Miami vs Indiana: A Championship Night to Remember
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a game that will be whispered about in the halls of Bloomington for generations, the Indiana Hoosiers have done the unthinkable. On a humid Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium, the top-seeded Hoosiers took down the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes 27-21, securing the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship.
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The victory marks more than just a trophy; it completes a miraculous 16-0 season. Indiana now joins an elite tier of historical perfection, becoming the first top-level program to hit that win count since Yale back in 1894. For a school long defined by its basketball “blue blood” status, the gridiron has finally claimed its share of the spotlight.
Mendoza’s Homecoming Heroics
The story of the night centered on Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana quarterback was playing in his own backyard, having grown up just miles from the Miami campus. Despite the Hurricanes passing on him during his high school recruitment, Mendoza proved his worth on the biggest stage in sports.
Mendoza wasn’t just a passer on Monday; he was a warrior. He finished the night with 186 passing yards, but his legs told the real story. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and facing a daunting 4th-and-4, Coach Curt Cignetti opted to pass up a field goal. Mendoza took the snap on a designed draw, broke through several tackles, and dove into the end zone to give Indiana a 24-14 lead.
“I would die for my team,” a bloodied Mendoza told reporters after the game. “Whatever they need me to do… I’m going to give it all because I know they’ll do the same for me.”
A Gut Check for the Ages
Miami did not go quietly in front of their home crowd. Trailing by 10 late in the fourth, the Hurricanes roared back with a rapid 91-yard drive. Freshman sensation Malachi Toney capped the move with a 22-yard touchdown catch, bringing the score to 24-21 and sending the Miami faithful into a frenzy.
The Hoosiers responded with the poise of champions. They milked the clock and added a late field goal by Nicolas Radicic to push the lead to six. However, Miami still had one last chance with 1:42 left on the clock.
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The tension in Miami Gardens was palpable as Miami quarterback Carson Beck moved the ball toward midfield. But the miracle ended there. Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe jumped a deep route, snagging a game-sealing interception with just 44 seconds remaining.
The Cignetti Revolution
Just two years ago, Indiana football was a program in the basement of the Big Ten, coming off seasons of two, four, and three wins. Enter Curt Cignetti. The “turnaround artist” has completely flipped the script, bringing a winning culture to a campus that had endured over 700 historical losses.
“We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said during the trophy presentation. “It’s a credit to our guys’ resiliency. This is one of the greatest sports stories of all time.”
With this win, Indiana secures the Big Ten’s third consecutive national title, following Michigan and Ohio State. Perhaps more impressively, the school now holds a unique record: they are the most recent men’s program to have an undefeated champion in both football (2025-26) and basketball (1975-76).
Miami vs Indiana: A Shift in Power?
Miami fell short of their first title since 2001, their run to the final as a No. 10 seed proved the depth of talent in the ACC. However, the night belonged to the “Cardiac Hoosiers.” From blocked punts by Mikail Kamara to the steady leadership of Aiden Fisher, Indiana proved they weren’t just a “Cinderella” story—they were the best team in the country.
As the confetti settles over the Florida turf, the celebration is just beginning back in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have arrived, and college football may never look the same again.
