College Football Championship: No. 1 Indiana Takes On No. 10 Miami Tonight

Historic Championship Matchup Sets Stage in Miami

The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship takes place Monday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN. The championship game is being held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. The Hoosiers arrive undefeated, a huge turnaround for a team that hadn't won a bowl game since 1991.

This matchup represents two of the most improbable journeys to college football's biggest stage. Both teams will be making their program debuts in the national championship game. The Hoosiers are seeking their first title in program history, while Miami is looking to claim its first championship since 2001.

Indiana's Unprecedented Rise to Glory

Indiana's rise to the top of college football in just two seasons is highly unprecedented, especially for a team that had the most losses in major college football history. Second-year coach Curt Cignetti has orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, putting Indiana on the brink of its first national championship. The Hoosiers entered the season ranked No. 20 in the AP preseason poll, making them potential candidates for the lowest-ranked preseason team to win a national title since Auburn in 2010.

The Hoosiers have been a playoff steamroller. No team has done what Indiana has done over its first two games of this postseason. Not only is Indiana the only team to win a game after getting a first-round bye in the 12-team playoff format, the Hoosiers have dominated. Indiana's road to the title game began earlier this month with a blowout 38-3 win over Alabama in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. They then moved on to the national championship game after a 55-26 win over No. 5 Oregon in the Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Miami's Surprising Path to the Championship

Miami's path to the CFP title game was difficult with three games away from home, but now the Hurricanes will do something that no team in the BCS or CFP era has done: play for a title at their home stadium. The Hurricanes found themselves in the College Football Playoff for the first time ever despite losing to teams like Louisville and SMU in the regular season. Since getting into the playoffs, Miami has grinded out tough wins against Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss to earn their spot in the championship game.

The Hurricanes defeated Texas A&M 10-3 in the first round of the CFP before eliminating reigning national champion Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl. The Hurricanes punched their ticket to the title game with a dramatic 31-27 win over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl after quarterback Carson Beck scored a go-ahead touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.

Star Quarterbacks Lead Their Teams

With Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the controls and no obvious weaknesses on the roster, Indiana enters as a more-than-touchdown favorite. He's 31-of-36 passing for 369 yards and eight touchdowns over Indiana's two playoff wins. Yes, he's thrown five incompletions and eight touchdowns. In both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl, Mendoza had more TD passes than incompletions.

Carson Beck, the Georgia transfer, led a pair of late touchdown drives in Miami's Fiesta Bowl win over Ole Miss and capped the performance with a go-ahead touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining. Beck's performance in the semifinals showcased his ability to perform under pressure in critical moments.

Defensive Battles Will Determine the Outcome

Indiana's defense is outstanding. The article notes that while Ohio State had been considered the best defense in college football, Indiana is giving it a run for its money. First-year defensive coordinator Corey Heatherman has elevated Miami's defense into one of the nation's best, bringing to life fourth-year coach Mario Cristobal's vision of a big, punishing roster.

Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship Game between No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami shapes up as a grueling, physical battle between two teams that have embraced that identity all season. The physical matchup will determine which team hoists the national championship trophy.

What's At Stake for Both Programs

If Indiana wins, it would be the first time since the 1940s that the conference has won three consecutive national titles. It would also become the third time (SEC twice) a conference had won three consecutive national titles with three different schools. For Indiana, completing an undefeated season would cement one of the greatest turnarounds in modern sports history.

For Miami, Mario Cristobal's Hurricanes received a controversial first-ever CFP bid, but they've certainly shown they belong among college football's elites. The Hurricanes have won five national championships, in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2001. A victory would end a 25-year championship drought for the storied Miami program.

How to Watch Tonight's Championship Game

The championship game airs Monday, January 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The game will be available via fuboTV and ESPN's app with all-22 replay, Command Center, and hometown radio options available. Indiana enters as an 8.5-point favorite according to BetMGM college football odds.

Sources: CBS Sports - CFP National Championship 2026 ESPN - Miami vs. Indiana Live Score FOX Sports - CFP National Championship Preview On the Banks - CFP National Championship 2026 Predictions Today - Miami and Indiana Championship Game