NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
For the first time in program history, the Indiana Hoosiers are college football national champions.
The Hoosiers downed the Miami Hurricanes, 27-21, in thrilling fashion to end their undefeated season under head coach Curt Cignetti.
The Hoosiers defense made things difficult for Carson Beck and company from the start of this game. In fact, the Hurricanes offense didn’t have a first down until their last drive of the first half.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GAMES FOXNEWS.COM
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Meanwhile, Miami did well to stifle the Indiana offense, holding them to a field goal in the first quarter.
Fernando Mendoza, this season’s Heisman Trophy winner, led a methodical, 14-play drive that went 85 yards when a third-and-goal play from the one-yard line led to Riley Nowakowski’s first touchdown of the game.
Nowakowski had one more rushing attempt of the season, but the play call was right for the Hoosiers as they took a 10-0 lead.
TRUMP COMES TO THE INDIANA-MIAMI COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Miami was on its way to at least a field goal before halftime, and they got a chance when they found themselves at the Indiana 32-yard line on fourth-and-2. Carter Davis had a chance to attempt a 50-yard field goal, but it went wide and came up empty.
Despite home-field advantage—Miami plays its home games at Hard Rock Stadium—it was left scoreless at halftime.
But the second half provided more fireworks from both teams, and it came from the legs of Mark Fletcher Jr.
The Miami running back found the crease, and took it 57 yards to the house to not only sit on the Hurricanes’ sideline, but all of their fans on the field.
Mark Fletcher Jr. of the Miami Hurricanes runs for a third-quarter touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
A 10-7 football game made things very interesting for Indiana, which had not felt this type of momentum in the game. But it wasn’t a crime to get the job done – it was special teams.
After forcing an auto-and-out, the Hoosiers passed the line of scrimmage on a punt attempt from the Hurricanes, and it was blocked near the goal line. Quarterback Isaiah Jones made sure to pounce on the loose ball, and his effort made it 17-7 with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
But Miami had the right answer, as this back-and-forth on the scoreboard made the game even more intense.
Fletcher also found the end zone, capping a 10-play, 81-yard drive early in the fourth quarter.
The key moment in the game, however, came on the next drive as head coach Curt Cignetti went for it twice on fourth down, including a fourth-and-5 from Miami’s 12-yard line. A call to play? Leave it in the hands of the Heisman winner.
Mendoza had a late draw and not only crossed the line to gain it, but fought off several tackles and opened himself up at the goal line for a hard-fought, 12-yard touchdown to make it another 10 points, 24-14.
But, yes, you guessed it: Miami responded. This was a Malachi Toney drive, as the 18-year-old true freshman had a 41-yard catch-and-run, and capped off a quick Hurricanes drive with a 22-yard run into the end zone.
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers dives in the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Hurricanes continued to chase the Hoosiers, but Mendoza and Indiana’s offense knew they had a chance to seal their national title one way, pick up first downs or score a knockout punch touchdown.
Charlie Becker, who had been faithful to Mendoza all night, was instrumental after a third-and-7 to keep the drive alive. But the Hoosiers committed a crucial false start on second-and-1 in the red zone, which set them back and ultimately led to a stop by the Hurricanes.
After the Hoosiers secured their three points, Beck and Miami had a chance to go down and win the game. The punting penalty helped Miami, which would have faced a third-and-15 at its own 20-yard line had the flag not been thrown.
Beck moved the ball up the middle of the field, but made a terrible mistake, throwing a well-read pass to Jamari Sharpe. Sharpe had an interception, and with 44 seconds left and no Miami timeouts, he secured the national title.
Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
In the box score, Mendoza was 16-of-27 yards and rushing, and Omar Cooper Jr. leading the Hoosiers with 71 yards on five catches. Becker had four catches for 65 yards, while Kaelon Black set the tone with 79 yards on 17 carries. Roman Hemby also had 19 carries for 60 yards.
For Miami, Beck was 19-of-32 for 232 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Toney finished the game with 10 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, while Fletcher rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle.
