CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: OREGON VS INDIANA

January 7, 2026

Jadon Canady

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Oregon Ducks

Press Conference

Q. When you look at the Indiana offense and you game plan for them, how much of that game plan is just about letting Fernando Mendoza do his own thing?

JADON CANADY: I don't think he does his own thing as much as people think. I think he's a good quarterback -- well, a great quarterback. He won the Heisman Trophy. But it's just a guy who knows his job, knows his role, knows his schemes, knows his routes and his wide outs very well.

Q. Who's the most famous Atlanta celebrity you can think of?

JADON CANADY: I'd say Yungblud probably.

Q. What's the thing you respect most about Coach Cig?

JADON CANADY: I'd say his swag and his demeanor.

Q. What is Coach Lanning's go-to catch phrase?

JADON CANADY: "People." "People" for sure.

Q. If you were at a restaurant, would you rather order duck or bison off the menu?

JADON CANADY: Bison. Duck is definitely not an option for me.

Q. You've done a great job of forcing turnovers lately and that's allowed the offense to score some points that have been really valuable. Has there been an emphasis on that in practice, especially in preparation for Indiana which handles the football extremely well?

JADON CANADY: Yes, Coach Tosh and Coach Dan do a job well done in practice of always say, like, find a way to get the ball out, whether it's punch out, knockout, pick, PBUs. I think since we've put a huge marker on that, it has gone up in games.

Q. Is there any plan to combat Surratt, especially in his duality, multifunctionality within the game?

JADON CANADY: I don't think so, no. I think we just go out there with our guys and play the game.

Q. Talk to me a little bit about your first impression when you walked in the stadium.

JADON CANADY: Well, I've been here before, so I've seen it before. So I wasn't like oh, wow. But it's cool to play in a stadium like this.

Q. Talk to me about Coach Lanning. He's been to the top of the mountain. What has he been teaching you guys about the process of getting to that point?

JADON CANADY: Coach Dan, really throughout the season he didn't talk about it that much. He used this year as four quarters, the first, second and third, and now in the fourth quarter is the playoffs. Throughout the fourth quarter he's said plenty of times about just coming out here and just playing our game and not making it bigger than what it is.

Q. What have you seen differently from them from the first time you saw them until now?

JADON CANADY: I think both teams have used the early game to have a game plan and whatnot, but I don't see either team coming in with the same game plan. I'm looking for something this time around from them.

Q. You guys stayed on the eastern time zone?

JADON CANADY: Yes, sir, we did.

Q. How important was that?

JADON CANADY: Pretty good. We've traveled around pretty much the whole entire USA, so just fine.

Q. Can you just describe the vibe from this team, knowing that you're here, you're about 48 hours away from kickoff?

JADON CANADY: Excited. It's an opportunity to come out here and win a big game. I think the team is ready to go.

Q. It doesn't always happen when you get that opportunity to do it over again. I've got to imagine as a competitor that you're excited for that opportunity.

JADON CANADY: Definitely. Obviously want to beat these guys. But just us being in the final four is good for me.

Q. What's it like to be in this position?

JADON CANADY: I'd say blessed, man. Not many teams can be here. I haven't been here before, nor have some of my teammates. I think we're all blessed for this opportunity and grateful.

Q. (Indiscernible) what have you seen from him?

JADON CANADY: Just a guy who works hard. I think he's gained the trust of his team, his quarterback, his coaches in order to make these big plays. I think he took a big opportunity, took advantage of his opportunity that was given to him.

Q. How different is it for you going against this receiver for the second time this season, and do you change anything?

JADON CANADY: Really you just watch the match-ups, and I see what he did to maybe beat me sometimes or how I beat him sometimes. I just watch the film and see how me and him just battled.

Q. Both coordinators are on to new jobs next year. Have you guys noticed a shift?

JADON CANADY: Not at all. I think Coach Tosh and Coach Stein have done a great job of keeping that stuff outside of the building and just walking with us, keeping the main thing the main thing.

Q. You've had several stops along the way. Can you talk about the journey to getting to this point?

JADON CANADY: It means a lot, just all the hard work. Coming from me, a guy who came from Tulane, a small school. I tore my ACL. The path for me has definitely been a journey, but I'm thankful for it, honestly.

Q. What are you looking to change this (indiscernible)?

JADON CANADY: I'd say nothing too super. Watch the game, no one guy has to be Superman or whatnot. I think if our guys come out here and just do our jobs, I think we can win this game.

Q. Can you talk about the identity of the secondary?

JADON CANADY: I think guys who fly around, who are sticky in man coverage and who attack the ball at a high level.

Q. A lot of eyes on you. What are you looking to prove?

JADON CANADY: Not much. Just go out there and do my job. This is a big stage, but I think if I do my job as well as my teammates do their jobs, I think we'll all be good.

Q. How much do you look forward to the opportunity?

JADON CANADY: Definitely a lot. I'm not so far as much as looking to play him. It's more the team and more the opportunity that we're in. I'm hoping to come out of here with a win and advance to the next round.

Q. What did you learn from that first opportunity but also the games that have happened since?

JADON CANADY: I think that game, we understood what it felt like to get punched and just to understand that feeling and just to know from that point on, all right, guys, we've got to lock in and whatnot. I think that game was just used as that.

Q. I know it's pretty early, but did you ever feel like we might see those guys again in the CFP?

JADON CANADY: Honestly, I didn't think so. I think guys were hoping for that match-up or whatnot, but obviously you never know or whatnot with the scenario.

Q. That last game we all see the shut-out. How do you guys evaluate it in terms of was it the best game you guys have played? What's even better than that?

JADON CANADY: I think the guys are excited and whatnot, but I think the team as well as us, offense, use that team just to see how we can do better. Obviously that was a great game by us, but obviously there's room for improvement. I think that's how we use that game.

Q. What's that dynamic like to sit in the room with who's in there in terms of the personalities, young guys that have been real impactful? What's that room like?

JADON CANADY: The room is very fun and cool and chill. It's not too intense or whatnot. Football is a fun game. No, just go out there and have fun is what we preach, fly around, make plays, attack the ball, attack at a high level. That's pretty much how we view the room.

Q. Who's the loudest person in the room?

JADON CANADY: I'd probably say me, honestly. As far as leading, I think all of us. But I think a guy that talks and gets the guys going, I would say me.

Q. What's your comfort level being that guy?

JADON CANADY: High level. I think when Tosh, Dan and Coach Love brought me in, they viewed me as a guy who can talk to the guys and be a leader because I have some experience and whatnot, so I think I have done a great job in that role so far.