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When the 2025-2026 season began, few analysts would have predicted a Miami vs Indiana finale. The Hurricanes, led by Mario Cristobal and quarterback Carson Beck, were certainly contenders, boasting the talent and swagger "The U" is famous for. But Indiana? The Hoosiers were coming off a rapid rebuild under head coach Curt Cignetti, whose promise to change the culture in Bloomington turned out to be the understatement of the decade.
The atmosphere in Miami Gardens was electric. While Hard Rock Stadium is the home turf for the Miami Hurricanes, thousands of crimson-clad Hoosier fans made the pilgrimage south, turning the national championship game into a raucous, split-crowd affair.
First Half: A Defensive Clinic
The Indiana vs Miami game began as a defensive struggle, defying the high-scoring expectations many held for two explosive offenses.
Indiana’s defense, which had been opportunistic all year, stifled the Hurricanes early. Miami football struggled to find a rhythm, with Carson Beck under constant pressure. The Hoosiers took a 10-0 lead into halftime, courtesy of a gritty 1-yard touchdown run by Riley Nowakowski and a field goal by Nico Radicic.
For Miami fans, the first 30 minutes were a nightmare. The score of the Indiana-Miami game at the break reflected a Hoosier dominance in the trenches that silenced the home crowd. Indiana outgained Miami significantly in total yardage, leaving the Hurricanes searching for answers.
The Turning Point: Chaos in the Third Quarter
The CFP Championship truly ignited in the third quarter. Miami, desperate to avoid embarrassment on their home field, finally found a spark. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. exploded for a 57-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 10-7 and sending the Miami Hurricanes football faithful into a frenzy.
But just as momentum seemed to shift, Indiana’s special teams delivered a counter-punch. Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara broke through the line to block a Miami punt. Isaiah Jones scooped up the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown, extending Indiana's lead to 17-7.
It was a sequence that epitomized the Indiana vs Miami battle: every time the Hurricanes threw a haymaker, the Hoosiers responded with a jab of their own.
The Legend of Fernando Mendoza
If there is one name that will be etched into Indiana football lore forever, it is Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback didn't have his most prolific passing night, throwing for 186 yards, but his heart and resilience defined the national championship 2026.
Early in the fourth quarter, Miami cut the lead to 17-14. The pressure was mounting. Facing a critical 4th-and-4 on the Miami 12-yard line with just over nine minutes remaining, Coach Cignetti rolled the dice.
In the play of the game, Mendoza took a quarterback draw, spun out of a tackle, and sprawled into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. The "Mendoza Dive" pushed the lead to 24-14 and became the instant highlight of the CFP National Championship.
"I'll die for my team," Mendoza said in the post-game interview, his jersey stained with grass and blood—a warrior’s testament to the Indiana vs Miami football war.
The Final Stand: Jamari Sharpe Seals History
The Miami Hurricanes refused to go quietly. Quarterback Carson Beck led a swift scoring drive, connecting with freshman sensation Malachi Toney for a 22-yard touchdown. The Miami vs Indiana score tightened to 24-21.
After an Indiana field goal made it 27-21, Miami had one last chance. With under two minutes to play, Beck drove the Hurricanes into Indiana territory. The tension in Hard Rock Stadium was suffocating.
With 44 seconds left, Beck looked for a receiver near the sideline. Jamari Sharpe, an Indiana cornerback and a Miami native who was overlooked by the Hurricanes in recruiting, jumped the route.
Sharpe intercepted the pass, falling to the turf and securing the ball—and the national championship—for Indiana. It was a poetic ending: a local kid sealing the fate of his hometown team to bring a title to Bloomington.
Curt Cignetti: The Architect of Perfection
The victory cemented Curt Cignetti’s status as a coaching legend. In just two years, he transformed a program with over 700 historical losses into a 16-0 juggernaut. The "Cignetti Rule"—his philosophy of relentless belief and execution—proved effective on the sport's biggest stage.
"We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done," Cignetti declared on the podium, holding the CFP trophy aloft.
Box Score and Key Stats
For those looking for the granular details of the Indiana vs Miami score:
Final Score: Indiana 27, Miami 21
Fernando Mendoza (IU): 16/27, 186 passing yards, 1 rushing TD.
Carson Beck (MIA): 232 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Mark Fletcher Jr. (MIA): 112 rushing yards, 2 TDs.
Turnovers: Miami 2 (1 INT, 1 Blocked Punt), Indiana 0.
What This Means for College Football
The National Championship 2026 result shatters the glass ceiling of the sport. For decades, the title was the property of a select few "Blue Bloods." Indiana’s victory proves that in the era of the 12-team playoff and NIL, parity is real.
For Miami football, the loss is a bitter pill. To fall short at home in the championship game hurts, but their resurgence under Cristobal signals that "The U" is back in the national conversation.
For Indiana Hoosiers, the celebrations will likely last for decades. They are the undefeated college football teams of legend, joining the ranks of the immortals with a perfect 16-0 record, a feat rarely seen in the modern era.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who won the college football championship in 2026? The Indiana Hoosiers won the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, defeating the Miami Hurricanes with a final score of 27-21. This marked Indiana's first-ever national title in football.
What was the score of the Indiana-Miami game? The final score was Indiana 27, Miami 21. The game was a tight contest decided in the final minute by an interception from Indiana defender Jamari Sharpe.
Where was the National Championship game 2026 played? The game was played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This served as a home game for the Miami Hurricanes, making Indiana's victory even more impressive.
Who was the MVP of the Miami vs Indiana game? While the official honors were distributed post-game, Indiana Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was widely cited as the key player for his clutch 4th-down touchdown run and leadership. Defensive back Jamari Sharpe also received massive praise for his game-winning interception.
Did Indiana go undefeated in the 2025-2026 season? Yes. Indiana finished the season with a perfect 16-0 record. They are one of the few teams in college football history to achieve 16 wins in a single season, thanks to the expanded playoff format.
How can I watch the highlights of the Indiana vs Miami game? You can watch full game highlights on ESPN’s official YouTube channel, the NCAA website, and sports news platforms like CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports. Re-airs of the broadcast are typically available on the ESPN app and ESPNU.
Who is the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers? Curt Cignetti is the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. He took over the program in 2024 and led them to a national championship in just his second season.
Conclusion
The Miami vs Indiana National Championship game was a testament to the unpredictable beauty of college football. It gave us a new champion, a perfect season, and a collection of moments—from Mendoza’s dive to Sharpe’s pick—that will be replayed for years. The Hoosiers are the kings of college football, and the 2026 title game will stand as the moment the sport truly changed forever.
References
NCAA.com. (2026). Indiana defeats Miami to win College Football Playoff National Championship game. https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/football/fbs/indiana-defeats-miami-win-college-football-playoff-national-championship-game
CBS Sports. (2026). Indiana wins national championship: Curt Cignetti, 'Cignetti Rule' takeover college football. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/indiana-wins-national-championship-curt-cignetti-rule-college-football/
Yahoo Sports. (2026). Fernando Mendoza's epic 4th down TD run powers Indiana to its first national title ever. https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/live/fernando-mendozas-epic-4th-down-td-run-powers-indiana-to-its-first-national-title-ever-231344237.html
Associated Press. (2026). Indiana completes undefeated season and wins first national title. https://apnews.com
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