Just like that, the 2025-26 College Football season is over, with a 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes, the Indiana Hoosiers are your National Champions. Who would have thought that the Hoosiers could accomplish such a feat when just two years ago they were a 3-9 football squad? According to Michael Cohen of Fox Sports, the Indiana Hoosiers became the first team since Yale in 1894 to finish a season 16-0. Nevertheless, the Canes had a terrific season with a record of 13-3. They are no stranger to the CFP National Championship, having five trophies of their own.
Although the CFP National Championship game was played in Miami, the Hurricanes were considered the underdogs. The crowd was 60-30 in favor of the Hoosiers; the Canes had to use the visitor’s locker room, the away side benches, and had to deal with the crowd noise. At one point in the game, Indiana forced the Hurricanes to have four consecutive three-and-outs. There are not many positives to discuss about the Miami team, but there were a couple of highlights. According to CBS Sports authors Shehan Jeyarajah & Brandon Marcello, the Canes have two potential first-round draft picks coming up in the NFL Draft, Edge Rushers, Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. Combined, these two had 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. As well as the Hurricane defense holding Indiana to only 11 yards the whole third quarter. Miami’s biggest mistakes came with 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Carson Beck threw a crucial season-ending interception.
The Indiana Hoosiers had more success throughout the night, including a 10-0 lead going into halftime. Mendoza completed 12 of 17 passes for 116 yards. Running back, Kaelon Black’s 20-yard run set up the game’s only touchdown of the first half (Jeyarajah, CBS Sports, 2026). After the first half, Indiana’s offense struggled. Luckily, their defense stayed intact all game, making sure Miami went 0-8 on third down conversions, which was with 5:04 left in the third quarter (Marcello, CBS Sports, 2026). Special teams were a big factor in the success that the Hoosiers saw during the Championship game. Running downfield fast and hard, securing tackles on Miami’s young, standout receiver Malachi Toney. Then, in the third quarter, IU’s defensive lineman Makail Kamra blocked a Hurricane punt, with Hoosier linebacker Isaiah Jones recovering the ball for a touchdown. Another factor that helped the Hoosiers win this game was time of possession. Indiana held the ball for nearly 31 minutes, whereas the Canes only had control for 20 minutes (Marcello, CBS Sports, 2026).
Indiana was playing the game that Miami wanted to play. The Hoosiers seemed to play faster, physical, and relentless all game. On the other hand, the Hurricanes appeared to shut down offensively and defensively multiple times during the night. In my opinion, this was one of the best National Championship games in the past couple of years, not just because my Indiana Hoosiers won, but because of the history that was made. It was not like the Miami Hurricanes were a bad team or did not deserve to win, but fans could tell from the beginning of the game that the Hoosiers wanted that National Championship Trophy more. What an incredible year for college football and its fans. With that said, we will see you in August.
