Indiana completes undefeated season and wins first nationwide title, beating Miami : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3245x2164+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F07%2F78%2F1257e1124b0abf5601d038941b6b%2Fap26020176436532.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3245x2164+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F07%2F78%2F1257e1124b0abf5601d038941b6b%2Fap26020176436532.jpg" class="img" alt="Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza holds the trophy after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla." fetchpriority="high"/> Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza holds the trophy after their win in opposition to Miami within the School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship sport, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Marta Lavandier/AP disguise caption

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Marta Lavandier/AP MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his method into the top zone and Indiana bullied its method into the historical past books Monday night time, toppling Miami 27-21 to place the of completion on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the nationwide title.

The Heisman Trophy winner completed with 186 yards passing, however it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard landing run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that outlined this sport — and the Hoosiers' season.

Indiana wouldn't be denied.

"I needed to go airborne," stated Mendoza, who had his lip cut up and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami protection that sacked him thrice and hit him many extra. "I'd die for my group."

Mendoza's TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti's group a 24-14 lead — barely sufficient respiration room to carry off a frenzied cost by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who got here to life within the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher however by no means took the lead.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4480x2987+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2Fcc%2Fb53650b34348ac69c559d9ae7d7f%2Fap26020166161141.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4480x2987+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2Fcc%2Fb53650b34348ac69c559d9ae7d7f%2Fap26020166161141.jpg" class="img" alt="Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe intercepts a pass against Miami during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla." loading="lazy"/> Indiana defensive again Jamari Sharpe intercepts a move in opposition to Miami throughout the second half of the School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship sport, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Rebecca Blackwell/AP disguise caption

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Rebecca Blackwell/AP The School Soccer Playoff trophy now heads to essentially the most unlikely of locations: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of soccer earlier than Cignetti arrived two years in the past to embark on a revival for the ages.

"Took some probabilities, discovered a method. Let me let you know: We gained the nationwide championship at Indiana College. It may be carried out," Cignetti stated.

Indiana completed 16-0 — utilizing the additional video games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win whole final compiled by Yale in 1894.

In a becoming little bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight's basketball group went 32-0 to win all of it in that state's favourite sport.

That hasn't occurred since, and there is already some thought that faculty soccer — in its evolving, money-soaked period — may not see a group like this once more, both.

Gamers like Mendoza — a switch from Cal who grew up just some miles away from Miami's campus, "The U" — actually do not come round usually.

Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti within the fourth quarter, after Fletcher's second landing carved the Hurricanes' deficit to 3, put Mendoza in place to shine.

The primary was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade these guys have been perfecting all season. 4 performs later got here a call and play that wins championships.

Cignetti despatched his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, however rapidly known as his second timeout. The group huddled on the sphere and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes can be in a protection that they had proven earlier than.

"We rolled the cube and stated, 'They will be in it once more and so they have been,'" Cignetti stated. "We blocked it effectively, he broke a sort out or two and received in the long run zone."

Not referred to as a run-first man, Mendoza slipped one sort out, then took successful and spun round. He saved his toes, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the flicks.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2859x1906+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb4%2Fd7%2Fad29e01e440db0fb8852154ecdb9%2Fap26020055836315.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2859x1906+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb4%2Fd7%2Fad29e01e440db0fb8852154ecdb9%2Fap26020055836315.jpg" class="img" alt="Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher celebrates after sacking Miami quarterback Carson Beck during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla." loading="lazy"/> Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher celebrates after sacking Miami quarterback Carson Beck throughout the first half of the School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship sport, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Marta Lavandier/AP disguise caption

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Marta Lavandier/AP Possibly they're going to name it "Hoosiers." This was a program so dangerous {that a} coach as soon as stopped the sport early to take an image of the scoreboard when it learn "Indiana 7, Ohio State 6." The Hoosiers misplaced 47-7.

This 12 months, although, they beat Ohio State within the Massive Ten title sport on their method to the highest seed within the playoff.

They gained their first two video games by a mixed rating of 94-25 and Mendoza threw extra landing passes (eight) than incompletions (5).

This one was nowhere close to as straightforward.

Fletcher was a one-man power, hitting triple digits for the third time in 4 playoff video games and turning a moribund offense into one thing way more.

It ended as a one-score sport, and the 'Canes — the visiting group enjoying on their residence discipline — moved into Indiana territory earlier than Carson Beck's heave received picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made positive the one miracle on this season can be Indiana's.

"Did I feel one thing like this was potential? Most likely not," Cignetti stated. "However should you maintain your nostril down and maintain working, something is feasible."