The Indiana Hoosiers won their first national championship in college football, beating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the College Football Playoff title game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday night. Top-seeded Indiana finished the season 16-0, led by head coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Background
Indiana had never won a national title in football before this game. The program struggled for years, often finishing near the bottom of the Big Ten conference. Wins were rare against top teams, and road games against ranked opponents ended in defeat 46 straight times before this season.
Curt Cignetti took over as coach and changed everything. He brought in transfers and built a strong team. The Hoosiers started the 2025 season ranked No. 20 and picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten. They proved everyone wrong with big wins.
Early in the season, Indiana beat Illinois 63-10. Mendoza threw five touchdown passes in that game. Then they went on the road and beat No. 3 Oregon 30-20. The game was tied until the fourth quarter, when Indiana scored the final 10 points. Mendoza hit Sarratt with an 8-yard touchdown pass to take the lead.
In the Big Ten championship, Indiana faced No. 1 Ohio State. Both teams had strong defenses, so points came slow. Mendoza threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt in the third quarter for the game-winner in a 13-10 victory. That was Indiana's first conference title since 1967.
The expanded 12-team playoff gave Indiana a first-round bye as the top seed. No team with a bye had won a quarterfinal game before. Indiana did, crushing Alabama 38-3. In the semifinals, they beat Oregon again, 56-22. Those wins were by 30 or more points each, a first in playoff history.
This run matched the perfect season total of Yale from 1894, at 16-0 with the extra playoff games. It came 50 years after Indiana's basketball team went 32-0 under Bob Knight.
Key Details
The championship game started with Indiana in control. The Hoosiers drove 85 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown. Fernando Mendoza led the drive, and Riley Nowakowski scored on a 1-yard run to make it 7-0. Indiana added a field goal for a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
Miami's offense struggled early. They did not get a first down until late in the first half. On fourth-and-2 from the Indiana 32, kicker Carter Davis missed a 50-yard field goal off the upright. Miami stayed scoreless at halftime despite playing at home.
In the second half, Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. broke loose. He ran 57 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 10-7. Indiana responded with special teams help. They blocked a Miami punt, and linebacker Isaiah Jones recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. That made it 17-7 in the third quarter.
Turning Points in the Fourth Quarter
Miami fought back. Fletcher scored again on a 10-play, 81-yard drive to start the fourth, making it 17-14. Indiana faced fourth-and-5 at the Miami 12. Coach Cignetti went for it, and Mendoza connected on the pass to keep the drive going.
Later, Mendoza broke tackles on a 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left. That put Indiana up 24-14. Miami pulled close at 24-21, but Indiana added a field goal after a false start penalty backed them up.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck drove downfield late. A roughing the passer call helped them from their own 20. Beck moved past midfield but underthrew a pass. Indiana's Jamari Sharpe picked it off with 44 seconds left and no timeouts for Miami. That sealed the 27-21 win.
Mendoza went 16-of-27 for 186 yards and rushed for a score. Omar Cooper Jr. had 71 yards on five catches. Charlie Becker caught four for 65 yards. Kaelon Black ran for 79 yards on 17 carries. Roman Hemby added 60 yards on 19 carries.
For Miami, Beck was 19-of-32 for 232 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Toney had 10 catches for 122 yards and a score. Fletcher rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.
"A lot of guts. That's what it took to win a national title," said Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti.
What This Means
Indiana's win marks the biggest turnaround in college football history. From the worst program in FBS to undefeated champions in one season. It shows what a good coach, key transfers, and smart play can do.
The victory boosts recruiting for Indiana. Top players will now see the Hoosiers as contenders. It changes the Big Ten balance. Ohio State and Oregon lost to Indiana this year, so expectations rise for next season.
Coach Cignetti stays, and stars like Mendoza could return or go to the NFL. Miami's loss hurts after a strong season. Their home crowd could not swing the game.
Fans in Indiana celebrated into the night. Memorial Stadium will host more big games soon. This title puts football on par with the state's basketball tradition. The Hoosiers proved they belong at the top.
