Last night, Indiana completed one of the most remarkable seasons in college football history with a 27–21 victory over Miami (Fla.) in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win capped a perfect 16–0 season and delivered the first national championship in Indiana football history, a feat long thought unimaginable for a program that spent decades on the margins of the sport. As confetti fell and players embraced on the field, the Hoosiers stood atop college football as undefeated champions.
Indiana entered the championship game as the nation’s top-ranked team, but the moment still carried a sense of disbelief. For generations, Indiana football had been defined more by perseverance than success. Under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, that identity was rewritten in emphatic fashion. The Hoosiers combined discipline, physical defense, and timely offense throughout the season, and those traits were on full display against a talented Miami team on college football’s biggest stage.
The national title game began as a tense, defensive struggle. Indiana controlled the tempo early, leaning on its defense and field position to keep Miami off balance. The Hoosiers struck first in the second quarter on a short touchdown run, then added a field goal to take a 10–0 lead into halftime. Miami, known for its explosive offense, was held scoreless in the first half as Indiana’s defense consistently won battles at the line of scrimmage and limited big plays.
Momentum briefly shifted early in the third quarter when Miami broke through with a 57-yard touchdown run by Mark Fletcher Jr., cutting the deficit to 10–7. The response from Indiana, however, defined the night. On the ensuing possession, Indiana blocked a Miami punt, and defensive lineman Isaiah Jones recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The special teams score restored a two-possession lead and reignited the Hoosiers’ sideline.
Miami refused to go away. Fletcher scored again early in the fourth quarter to make it 17–14, and the Hurricanes’ confidence grew as the game tightened. That was when Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered the play that will live forever in program history. Facing fourth-and-4 from the Miami 12-yard line, Mendoza broke containment on a called pass play and raced into the end zone for a touchdown, giving Indiana a 24–14 lead and swinging momentum decisively back to the Hoosiers.
Mendoza’s performance was emblematic of his entire season. Calm under pressure and decisive when it mattered most, the Heisman Trophy winner guided Indiana through every challenge it faced. While his passing numbers in the title game were modest, his leadership and ability to make critical plays defined the outcome. His fourth-down touchdown run became the signature moment of Indiana’s championship run.
Miami made one final push late in the fourth quarter, scoring on a touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Malachi Toney to pull within 24–21. Indiana answered with a crucial field goal to extend the lead to six points. With time winding down, Miami drove into Indiana territory, but the Hoosiers’ defense held firm. On Miami’s final possession, Jamari Sharpe intercepted Beck’s pass, sealing the victory and igniting a celebration years in the making.
Indiana’s championship run was about more than one game. The Hoosiers became the first Football Bowl Subdivision team to finish a season 16–0, a milestone made possible by the expanded College Football Playoff. Along the way, Indiana defeated traditional powers, won the Big Ten Championship, and consistently proved it belonged among the nation’s elite.
In Bloomington, celebrations erupted immediately after the final whistle. Thousands of fans flooded the streets near campus, celebrating a season that transformed the program’s identity. The university announced plans for a national championship parade and ring ceremony, ensuring the moment would be permanently etched into school history.
From a program long associated with struggle to an undefeated national champion, Indiana’s 2026 season stands as one of college football’s great transformation stories. The Hoosiers did not simply win a title; they redefined what was possible. For Indiana fans, alumni, and players past and present, this championship represents belief rewarded and a legacy forever changed.
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