Monday night, the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes went head-to-head in the College Football National Championship.
The two powerhouse programs met on Jan 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. This was one of the biggest games of the year due to a national championship title on the line for both teams.
After battling through a season that included wins over some of the biggest teams in the country, including the Ohio State Buckeyes, who won the national championship last year, both programs earned their spots on the biggest stage in college football. In a hard-fought, suspenseful game, the stakes are high.
The Hoosiers ultimately defeated the Hurricanes 27-21 to claim the national championship. The title game crowned Indiana the best team in the NCAA Division one football this season, but it also highlighted the importance of postseason success in building a legacy for each team’s program.
The Indiana Hoosiers delivered one of the most memorable seasons in college football history Monday night by winning the National Championship. The Hoosiers finished the season with a perfect record of 16-0 and claimed the program’s first national title in the process. The Hoosiers ended the year ranked number 1 in the AP Poll, and they finished 9-0 in conference play in the Big Ten.
Indiana was led by second-year head coach Curt Cignetti. Cignetti, who had famously coached under Nick Saban from 2007-2010 at the University of Alabama, brought a championship mindset to Bloomington. His experience under Saban helped him reshape the Hoosiers’ culture after several difficult seasons. Including a 3-9 season in 2023 and a 4-8 season in 2022 under former coach Tom Allen. The drastic improvement has sparked excitement and renewed fan engagement across the college football program.
“Senior Fernando Mendoza had a historic year, throwing for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only six interceptions, while also completing 72% of his passes this season,” According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. His performance was key in earning him the 2025 Heisman Trophy. In the National Championship game, Mendoza finished 16-of-27 for 186 passing yards while having a 58.3 completion percentage and also added a rushing touchdown for 12 yards despite not throwing a passing touchdown all game.
While on the Miami sideline, the Hurricanes brought championship aspirations, bowl game experience, and a strategic approach shaped by head coach Mario Cristobal in his fourth season. Also, having coached under Saban at Alabama from 2013-2016. Miami has won five national championships in program history. Carson Beck, who has previously played for the Georgia Bulldogs, was part of the two National Championships as a backup quarterback. He transferred to Miami for his last year. According to the University of Miami, “he led the Hurricanes with 3,813 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on the season”. In the championship game, Beck completed 19 of 32 passes for 232 yards while having a 59.4 completion percentage and one touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter, Beck threw a one interception, which ultimately sealed the game for Indiana.
