Indiana Hoosiers defeat Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to cap perfect college football season with first national title

The Indiana Hoosiers stunned the Miami Hurricanes 27–21 to claim the College Football Playoff National Championship last night, finishing unbeaten and completing a rise few could have imagined even a year ago.

With Curt Cignetti at the helm and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, the Hoosiers didn’t rely on flash to get it done; instead, they leaned on a punishing run game and timely defense to win their first-ever national title.

Here, we break down how history was made.

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Indiana didn’t stumble into winning the national title. They earned it, possession by possession, in a high-stakes game that demanded patience, discipline, and nerve.

The eventual winners drew first blood, capping a 12-play, 55-yard drive with a Nico Radicic field goal from 34 yards out with 2:42 remaining in the first.

But the game's first touchdown didn't come until midway through the second, with a short run from tight end Riley Nowakowski putting the Hoosiers 10-0 up on a night where every yard felt contested.

Miami answered back after the half when tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. left defenders trailing in his wake on a 57-yard scamper, keeping the Hurricanes within reach.

However, the Hoosiers weren't to be denied, this time relying on their special teams to block a punt before Isaiah Jones recovered it for a touchdown to make the score 17-7.

At the top of the fourth, Fletcher - so dangerous all night - once again dragged the Hurricanes back into the contest, scoring from three yards out to make the deficit three.

Still, Indiana never panicked, and the game's defining moment arrived five minutes later when quarterback Fernando Mendoza fearlessly barrelled in for six on a 12-yard run.

Undeniably THE highlight of the night, it was the kind of play that shows why the 22-year-old is the favourite to go first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady, in attendance and a minority owner of the Raiders, who hold the top pick in the draft, surely took note.

With 6:37 remaining, Malachi Toney answered for Miami, showcasing the talent that will have NFL scouts drooling over his skill set when he corralled a pass from Carson Beck and turned it into a touchdown to bring the scoreline to 24-21.

But the Hoosiers' Mendoza and running back Roman Hemby came up big once again, architecting a time-consuming 11-play, 58-yard drive before Radicic booted it through from 35 to put Indiana up by six.

From there, Indiana’s defense finished the job. They forced the Hurricanes to grind for every gain before sealing the win with a late interception as Miami searched for one final answer.

For Beck and the Hurricanes, the loss undoubtedly hurt, but it didn’t define their season. They belonged on the big stage and can take pride in making it this far.

On this night, though, Indiana belonged there more. And by claiming their first-ever national championship, they didn’t just complete a perfect season. They changed how their program will be viewed forever.

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