What we watched here
• Indiana wins the title! The Indiana Hoosiers have gone from college football’s laughing stock to national champions. The Hoosiers survive Miami, 27-21, in an epic College Football Playoff national title game.
• Indiana’s incredible run: The Hoosiers – long a college football doormat – have won the national championship for the first time in school history. Curt Cignetti’s charges went 16-0, completeing a program turnaround for the ages.
• The U leaves disappointed but proud: Miami was playing on their home turf and was back in the national title picture for the first time in more than two decades. The Hurricanes put up an incredible fight against a talented Indiana team that had not been tested in the College Football Playoffs. But one final mistake from Carson Beck ended their hopes.
• Stick with CNN Sports: We’ll be here with live updates from on the ground at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and analysis.
Indiana's impossible dream is a reality: The Hoosiers are college football's national champions
It’s something many college football fans never thought they’d see: The Indiana Hoosiers are college football’s national champions.
The Hoosiers have long been considered a basketball school and Indiana is known as a basketball-mad portion of the country. No longer. The 2025-26 Indiana Hoosiers on Monday wrote themselves into college football history by pulling off the first 16-0 season in the modern era, defeating the University of Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game by a score of 27-21.
The game started off slow – the Hoosiers and Hurricanes traded defensive stands in the first half, with Fernando Mendoza leading his team on two scoring drives to make it 10-0 at halftime.
The game exploded into life in the second half as Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run that brought Miami within a score of the Hoosiers. IU answered that score a few drives later with one of the turning points of the game.
As it felt like Miami was seizing control of the contest with its pressure on Mendoza, the Hoosiers broke through the Hurricanes’ punt team with Mikail Kamara blocking Dylan Joyce’s punt. Isaiah Jones jumped on the loose ball in the end zone as the Hoosiers regained the 10-point lead to go up 17-7.
Miami refused to back down and got an electric fourth quarter started with another Fletcher touchdown, cutting the Indiana lead again to just three points.
What came next will live long in Hoosier lore.
Mendoza led his team down the field – coming up huge in clutch moments.
First, it was a fourth-and-5 pass to wide receiver Charlie Becker for 19 yards that kept the drive going. Then, facing another fourth down at the Miami 12-yard line, Mendoza kept the ball on a designed quarterback run.
While taking contact, he made his way past the first-down marker and strived for more. He shrugged off a couple of hits and lunged for the goal line, taking a massive blow to the back in the process. But he got over the goal line, scoring the touchdown that would eventually seal the win.
As they had all day, Miami answered, going back down the field and scoring a touchdown on Malachi Toney’s 22-yard touchdown drive. But Indiana scored the game’s final points on the next drive, kicking a field goal to go up 27-21.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck and the Hurricanes’ offense had one last chance to score a touchdown that would break Hoosier hearts and snatch the title for the Canes, but the drive ended on a deep pass that was intercepted by Indiana’s Jamari Sharpe.
The turnover sealed the game and the remarkable title for the Hoosiers. An impossible dream come true in South Florida.
In pictures: Indiana completes dream season
The Indiana Hoosiers capped off a historic undefeated season Monday night, winning its first college football title with a 27-21 win over the Miami Hurricanes.
The Hoosiers (16-0) were once again led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza was pressured much of the game by a fierce Miami pass rush, but one of the enduring moments of this game will be his touchdown run on fourth down late in the game.
For decades, Indiana was an afterthought in college football — a school much better known for its basketball program. But head coach Curt Cignetti has changed the narrative since taking the reins of the program last year.
See more photos from IU’s big win in the final:
Emotional Mario Cristobal reflects on his team and loss
Miami’s head coach was stoic after the 27-21 defeat. He heaped praise on his Hurricanes after the disappointing result Monday night.
“They have been the best thing that’s happened to the University of Miami and the community in 25 years,” Mario Cristobal told ESPN’s Molly McGrath while standing outside of the losing team’s lockerroom.
“I love them. They certainly love each other. They turned around a program that … I’m really at a loss for words. Let’s just say it’s very real.
“We let one slip away. Credit to Indiana – a great football team.”
Some context on just how bad Indiana USED to be
I know we keep saying Indiana was about as far from a college football powerhouse as one could imagine until Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington.
Prior to Monday, in the last two seasons, the Hoosiers have lost two games – and both of them were last year. Cignetti is 27-2 as Indiana’s head coach.
In the 24 football seasons this century before Cignetti became a Hoosier, Indiana had losing seasons in 21 of them.
Since the school’s last Big Ten championship in 1967, the school had 10 winning seasons before Cignetti got to campus.
That’s 10 winning seasons in 57 years.
It’s historic. It’s improbable. It used to be impossible.
"I would die for my team," Mendoza says after heroic championship performance
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza played his best football when his team needed him the most in Monday night’s College Football Playoff championship game.
In a moment that will be replayed for years to come, Mendoza broke tackles and dove across the goal line for a touchdown on a fourth down play in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Mendoza described the play to broadcaster ESPN.
“I had to go airborne! I would die for my team!” Mendoza said. “Whatever they need me to do, they need me to take shots from the front or the back, whatever it is, I would die for my team out there. And I know they’re gonna do the same for me.”
“That’s what makes us so close. That’s what makes this national championship so special.”
Mendoza, who was playing in his hometown, reflected on the significance of winning the game against the team he grew up just two miles from.
“This victory is so sweet for everybody, for the entire Hoosier Nation, but also it’s super sweet on myself. I was a two-star recruit coming out of high school. I got declined a walk-on offer to the University of Miami.
“Full-circle moment here, playing in Miami for all the friends and family. I can’t thank coach (Curt) Cignetti enough, and coach (Chandler) Whitmer and coach (Mike) Shanahan for taking a chance on me. And just give all the glory to God.”
Curt Cignetti has big plans: "I'm going to have a beer!"
Indiana’s Curt Cignetti is going to celebrate the school’s first football national championship with some suds.
The mastermind behind IU’s nearly impossible-to-comprehend turnaround was full of compliments for his heroic QB and the touchdown that will go down in IU folklore.
“Oh my God, he’s so tough,” Cignetti told ESPN’s Molly McGrath as confetti floated down on him.
“I mean, he got hit. He had no time. He keeps getting back up. He is just a great competitor and there’s no way this gets done without that kind of performance at that position.
“I can’t say enough great things about him.”
As for Cignetti’s celebration plans?
“I’m going to have a beer!”
Mark Cuban in shock on the field after the game
Indiana alum and mega donor Mark Cuban shared his shock at the game with CNN after the game on the field.
When asked if he ever thought he’d see his Hoosiers win the national title, Cuban shook his head.
“But now it has!” he told CNN Sports. “Now the question is, can you do it again?”
He described the feeling as being “unreal.”
“I don’t know whether to laugh, smile or cry,” he said.
"That's cold!"
He smiled!
Indiana’s Curt Cignetti was grinning ear to ear once the final whistle blew.
The usually stoic head coach looked thrilled until the ice cold blue Gatorade bath was dumped over his head and down his back.
“That’s cold!” he mouthed while heading to shake hands with Cristobal.
Indiana wins the College Football Playoff national championship!
The impossible has happened! The Indiana Hoosiers have won college football’s national championship!
The Hoosiers hold off Miami to win the school’s first national title after decades as a college football underdog.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Carson Beck throws interception on final offensive drive, sealing the title for Indiana
Miami had a chance down 27-21 with 1:42 left in regulation. The Hurricanes needed a touchdown and make the point after to win their first title since 2001.
Miami drove inside Indiana’s territory but Carson Beck threw an interception to Indiana’s Jamari Sharpe to seal the deal for Indiana.
The Hoosiers win their first-ever national championship.
Indiana intercepts the ball and is going to win the national title!
Indiana has intercepted Carson Beck! The Hoosiers are going to win the title!
The Hurricanes are moving the ball!
We are under a minute to play and the Hurricanes have moved the ball past midfield. They have no timeouts and need a touchdown – a field goal won’t be enough.
Indiana calls timeout. This national championship game is coming down to the final seconds!
Score: Hoosiers 27, Miami 21
Miami holds Indiana to a FG, and the Canes still have a chance
Coming out of the two-minute warning, head coach Curt Cignetti put the ball in the hands of Roman Hemby, who looked like he was shot out of a cannon, picking up nine yards down to the 14-yard line.
A rare Indiana mistake on a false start backed the Hoosiers up five yards and gave the Canes a glimmer of hope.
On third-and-five, the Miami defensive line didn’t blink and stopped Kaelon Black cold for no gain.
Indiana extends its lead to six with a 35-yard field goal from Nico Radicic.
There’s 1:42 left for the Hurricanes to steal away this game.
Score: Hoosiers 27, Hurricanes 21
Curt Cignetti put it all on the line. It might pay off
About seven minutes ago in game time, Curt Cignetti put a whole lot of credit with Indiana fans on the line.
He burned two timeouts, went for it twice on fourth down and put his team in a position where they could possibly come up with nothing after a long drive.
Instead, he got a little bailed out by his Heisman-winning quarterback with a hero play and now Indiana is two minutes from a national title.
By scoring the touchdown, the Hoosiers forced Miami to once again need two scores to make up the deficit. The Hurricanes quickly got the touchdown they needed, but now the Hoosiers are running down the clock and marching toward the Miami end zone.
Cignetti was conservative for much of this game, but he’s opened it up in the fourth quarter. It might, just might, win his squad a national title.
Indiana on the move as the game hits the 2-minute warning
With the Hurricanes keeping the pressure on the Hoosiers, Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana offense is back on the field.
Facing a third-and-five, Mendoza found a wide-open Omar Cooper, Jr. for a 14-yard pick-up.
Miami forced another third down and Mendoza went to the un-defendable back-shoulder pass to Charlie Becker for 19 yards and a fresh set of downs.
Roman Hemby rushed to the outside for 10 yards and another first down, and suddenly we’re at the two-minute warning.
Score: Hoosiers 24, Hurricanes 21
Canes fight back with Malachi Toney 22-yard TD run
Miami had to score to keep its championship hope alive down 10 ponts in the fourth quarter and boy, did they.
Malachi Toney scored on a 22-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-21, breaking through for a tough TD run and raising a finger to his lips to shush the pro-Indiana crowd.
This game is going down to the wire!
Score: Hoosiers 24, Hurricanes 21
Fernando Mendoza goes full hero-mode on an legendary TD run
After a lengthy breather, the Indiana offense is back on the field looking to re-establish some rhythm.
Kaelon Black busted a 13-yard run to get the Hoosiers off to a positive start. Another great play call got Indiana 18 yards on a pass from Fernando Mendoza to Omar Cooper, Jr.
With Indiana now on the fringe of field goal range, the Hurricanes defense put the clamps on the Hoosiers and forced a fourth-and-five decision for head coach Curt Cignetti.
Cignetti trusted his offense and Mendoza delivered a beautiful back-shoulder throw to Charlie Becker for 19 yards and a first down.
The Hoosiers stalled out in the red zone and faced a fourth-and-four at the 12-yard line. Cignetti once again kept his offense on the field and Mendoza kept the ball on a designed run play and broke a series of tackles on a spectacular run.
Mendoza took a huge hit as he dove across the goal line for a touchdown to give the Hoosiers a little breathing room.
Score: Hoosiers 24, Hurricanes 14
Everyone is holding their breath here
A very loud rendition of “Mr. Brightside” is playing during the timeout here. No one has sat down all game and they’re not about to now.
It’s such a tightly wound game that you can almost feel the mood swings from play to play. Miami fans were very much on the attack after the break and IU fans a little quiet, kinda like they were on pins and needles. But when Fernando Mendoza hit Charlie Becker to convert that fourth down, the two sides swapped vibes.
Get the feeling it’s going to go that way until there are all zeroes on the clock. Indiana isn’t used to being challenged in these playoffs, and Miami is more than happy to play it tight late.
Canes respond with another Mark Fletcher Jr. TD
The Hurricanes answered the blocked punt for a touchdown on its last drive with Mark Fletcher Jr.’s second TD in the game on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 17-14
Carson Beck found CJ Daniels for 24 yards and later Malachi Toney for 22 yards earlier on the scoring drive.
The drama is going way up in this national title game and we are set for an incredible finish in Miami Gardens.
Score: Hoosiers 17, Hurricanes 14
One quarter remains
We’re heading to the fourth quarter with Miami driving deep into Indiana territory.
The next 15 minutes will be historic: Either Indiana wins its first-ever football national championship or Miami breaks Hoosier hearts and takes home its sixth title.
Hold onto your seats, folks.
