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Peach Bowl Semifinal Pits Fernando Mendoza vs. Dante Moore With Title Berth and Draft Stakes

NFL evaluators, including the Raiders and Jets holding the top two picks, view this game as a pivotal data point.

Overview

  • Indiana’s Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore meet in Friday’s CFP semifinal in Atlanta with a spot in the national championship game at stake.
  • Mendoza guided an undefeated Big Ten title run and enters with 3,172 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, plus six rushing scores.
  • Moore has 3,280 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he has surged since the October loss to Indiana with 1,885 yards, 13 TDs and a 73.6% completion rate.
  • The Jets, picking No. 2, and the Raiders, picking No. 1, are weighing this head-to-head heavily, as Jets GM Darren Mougey stressed that game tape carries the most weight in QB evaluation.
  • In October’s 30-20 Indiana win at Oregon, Mendoza outperformed Moore, and roster moves reflect looming decisions, with Indiana adding TCU transfer Josh Hoover and Moore still undecided on entering the draft.