves of cream and crimson flocked to the College Football Playoff Semifinal as if it was just a short drive away instead of an eight hour trip. Soon, Atlanta turned into Bloomington South.
Then came game time. Oregon started on offense first. The fiercely pro-IU crowd made its presence known. Ducks quarterback Dante Moore was going to have to shake off essentially a true road environment if he was going to lead Oregon to the National Championship.
All it took was one play for the beatdown to commence.
On the opening play of the game, Moore dropped back for a quick pass to the sideline. Ponds read the route and Moore's eyes the entire way. "The quick pass is intercepted! It's going to be run in for an Indiana touchdown!"
Pandemonium ensued. The roof nearly blew off the stadium. Indiana led 7-0 in less than 10 seconds. The rout was effectively on.
IU and Oregon's rematch was completely uncompetitive. The Hoosiers scored seven first-half touchdowns and took a 35-7 lead at halftime. Fernando Mendoza threw for five touchdowns to only three incompletions. Kaelon Black and Elijah Sarratt each had two touchdowns. Even Ponds saw action on offense and caught a pass for six yards.
As the final whistle blew on an inevitable outcome, Indiana was booking its first-ever trip to play in the National Championship. Ponds stood front and center of the confetti-filled celebration.
The tone-setting touchdown from Ponds might've been the loudest I've ever heard a building for any singular moment. The cheers and joyful screams from Indiana fans were ear-splitting. One would've thought Ponds was a running back an interception at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, not eight hours south in Atlanta.
Ponds was already an IU legend without that pick-six, no doubt. But to cement his legacy with one of the most memorable plays in Indiana history — that's deserving of a top-five spot in the greatest Indiana season ever.