CFP National Championship Game live updates: Indiana wins the national title
The Miami Hurricanes came oh-so-close to their sixth national championship and first in 24 years.
But just like the rest of the college football world this season, they had no answer for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Top-ranked Indiana won its first-ever football national title with a 27-21 win over the No. 10 Hurricanes on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 67,227.
The Hoosiers completed an undefeated season at 16-0. Miami’s season ends at 13-3.
And the Canes respond
Miami isn’t quitting.
Malachi Toney 22-yard touchdown catch from Carson Beck.
It’s 24-21 Indiana with 6:23 left to play.
Mendoza has his moment
Fernando Mendoza makes two stellar plays on consecutive fourth downs, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run to put Indiana up 24-14.
Mark Fletcher again
3-yard rushing touchdown by Mark Fletcher Jr. on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Miami is back within three points, down 17-14 to Indiana with 14:57 left to play.
Indiana blocked punt
And the Hoosiers have the momentum again.
Mikail Kamara blocked a Dylan Joyce punt. Isaiah Jones recovered in the end zone.
It’s 17-7 Indiana with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
Narrator: They did not take the lead
UM went three and out.
And the defense holds again
Linebacker Mo Toure was the headliner of a weird play that results in a third-down PBU.
Indiana punts.
Miami has a chance to take the lead here...
Mark Fletcher, ladies and gentlemen
The Hurricanes are right back in this.
Mark Fletcher Jr.’s 57-yard rushing touchdown got Miami within 10-7 with 11:06 left in the third quarter.
Big drive by the defense to open second half
The Hoosiers punted on their opening drive of the second half. Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. each had a sack on the drive.
Halftime thoughts
No. 1 Indiana leads No. 10 Miami 10-0 at halftime.
It’s been all Hoosiers so far. Indiana is outgaining Miami 169-69 and has run 35 plays to Miami’s 22.
Thirty minutes left to make a comeback.
Missed field goal
Miami finally put together a quality drive, highlighted by a conversion on fourth and 1 and a 25-yard pass from Carson Beck to CJ Daniels.
But the drive ended with Carter Davis missing a 50-yard field goal attempt, hitting the right upright.
Miami still trails 10-0 with 33 seconds left in the first half.
Miami gives Indiana extra chances; Hoosiers capitalize
Two third-down Miami penalties — first a pass interference on OJ Frederique Jr. and then Rueben Bain Jr. jumping offsides — ultimately extended an Indiana drive.
The Hoosiers capitalized with a Riley Nowakowski 1-yard rush on third and goal.
It capped a 14-play, 85-yard drive that ate 6:28 off the clock.
Hoosiers are up 10-0 on Miami with 6:13 left in the second quarter.
Indiana has 150 yards of offense. Miami has 26.
Offense continues early struggles
Four Miami drives, three three-and-outs, four punts.
Twenty-six total yards of offense.
Their best weapon on offense so far has been punter Dylan Joyce, who has pinned Indiana inside its 20 on two of four punts so far.
First quarter thoughts
The Hurricanes trail the Hoosiers 3-0 after one quarter.
Miami needs the offense to pick things up. The Hurricanes have 18 yards on three drives and have gone three and out the past two drives.
Indiana will punt to start the second quarter.
Hoosiers open scoring
Fernando Mendoza moved Indiana down the field but the defense held firm in the red zone, capped by OJ Frederique’s pass breakup in the end zone on third down.
Hoosiers settle for a 34-yard field goal — that barely goes in.
3-0 Indiana over Miami, 2:42 left in the first quarter.
First Indiana drive stalls
UM’s pass rush gets the pressure on Fernando Mendoza on third down.
Hoosiers punting from inside their 20.
A holding on UM’s ensuing punt return pushes the Hurricanes back to their 23.
First Miami drive stalls
The Hurricanes’ first drive stalled near midfield. Dylan Joyce, who has quietly been great for Miami this season, pins Indiana at its 5-yard line.
One bit of history to note, though: Freshman receiver Malachi Toney caught two passes on the drive and now has 101 on the season. He’s the first player in Hurricanes history to have a 100-catch season.
Coin toss
Indiana wins the toss and defers.
The Hurricanes will start on offense.
Kickoff is moments away.
Let’s do this.
How each team got here
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.
Pregame Miami Hurricanes reading
Need to catch up before kickoff? Here are the highlights of the Miami Herald’s coverage leading into the title game.
‘That’s our leader’: How Mario Cristobal got Miami Hurricanes back to relevance
From columnist Greg Cote: In Canes vs. Mendoza, Miami — city and team — will win it all
‘One more chapter to write’: It comes down to Miami vs. Indiana for national title
Playing for a national title in Miami is a ‘dream come true’ for hometown Hurricanes
Injury pushes UM tight end Alex Bauman into the spotlight
UM receivers coach Kevin Beard channels championship past to prepare players
Cornerback depth has been a Miami strength all season. It’ll be tested vs. Indiana
With chance to win a title at home, Hurricanes want ‘bedlam’ at Hard Rock
Hurricanes’ ‘magical’ title-game run a boon for athletic department, university
This story was originally published January 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM.
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