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Indiana's Century-Long Wait Ends in Miami

Indiana's Century-Long Wait Ends in Miami

The Hoosiers seek their first national title against the Hurricanes, who play for a championship in their own stadium

Overview

Indiana has played football since 1899. In 126 seasons, the Hoosiers never reached a national championship game. On January 19, 2026, they'll play for the title as the only undefeated team in the country—15-0, one win from becoming the first 16-0 FBS team in 131 years. Their opponent: Miami, playing for a championship in their own stadium for the first time in the modern era.

Both programs arrived here through the transfer portal. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza—a Cal transfer from Miami who won the Heisman—returns to his hometown to face a Hurricanes team led by Carson Beck, who left Georgia after back-to-back national titles as a backup. Miami won three road playoff games as underdogs to become the first team since 1994 to play for a national title at home. Indiana demolished Alabama and Oregon by a combined 69 points. One team will make history; the other will watch it happen.

Key Indicators

126
Years Without a Title Game
Indiana's football program began in 1899. This is their first championship appearance.
15-0
Indiana's Record
The Hoosiers are the only undefeated team remaining. A win makes them the first 16-0 FBS team since 1894 Yale.
24
Years Since Miami's Last Title
The Hurricanes won in 2001 with a team that produced 38 NFL draft picks. They've cycled through five coaches since.
3
Miami's Road Playoff Wins
The Hurricanes beat Texas A&M, defending champion Ohio State, and Ole Miss away from home to reach their own stadium.

People Involved

Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza
Quarterback, Indiana Hoosiers (Heisman Trophy winner, leading undefeated team into national championship)
Curt Cignetti
Curt Cignetti
Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers (Second-year coach, one win from completing historic turnaround)
Carson Beck
Carson Beck
Quarterback, Miami Hurricanes (Leading Miami in first championship start after two titles as Georgia backup)
Mario Cristobal
Mario Cristobal
Head Coach, Miami Hurricanes (Former Miami player seeking first title as coach at alma mater)

Organizations Involved

IN
Indiana Hoosiers Football
College Football Program
Status: 15-0, seeking first national championship in program history

Big Ten program with three conference titles (1945, 1967, 2025) in 126 seasons, now one win from their first national championship.

Miami Hurricanes Football
Miami Hurricanes Football
College Football Program
Status: 13-2, seeking sixth national championship and first since 2001

Five-time national champions (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001) who have cycled through five coaches since their last title.

Timeline

  1. National Championship: Indiana vs. Miami

    Championship

    No. 1 Indiana (15-0) faces No. 10 Miami (13-2) at Hard Rock Stadium. Either the Hoosiers win their first title and become the first 16-0 FBS team since 1894, or Miami becomes the first team to win a championship at home in the modern era.

  2. Miami and Indiana Reach Title Game

    Playoff

    Carson Beck's 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left beats Ole Miss 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl. Hours earlier, Indiana crushed Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. The championship matchup is set.

  3. Miami Upsets Ohio State 24-14

    Playoff

    As 9.5-point underdogs at the Cotton Bowl, the Hurricanes knock out the defending national champions. Miami's defense holds Ohio State to 14 points.

  4. Indiana Demolishes Alabama in Rose Bowl

    Playoff

    The Hoosiers beat the Crimson Tide 38-3—Indiana's first bowl win since 1991. It's their largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent ever.

  5. Miami Beats Texas A&M 10-3

    Playoff

    In 30-mph winds at Kyle Field, the 10-seed Hurricanes hold the 7-seed Aggies to a field goal. A late interception seals the first Florida-based CFP win in history.

  6. Mendoza Wins Heisman Trophy

    Award

    Indiana's first Heisman winner earns 95.16% of ballots—tied for second-highest ever. He's the first Big Ten winner since Ohio State's Troy Smith in 2006.

  7. Indiana Beats No. 1 Ohio State for Big Ten Title

    Championship

    The Hoosiers upset the top-ranked Buckeyes 13-10 in Indianapolis, their first Big Ten title since 1967. Ohio State misses a 29-yard field goal with 2:48 left. Attendance breaks the conference championship record at 68,214.

  8. Indiana Survives at Penn State

    Regular Season

    Trailing 24-20 with 1:51 remaining, Mendoza leads a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a touchdown to Omar Cooper Jr. Indiana wins 27-24—their first-ever win in Happy Valley.

  9. Carson Beck Transfers to Miami

    Transfer

    After an elbow injury and uncertain NFL draft stock, the former Georgia starter commits to Miami within 24 hours of entering the portal. NIL deal reportedly worth $3-6 million.

  10. Fernando Mendoza Commits to Indiana

    Transfer

    The Cal quarterback—raised in Miami, Heisman finalist potential—chooses Indiana over Georgia. He joins his brother Alberto on the roster.

  11. Indiana Falls to Notre Dame in CFP

    Playoff

    The 11-1 Hoosiers lose 27-17 in South Bend in their first CFP appearance. They trail 27-3 until garbage time. Cignetti says the program's trajectory hasn't changed.

  12. Indiana Hires Curt Cignetti

    Coaching

    After a 3-9 season, Indiana hires the James Madison coach who went 52-9 in five years. Six assistants and 13 players follow him to Bloomington.

Scenarios

1

Indiana Completes Perfect Season, First Title

Discussed by: ESPN, CBS Sports, and most betting markets favor Indiana as 7-point favorites

The Hoosiers' dominant playoff performances—winning by 35 and 34 points—suggest they're operating at a different level. If Mendoza continues his playoff form (8 TDs, 5 incompletions), Indiana becomes the first 16-0 FBS team since 1894 Yale and caps the most dramatic turnaround in college football history: 3-9 to national champions in two years.

2

Miami Wins Title at Home

Discussed by: Yahoo Sports and Miami-area analysts note the Hurricanes' ability to win as underdogs

Miami has won three straight games as underdogs, including against the defending champion. Beck has playoff experience from Georgia. The home crowd—even if officially neutral—will skew heavily Miami. If the Hurricanes' defense replicates its playoff performance (16.3 points allowed), they become the first team to win a national championship at home in the BCS/CFP era.

3

Game Decided by Turnover or Special Teams

Discussed by: Analysts point to Miami's late-game interceptions and Indiana's fourth-quarter defensive stands

Both teams have won close games this postseason through critical turnovers—Miami's game-sealing pick against Texas A&M, Indiana's goal-line stand against Ohio State. A championship decided by a key mistake or special teams play would fit both teams' playoff patterns.

Historical Context

1984 BYU: Last First-Time Champion (1984)

December 1984

What Happened

BYU finished 13-0, beating Michigan 24-17 in the Holiday Bowl to claim the school's only national championship. They were the last team to win their first national title until potentially Indiana.

Outcome

Short Term

BYU was named consensus national champions despite playing an independent schedule. Critics questioned their strength of schedule.

Long Term

The controversy contributed to pressure for a playoff system. No first-time champion has emerged in the 40 years since.

Why It's Relevant Today

Indiana would be the first program to win its inaugural national championship since BYU—a 41-year gap. Both programs were dismissed as unworthy of title consideration before their breakthrough seasons.

1995 Orange Bowl: Miami Loses Title at Home (1995)

January 1995

What Happened

Miami played for the national championship at the Orange Bowl—their home stadium—against Nebraska. The Huskers won 24-17, denying Miami a sixth title and handing them their first home loss in years.

Outcome

Short Term

Nebraska claimed its first national title since 1971. Miami finished 10-2.

Long Term

No team has played for a national championship at their home stadium since. Miami moved to Hard Rock Stadium in 2008.

Why It's Relevant Today

Miami is the first team since themselves in 1995 to play for a title at home. That game ended in defeat. The Hurricanes now have a chance to reverse that history on the same Miami turf.

2001 Miami: The Dynasty's Last Title (2001)

January 2002

What Happened

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes—widely considered the greatest college team ever—beat Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl. The roster included 38 future NFL draft picks, 17 of whom went in the first round.

Outcome

Short Term

Miami claimed its fifth national title. They returned to the championship the following year but lost to Ohio State.

Long Term

The program never recovered. Five different coaches over 23 years failed to return Miami to title contention until now.

Why It's Relevant Today

Miami's current title run comes 24 years after their last championship. Cristobal, who played on Miami's 1989 and 1991 title teams, is trying to end the drought he watched begin as a young assistant.

12 Sources:
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College Football Playoff ESPN Indiana University Athletics CBS Sports Wikipedia Heisman Trophy Trust CNN Yahoo Sports Wikipedia ESPN CBS Sports ESPN