No. 10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 1 Indiana: What to know about title-game matchup
The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (13-2) face the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (15-0) on Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Hard Rock Stadium.
Here is what you need to know about the matchup.
How can I watch the Miami Hurricanes vs. Indiana Hoosiers game?
The game will be televised on ESPN and available to stream on the ESPN app.
Who is favored in the Miami Hurricanes vs. Indiana Hoosiers game?
The Hurricanes are an eight-point underdog against Indiana, according to Odds Shark as of Sunday morning. The over/under is 47 points.
What is the history between the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers?
The Hurricanes are 1-1 all-time against Indiana. However, those meetings came in 1966 (a Miami win) and 1964 (an Indiana win).
What were the expectations for the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers entering the season?
Miami was voted to finish second to Clemson in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference.
Indiana was voted to finish sixth in the 18-team Big Ten.
How has the season unfolded for the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers?
The Hurricanes swept through their nonconference schedule, with wins against the then-No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, then-No. 18 USF Bulls and the Florida Gators. Miami opened ACC play with a win at FSU before dropping two of its next three — losing to Louisville and SMU with a win against Stanford in between. The Hurricanes then won their final four games against Syracuse, NC State, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh in convincing fashion to secure their spot in the College Football Playoff. UM then beat Texas A&M 10-3 in the opening round, Ohio State 24-14 in the quarterfinals and Ole Miss 31-27 in the semifinals.
The Hoosiers have run the table so far, including marquee wins in the regular season against Iowa and Oregon, a Big Ten Championship Game win against Ohio State, and playoff wins against Alabama and Oregon.
What are the keys for the Miami Hurricanes against the Indiana Hoosiers?
A more in-depth breakdown of five keys can be found here, but here’s the condensed version:
Win the turnover battle:The Hoosiers lead the country in turnover margin at plus-21. Their 29 turnovers forced on defense are tied for third nationally while their eight turnovers on offense are tied for the fewest among power conference schools.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are tied for eighth nationally in turnover margin at plus-11 (25 turnovers gained on defense, 14 giveaways on offense) and have returned three of their 16 interceptions for touchdowns.
Win both lines of scrimmage: The Hurricanes rank among the top 14 nationally according to Pro Football focus in pass rushing (first, 92.5 overall grade), pass blocking (first, 87.3 overall grade), run blocking (12th, 74.7 overall grade) and run defense (tied for 14th, 92.2 overall grade).
Indiana’s ranks: 29th in pass rushing (80.5 overall grade), 16th in pass blocking (78.2 overall grade), tied for third in run defense (94.4 overall grade) and fifth run blocking (78.2 overall grade).
Establish the run: Miami has been driven by its run game in the playoffs. The Hurricanes are averaging 173 rushing yards per game and 4.47 yards per rush during the playoffs — both well above the team’s averages of 150 yards per game and 4.19 yards per rush over 12 regular-season games.
For their final act, the Hurricanes will face its toughest test in that regard in Indiana, which has allowed an average of just 75 rushing yards per game — the second-fewest in the country behind only Texas Tech (68.14).
Embrace playing at home: Despite being the No. 10 seed and the last at-large team to make the 12-team field, the Hurricanes will be playing for the championship at home.
That’s the advantage that comes with calling a place like Hard Rock Stadium, which is hosting the title game for the second time in 12 years of the CFP era and will do so again for the 2029 season, home.
Play with nothing to lose: It’s the national championship game. It’s 60 minutes to determine everything. The Hurricanes have already posted three consecutive upsets to get to this point. Now, they need just one more.
Leave nothing to chance. Put it all on the line. Do whatever it takes to close out this magical run of a season.
Who are 10 Miami Hurricanes players to watch?
Quarterback Carson Beck: After being a backup for two Georgia title runs and not playing in the playoffs his two years as UGA’s starter, Beck finally has a chance to win a national championship as a starter with Miami. His stats haven’t been the gaudiest in the playoffs, but he has done what is asked of him.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr.: The junior has run for 395 yards on 58 carries and added a receiving touchdown through three playoff games. He’ll once again be asked to carry the load in the run game.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney: The freshman phenom caught the game-winning touchdown in the first round against Texas A&M and finally broke out in the semifinal against Ole Miss with 81 yards and a touchdown on five catches. He has 99 catches for 1,089 yards on the season.
Tight end Alex Bauman: With Elija Lofton out with injury, Bauman will handle the bulk of Miami’s tight end duties on Monday.
Offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa: The All-American right tackle will pave the way for Miami’s offensive line, which is one of the best in the country.
Edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and Ruben Bain Jr.: Like Mauigoa does for the offensive line, Mesidor and Bain set the tone for the defensive line. They have combined for 28.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks this season.
Defensive back Keionte Scott: Miami’s nickel corner has been a revelation in his lone season with the Hurricanes. He does it all, with 70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions returned for touchdown.
Linebacker Mo Toure: The Rutgers transfer has a team-high 73 tackles, including 19 in three CFP games.
Kicker Carter Davis: He’s 17 of 23 on the season but just 3 of 7 in the postseason, though three of the misses came during the Texas A&M game where swirling winds made the kicking game unpredictable.
Who are 10 Indiana Hoosiers players to watch?
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza: The Heisman Trophy winner and Columbus High alumnus has completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns with six interceptions. In two playoff games, he has more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).
Running back Roman Hemby: The senior has rushed for 1,060 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging just over 5 yards per carry.
Wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt: The duo has a combined 126 catches, 1,668 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Offensive lineman Pat Coogan: The center is the anchor of Indiana’s offensive line and was the Rose Bowl MVP.
Linebacker Rolijah Hardy: The sophomore leads the Hoosiers with 98 tackles and eight sacks.
Defensive backs D’Angelo Ponds and Jamari Sharpe: Indiana’s starting cornerbacks are South Florida natives, with Ponds an alumnus of Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and Sharpe hailing from Miami Northwestern. Ponds has two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown against Oregon on the first play of the Peach Bowl. Sharpe has forced four fumbles and has five pass breakups this season.
Defensive back Louis Moore: The safety has a team-high six interceptions on top of 81 tackles and three pass breakups.
Defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker: Indiana’s nose tackle has 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and a pair of pass breakups this season.
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