From Conquered to Conquerors: Indiana Hoosiers Tops Miami Hurricanes in CFB National Championship

(photo courtesy of Lynne Sladky - AP)

On Monday, January 19th, 2026, the Indiana Hoosiers faced off against the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football National Championship. The Hoosiers defeated the Hurricanes on their home turf to win their first-ever national championship. 
by Gracie Edwards, Harrison Smith, and Justin Andrio

Game Recap * stats from ESPN *
The Indiana Hoosiers kicked off to the Miami Hurricanes, and the 2026 National Championship was underway. The first three drives resulted in punts, but on Indiana’s second drive, Nico Radicic drilled a 34-yard field goal to put the Hoosiers on top late in the first, 3-0.

The following three drives resulted in punts before Indiana put up a 14-play, 85-yard touchdown drive to extend the Hoosiers' lead, 10-0. On the following drive, Miami’s Carter Davis kicked a field goal, only to “doink” it off the upright, and Indiana entered halftime up 10-0.

After halftime, Indiana punted, but Miami capitalized on the great field position, and Mark Fletcher Jr. took a 57-yard run to the end zone to cut the Indiana lead to 10-7. Both teams went back and forth punting the ball, ticking down the clock until the final play of the third quarter, where Miami scored, starting the fourth quarter off 17-14, with Indiana still in the lead.

Indiana got the ball back and started marching downfield, taking their time while also tanking the clock. To cap off the twelve-play drive, Fernando Mendoza took off, breaking two tackles and diving for the end zone, getting hit at the same time but scoring, making this game 24-14. Miami, looking to bounce back by making it a one-score game, once again drove down the field. Carson Beck hit Malachi Toney on a 22-yard pass to make the score 21-24.

As the game clock ticked down, Mendoza led his team down to what could be the game-sealing field goal, making the score 27-21. One minute remained and Miami had a chance to take the lead with a big throw downfield. However, the ball was read perfectly by DB Jamari Sharpe, and the interception sealed the deal. To cap off this amazing championship game, Mendoza took a knee and claimed the trophy as the kings of college football.

(photo courtesy of Marca.com)

Biggest Turnaround in Sports History? *source: Sports Reference*
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The Indiana Hoosiers are now national champions, but just two seasons ago, in 2023, the Hoosiers went 3-9 and decided it was time for a coaching change.

That offseason, they hired Curt Cignetti, and it has changed the program's history. Since then, the Hoosiers have gone 11-2 in 2024 and 16-0 in 2025, winning the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and the National Championship.

The addition of their new head coach and their star QB transfer from Cal (California Golden Bears) cemented this team in the history books with a National Championship and a Heisman winner in QB Fernando Mendoza.

Jameson Butts (12) is a big college football advocate and watched the National Championship. He stated, “It was closer than I expected, but it was a nice national championship overall.” He said that Indiana was in fact the greatest sports turnaround in history, stating, “100%. Historically, that program has not been the greatest. They had some signs of success starting last season.”

Evan Cowan, a student-athlete, had this to say about the current Miami QB and former Georgia QB Carson Beck: “I don't like him because he sucks; took him seven years to go to the nationals by himself.”

After the greatest college sports turnaround in history, fans now must wait 200+ days until Week 0, where the North Carolina Tar Heels face off against the TCU Horned Frogs in Dublin, Ireland. Will the Big Ten make it four straight championships, or will another conference reign supreme over the college football world?

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