Indiana wins college football national championship in thriller over Miami

President Donald Trump sits with Ivanka and Kai at the college football national championship. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

For the first time in program history, the Indiana Hoosiers are college football national champions. 

The Hoosiers took down the Miami Hurricanes, 27-21, in an absolute thriller to complete their undefeated season under head coach Curt Cignetti.

The Hoosiers’ defense was making things hard for Carson Beck and company from the very start of this game. In fact, the Hurricanes’ offense didn’t have a first down until their final drive of the first half.

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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 was doing well to contain the explosiveness of Indiana’s offense, holding them to just a field goal in the first quarter.

Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner this season, led a methodical, 14-play drive that went 85 yards where a third-and-goal play from the one-yard line resulted in Riley Nowakowski scoring the first touchdown of the game.

Nowakowski had only one other rush attempt all season, but the play call was perfect for the Hoosiers as they took a 10-0 lead.

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Miami was on the hunt to at least put a field goal up before half, and they had the opportunity when they found themselves on the Indiana 32-yard line on fourth-and-2. Carter Davis had a chance at a 50-yard field goal attempt, but it hit the upright and ended up no good.

Despite the pseudo-home-field advantage — Miami plays