cfb · champside ·

Indiana Claims First National Championship in Thrilling 27-21 Victory Over Miami

Indiana Claims First National Championship in Thrilling 27-21 Victory Over Miami

Indiana Claims First National Championship in Thrilling 27-21 Victory Over Miami


In a dramatic College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers capped an improbable undefeated season with a hard fought 27-21 win over the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Hoosiers finished 16-0, etching their name in history as program champions for the first time ever.


Indiana, once among the most downtrodden programs in major college football, completed one of the greatest turnarounds in the sports history under head coach Curt Cignetti. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered the signature moment of the game, bulldozing his way into the end zone on fourth down from the 12-yard line in the fourth quarter. The score pushed Indiana ahead 24-14 and proved pivotal in holding off a late Miami surge.

The game remained tense throughout. Indiana built a 10-0 halftime lead with a 34-yard field goal by Nico Radicic and a 1-yard touchdown run by Riley Nowakowski. Miami answered in the third quarter with Mark Fletcher Jr.'s explosive 57-yard touchdown run, but Indiana responded immediately with a blocked punt return for a touchdown by Isaiah Jones.

The fourth quarter featured back and forth drama. Fletcher Jr. scored again from 3 yards out to tie the game briefly, only for Mendoza to reclaim the lead with his heroic run.


Miami's Carson Beck connected with Malachi Toney for a 22-yard touchdown to make it 24-21, but a costly interception by Beck stalled the Hurricanes' comeback bid. Radicic sealed the victory with a 35-yard field goal as time wound down.

Defensively, Indiana's unit stood tall, forcing key stops and capitalizing on Miami's mistakes. The Hoosiers' balanced attack and resilience shone through in a contest that highlighted their journey from underdogs to champions.

"This is what it's all about," Cignetti said postgame. "I'm gonna have a beer."

For Miami, the loss denied the Hurricanes their first national title since 2001 and a sixth overall. Despite the defeat, their run to the championship game marked a strong resurgence.Indiana's triumph stands as a testament to perseverance, rewriting the program's narrative and delivering an unforgettable conclusion to the 2025-26 college football season.

The Hoosiers are national champions: undefeated, unbreakable, and forever etched in history.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

CHAMPSIDE