Indiana vs. Miami College Football National Championship: Seven stars who could decide the outcome

This is the night college football waits for. On Monday night, under the lights at Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers face off for the National Championship. 

Indiana arrives unbeaten, businesslike, and confident. Miami get here battle-tested, having already taken down Texas A&M, second-ranked Ohio State and Ole Miss.

Both rosters are laden with talent, with several players capable of stepping up to deliver their team the coveted title.

Here, I have singled out seven such stars capable of swinging this matchup.

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Fernando Mendoza, QB - Indiana

This one should come as no surprise. The reigning Heisman winner is all but guaranteed to be the first pick in this year’s NFL draft and will want to finish his college career in style by helping Indiana secure their first ever National Championship. 

After a regular season in which he threw for 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions, Mendoza carried that form straight into the playoffs, capping it with a dominant five-touchdown, 56-point performance against Oregon in the semi-final.

In that game, the 22-year-old thoroughly outplayed Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, the player initially projected as the second overall pick before he opted to stay in Oregon for another year.

With unrivalled maturity and composure, Mendoza rarely makes rash or incorrect decisions, traits that make him arguably the biggest difference-maker on the field on Monday night.

Carson Beck, QB - Miami

After a shock transfer from Georgia back to his home state, the pressure was on Beck to deliver this year, his fifth in college football. He's done precisely that, settling quickly in Miami, throwing for 3,581 yards and a career-high 29 touchdowns. 

Whilst not reaching the dizzying statistical benchmarks set by Mendoza, Beck has proven he can thrive when the pressure is on, and the margins are thin: all three of the Hurricanes' playoff games have been decided by fewer than ten points, proving close games don't faze this young man.

 

This was perfectly displayed against Ole Miss when Beck ran the ball into the endzone with 18 seconds left to win the game for the Hurricanes in a 31-27 victory that saw the lead change hands seven times. 

Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, RB - Indiana

Whilst Mendoza has been the star of this Indiana offense, the run game spearheaded by this tandem has also been crucial to the Hoosiers' success.

By combining for just under 2,000 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, the senior-year duo have been among the best running backs in college football.

Both have already made their mark in the playoffs, with Black rushing for 153 yards and three touchdowns, and Hemby running for 142 yards and one touchdown across two games.

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Given Miami's inability to contain Kewan Lacy in the semi-final, Hemby and Black will be optimistic that they can light up Hard Rock Stadium and upset the home crowd.

Already considered to be second-day picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, a game-breaking performance here could vastly improve their draft stock.

Malachi Toney, WR - Miami

The 18-year-old freshman has been simply electric since the moment he stepped on the field in his debut season. He picked up the ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year after breaking the ACC record for most receptions by a freshman with 99.

He tops the freshmen class in not just receptions but also receiving yards (1,089) receiving touchdowns (9) and receiving yards per game (72.6).

Put simply, he's been a class above almost every other first-year wideout, and already has NFL teams salivating at the prospect of adding him despite not being eligible for another two years.

 

As Beck's go-to guy, Toney's ability to consistently get open is exceptional. But, despite his otherworldly talents, he will need to be at the top of his game against an experienced Indiana team.

Were his talents as a receiver not enough, Toney's threat as a punt returner and all-around offensive weapon adds extra dimensions to his game. He has 273 return yards, has scored a rushing touchdown and has passed for two more.

Don't be surprised if Toney is involved when Miami starts pulling trick plays out of the bag.

D'Angelo Ponds, CB - Indiana

Considered one of the top five corners in the 2026 NFL Draft class, Ponds has been a cornerstone of this Indiana secondary unit for two years, accruing 110 tackles, 16 passes defended, 5 interceptions and scoring two touchdowns in that period.

His versatility and ability to play both zone and man coverage have made him one of Curt Cignetti's most dependable players on defence.

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Ponds comes into the game in red-hot form, too, having secured a pick-six on the first play of the semi-final against Oregon.

When it comes to stopping the likes of Toney, the responsibility will most likely fall on Ponds' shoulders, and it's a task he is more than capable of when at his best. 

The matchup between Toney and Ponds is definitely one to look out for, with the junior taking on the most exciting freshman wide receiver college football has seen for a while.

Francis Mauigoa, OL - Miami

While Miami's offense is undeniably talented, Beck and Co. will need protection. That's where five-star recruit Mauigoa comes in: He has allowed only one sack across 15 regular-season games.

He's ranked as one of the top linemen in college, competing with Spencer Fano of the Utah Utes for the top spot, and could very easily be drafted within the first three picks in April.

At 6'6", Mauigoa combines surprisingly good athleticism with the strength and power to give Beck the pass protection required to get this Miami offense moving.