Last Updated 4:05 PM, January 21, 2026
Stan Becton

Indiana defeats Miami to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game

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Curt Cignetti's journey from DII football to CFP national champion
4:49
4:18 am, January 20, 2026

Indiana wins the College Football Playoff National Championship

The Indiana Hoosiers are the college football national champions for the first time ever. Top-seeded Indiana defeated No. 10 Miami (Fla.) in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship Game 27-21 to secure the win.

"A lot of guts. That's what it took to win a national title," Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said.

It took a lot of guts for Cignetti to boldly believe he would turn around an Indiana program that finished 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9 into a national championship winner back when he took the job two years ago.

Now Cignetti's name is etched in history after leading Indiana to a 16-0 season — joining 1894 Yale and 2019 North Dakota State as the other 16-0 Division I football champions. Moreover, Indiana is the first new team to win their first National Championship since the 1996 Florida Gators.

Then there's the story of the winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza won the national championship in his hometown, Miami, against Miami, after not being recruited by the Hurricanes. It's a redemption effort after losing to Miami last year while playing for Cal.

Mendoza earned Offensive MVP honors after completing 16 of 27 passes (59 percent) for 186 yards, rushing for a touchdown. The Hoosier signal caller had some all-time moments in the game in front of Indiana fans that overwhelmed Miami fans in their home stadium.

"I would die for my team," Mendoza said.

What a year its been for Mendoza, leaving it all out on the field. He becomes the eighth Heisman winner to win a CFP or BCS national championship.

Oh, and he got Lil Uzi Vert to come out and support, too.

Heisman winners to win a national championship
Year Heisman Winner National Champion
2025 QB Fernando Mendoza Indiana
2020 WR DeVonta Smith Alabama
2019 QB Joe Burrow LSU
2015 RB Derrick Henry Alabama
2013 QB Jameis Winston Florida State
2010 QB Cam Newton Auburn
2009 RB Mark Ingram Alabama
2004 QB Matt Leinart Southern California

Defensive lineman Mikail Kamara earned Defensive MVP honors thanks to his blocked punt. Indiana's win gives the Big Ten its third straight CFP championship.

With it all said and done, Indiana has the most recent men's football undefeated champion and the most recent men's basketball undefeated champion (1975-76).

And what about YOUR brackets? Twelve finished perfect in our College Football Bracket Challenge Game. That's 12 more than have ever finished perfect in our Men's March Madness Bracket Challenge. That is a unique number here, as it's also the number of teams in the bracket, increasing the odds of your bracket finishing perfect. See our complete perfect bracket tracker to see how it happened.

Click or tap here to view the final CFP bracket.

4:11 am, January 20, 2026

INTERCEPTION! 44 SECONDS LEFT

Jamari Sharpe! A name and a play that will live forever in Indiana football history!

His interception has all but clinched a national championship for the Indiana Hoosiers.

4:06 am, January 20, 2026

It all comes down to this

We talked about Miami's penalties hurting the Hurricanes earlier in the game. Late in the game, it was Indiana with a costly penalty facing a 2nd-and-1. That penalty backed up the Hoosiers from a potential game-winning first down. 

The result a few plays later. An Indiana field goal.

Hoosiers lead 27-21. 1:42 is left to play.

Indiana's defense. Miami's offense.

Carson Beck could cement his legacy in Miami lore forever with a game-winning drive.

3:58 am, January 20, 2026

Back. Shoulder. Becker.

Facing 3rd-and-7 with under three minutes to play, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza found his guy Charlie Becker for a 19-yard completion. The QB-WR combination has been like butter on toast — or avocado if you're on Miami Beach — all season long, especially in clutch moments.

Whether it's on the road in State College with 1:51 to play, the Big Ten Championship Game with 2:26 to play or the national championship with 2:30 to play, Charlie Becker has come up big in big moments all season long.

Now all Indiana has to do is chew the clock to win the national championship. Only a few first downs separate the Hoosiers from glory.

3:49 am, January 20, 2026

He's a freshman 🗣️ — IU 24, MIA 21

Tua Tagovailoa. Trevor Lawrence. Malachi Toney. 

Toney, the Miami freshman wide receiver, could be on his way to adding his name among some of the other CFP true freshman legends after that drive. 

Toney caught a 41-yard pass and then a 22-yard touchdown pass, breaking numerous tackles along the way to cut Miami's deficit back to three points. He's continuing his electric rookie campaign on the biggest stage.

6:37 is left to decide a national champion.

3:35 am, January 20, 2026

Mendoza Magic 🪄 — IU 24, MIA 14

How bad do you want a championship, Fernando? Bad enough to break tackles in John Elway fashion en route to the end zone?

The answer is...yes! Hoosier quarterback Fernando Mendoza ran in from 12-yards out on a quarterback draw to rebuild Indiana's lead to 10 points with 9:18 to play. 

So much for not having a Heisman moment. The doubters are silenced.

3:27 am, January 20, 2026

Fourth quarter starts with a BANG ‼️ — Indiana 17, Miami 14

Mark Fletcher Jr. is putting the team on his back, Greg Jennings-style. The Miami running back has his second touchdown of the day, this time coming from 3 yards out as the fourth quarter began.

He rushed for 22 yards on four carries during that drive, including three straight red zone runs before finding pay dirt. Fletcher is up to 109 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

We have a three-point game with 14:57 to play to decide a national championship!

3:11 am, January 20, 2026

Special Teams, Special plays! 👆 — IU 17, MIA 7

For the second straight week, Indiana has blocked a punt. This time, the Indiana special teams unit didn't set up a touchdown — it scored all by itself. 

That blocked punt gives Indiana a 10-point lead with 5:04 to play in the third quarter.

2:50 am, January 20, 2026

The U is BACK... on the scoreboard — IU 10, MIA 7

What makes a right tackle a first-round NFL draft prospect? Knowing that anytime a running back runs to his side he has a chance to score. That's exactly what helped Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. did, following right tackle Francis Mauigoa on a 57-yard touchdown run.

I'm no math major (that's why you're reading what I'm writing) but that's only 12 yards behind what Miami had in total yards in the first half (69). 

That's a big-time play. The second longest rushing touchdown in a BCS/CFP title game, only trailing Ohio State's Beanie Wells going 65 yards.

It has Miami back in this game with 11:06 to play.

2:49 am, January 20, 2026

Penalties, Penalties, Penalties

If Destiny's Child ever reunited to make a new song, they might be inspired by watching Miami's defense today and remix their song Bills, Bills, Bills to the tune of penalties.

A facemask from Lightfoot kept alive another Indiana drive on a third down. That comes after an offside penalty from Reuben Bain and a pass interference from O.J. Frederique Jr kept alive Indiana's lone touchdown drive in the first half.

These penalties come after Miami had 10 penalties for 74 yards against Ole Miss in the semifinals. While a sack from Bain ultimately got Miami off the field, it's a troubling trend for the Hurricanes.

2:18 am, January 20, 2026

An Avenger returns❓ Maybe

"I have an army," said Curt Cignetti.

"We have an Xavier Lucas," said Mario Cristobal.

No, that didn't actually happen, but for Miami fan's sake, let's hope the Hurricanes can get a Hulk-like contribution in the second half as top cornerback Xavier Lucas returns from a targeting penalty drawn against Ole Miss in the semifinals.

Lucas' return could help slow down Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and his 70 percent completion percentage in the first half.

2:18 am, January 20, 2026

Halftime update — Indiana 10, Miami 0

It was a dominant first half from Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, leading Miami 10-0. That makes 31 scoreless quarters from the Indiana defense and eight scoreless halves.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has passed for 116 yards. Miami quarterback Carson Beck has passed for 49 yards. Mendoza is out-performing Beck, even with the Hurricane defense getting pressure on six of 17 (35 percent) of Mendoza's drop backs.

On the ground, Miami has struggled, too, gaining only 2.5 yards per carry. We've seen an overall lack of explosiveness from the Hurricanes in the first half. That's placed The U behind the sticks more often than not and has contributed to an offense that went 0-6 on third downs.

Yet, Miami is no stranger to scoreless first halves. Let's not forget that the Hurricanes opened the CFP with a scoreless first half against Texas A&M. The difference in that first-round game and the national title game might be that Miami WILL NOT open the second half with the football, and the Hurricanes trail.

Miami's defense NEEDS to prevent a touchdown to open the third quarter more than SpongeBob needed water at Sandy's house. If Indiana's offense can find the end zone, it'll be hard for any offense to overcome a three-score deficit against the Hoosiers. That's without factoring in the pressure of a national championship on the line.

2019-20 LSU is the last team to overcome a 10-point deficit to win a CFP title game. 2013-14 Florida State's 18-point comeback in the BCS championship is the largest comeback across the BCS and CFP era.

Click or tap here for live stats.

2:13 am, January 20, 2026

DOINK!

If you took any grade-school english class in the United States during the 2010s or before, you probably know what the word Onomatopoeia means.

DOINK is a prime example of an onomatopoeia. It's also what just happened for Miami kicker Carter Davis from 50 yards out. 

Miami is still scoreless as the half approaches, but at least you got to read the word onomatopoeia for the third time in this post.

2:08 am, January 20, 2026

New Patek X New Ring? 🔴 💕∞

We said earlier that the stars were out in Miami for the national championship game. We forgot to mention that Grammy-nominated rapper/rockstar Lil Uzi Vert was in attendance. 

He's supporting the Hoosiers after his presence was requested by Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Could he be bringing some good luck to Indiana as they have a 10-0 lead?

1:52 am, January 20, 2026

Hoosiers flexing their muscle 💪 — IU 10, MIA 0

Indiana drove 85 yards in 14 plays, taking 6:44 off the clock. For comparison, Miami has 14 plays total. The Hoosiers are controlling this game in all facets.

On the last drive, Indiana had three 10-plus yard plays while converting three third downs enroute to an eventual 1-yard touchdown run from Riley Nowakowski. All the momentum is with the Hoosiers right now.