‘I cry every game’: Fans tailgating outside Hard Rock Stadium are ready for a win

Hours before kickoff, the scene outside Hard Rock Stadium felt less like a parking lot and more like a festival. Fans of the University of Miami and Indiana claimed their spaces in the South Florida sun.

Tailgating fans grilled, played drinking games, blasted music and posed for photos in their team gear.

UM fans were arguably having a rowdier time. Barbecue and cigar smoke filled the air. Most of the tables were covered in makeshift bars and spreads of meats, and others had UM dominoes and table games. A young boy was in the bed of his family’s truck happily and unintelligibly shouting at fans walking by, and a man passing by yelled back with a mouth full of chicken wing.

A large group of UM fans got in a circle, put their arms around each other and bowed their heads toward the ground in a huddle while music played in the background. A group of four women were skipping around in matching green and orange striped jumpsuits.

Robert Clark, 27, of Orlando, said he’s feeling confident Miami is going to beat Indiana.

Clark spent $4,000 on his ticket, but said it’s completely worth it. He was decked out in an oversized fake gold UM chain. He said he’s a big fan and “had the money to spend.”

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Clark said.

Latrice Simmons, who was tailgating, said she was hanging out before going into the game to support her cousin, Rueben Bain Jr., a defensive lineman for the Canes. Simmons said she’s feeling “a bit nervous” but also confident. Bain has been successful on and off the field, she said.

It would be a blessing and mean so much to Bain’s family to see him win the national championship, Simmons said. They are all so proud of him, she said.

“I cry every game.”

Indiana fans tossed footballs and ate turkey legs near the southwest gate in their red and white gear. Oliver Cook, 15, traveled to Miami from Bloomington, Indiana, to watch Monday night’s game.

“I predict a 31-14 score,” Cook said in support of his Indiana Hoosiers.

Indiana law school alum Jason Cleveland, 47, who owns a law firm with his brother-in-law Chris Cassidy, 51, came to the game because of a promise. Cleveland vowed to Cassidy during Indiana’s blowout victory over the University of Oregon that they would head to Miami for the championship game.

“In the second half of the Oregon game, we bought our flights immediately,” he said.

Kevin Curtis drove 17 hours from Indiana with two friends and his twin brother to watch the Hoosiers take on the Hurricanes.

The four men played backgammon in the back of their car as if they were at a neighborhood cookout.

“We’re just happy to be here,” he said.

Eric Tweedle, 37, went to Indiana for two years before transferring to the University of Georgia, was relishing every moment of the tailgate.

“It’s cool to experience the excitement,” he said.

Pitbull took to the stage for fans at the tailgate.

“Welcome to Miami!” the musician yelled to cheering fans.

As fans poured into the stadium around 7 p.m., the excitement among UM supporters continued.

“It’s Miami versus the world, always,” Dan Perry, of Marathon, said.

He said he’s been a fan since he was 3 years old. Perry secured his $4,200 ticket just four hours ago.

“My brother paid on his credit card,” Perry said. “I owe him some money.”

Perry recalled all the victories, losses and stadiums he’s seen over the decades.

If the Canes win the championship game Monday night, Perry laughed that he’s headed to Disney World.

The win would be a dream come true, he said.

Inside the stadium, the vendors were ready for the game. Italian Vice owner Aamir Taylor, who sells a sorbet-like treat at his booth in section 139, believed all year that the Miami Hurricanes could play a home championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.

The stadium vendor has two booths at Hard Rock and has worked at all of their home games.

“This is a big deal for Miami and for us at Hard Rock Stadium,” the Philadelphia native said. He considers the championship game a “bucket list experience.”

“We opened up the gates at 4:30 p.m., and people have been outside since 6 a.m. this morning,” he said. “The energy has been immaculate.”

This story was originally published January 19, 2026 at 3:27 PM.