Indiana’s Title Run Wasn’t Just a Win-It Was a Statement
Final score: No. 1 Indiana 27, No. 10 Miami 21.
That’s not just a result-it’s a reckoning. For all the noise, the politicking, and the preseason predictions that missed by a mile, Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship was a win for the fans.
For the game. For the teams that weren’t supposed to be here.
Let’s be honest: this wasn’t the matchup the talking heads forecasted. Not even close.
But it was the one that delivered. Because while the system bent under the weight of brand bias and preseason assumptions, Indiana and Miami broke through with grit, physicality, and a whole lot of heart.
Trench Warfare at Its Finest
Start in the trenches. This game was won up front.
Indiana’s offensive and defensive lines didn’t just hold their own-they dominated. Miami brought pressure, but Indiana absorbed it, redirected it, and imposed their will when it mattered most.
On the defensive side, Indiana didn’t need a flashy scheme. They just needed to buy their quarterback, Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, an extra second.
That’s all he needed. Because once he had it, the game was in his hands-and that’s exactly where Indiana wanted it.
Mendoza: From Zero Star to Undeniable Star
Mendoza’s journey is the kind of story college football fans live for. Unrecruited.
Unheralded. Undeterred.
And now, undefeated.
He took more hits in this game than he probably had all season combined. Miami came after him, and they didn’t hold back-legal or otherwise.
But Mendoza didn’t flinch. He rose.
The defining moment? A 12-yard quarterback sneak on fourth-and-4 with just over nine minutes left.
It wasn’t just a scramble-it was a statement. He paused, read the field, and then took off, dodging four defenders before launching himself into the end zone.
That capped a 75-yard, 12-play drive that showcased everything he is: calm under pressure, fearless in the moment, and relentlessly effective.
That’s Heisman stuff. That’s championship DNA.
The 12-Team Format Delivered
This game was also a win for the new 12-team playoff format. Without it, Miami wouldn’t have been here. And say what you will about upsets, but this was proof that expanding the field gives more teams a shot-and sometimes, that’s all they need.
The top four seeds-Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Oregon-were the expected powerhouses. But Miami crashed the party and nearly stole the show.
That’s what makes this format work. It opens the door for teams to prove themselves on the field, not just in the polls.
Now, there’s chatter about expanding even further-14, maybe even 16 or 24 teams. That’s a conversation for another day. But for now, the 12-team system just delivered one of the most compelling title runs we’ve seen.
Miami’s Fight, and Marion’s Moment
While the Hurricanes came up short, they didn’t go quietly. BYU transfer Keelan Marion didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he made an impact.
His block on Miami’s second touchdown drive helped spring Mark Fletcher-who, by the way, broke Ezekiel Elliott’s playoff rushing record. That’s no small feat.
And in the game’s final moments, Marion was in position to make a play. Carson Beck’s last-ditch pass was headed his way.
It was underthrown. It was picked off.
But Marion was there, in the moment, with a chance to be the hero. That’s how close this game was.
A Season for the Ages
Indiana didn’t just win a title. They ran the table.
Undefeated. Wire to wire.
And they did it without the hype, without the pedigree, without the so-called experts giving them a shot.
In a preseason media poll of 50 national analysts, not one picked Indiana or Miami to make the title game. Twelve picked Penn State-they finished 7-6 and fired their coach.
Twelve more picked Texas-they didn’t even make the SEC title game. Clemson?
LSU? Same story.
Big names, big expectations, and early exits.
Meanwhile, Indiana just kept winning. And now, the epicenter of college football isn’t in Columbus, Athens, or Tuscaloosa-it’s in Bloomington.
This wasn’t just a championship. It was a reset.
A reminder that in the NIL era, with the portal wide open and the landscape shifting under our feet, anything is possible. You can’t predict this stuff anymore.
You just have to watch it unfold.
And what we saw Monday night? That was college football at its best.