How Indiana Seized the Crown: The 5 Plays That Defined the Hoosiers’ National Championship Run
Indiana football didn’t just win a national championship - they stormed through the College Football Playoff like a team on a mission. The Hoosiers knocked off some of the sport’s biggest names, playing with a mix of grit, swagger, and flat-out execution that left no doubt about who belonged on top when the confetti fell.
But championships aren’t won in broad strokes - they’re earned in moments. And for Indiana, a handful of plays turned the tide (sometimes literally) and wrote the script for one of the most remarkable postseason runs we’ve seen in recent memory.
Let’s dive into the five defining plays that powered Indiana to the pinnacle, plus a few honorable mentions that were just as clutch in the Hoosiers’ historic run.
5. D’Angelo Ponds Forces the Issue - Rose Bowl vs. Alabama
Indiana had Alabama on the ropes early in the Rose Bowl, up 10-0 in the second quarter. But the Crimson Tide, as they do, started to find their rhythm. Ty Simpson had just picked up a big third-down conversion with his legs and was beginning to settle in.
Then came D’Angelo Ponds.
Indiana’s star cornerback didn’t just stop the drive - he flipped the momentum. As Simpson fought for extra yards, Ponds delivered a perfectly timed hit that jarred the ball loose. Linebacker Isaiah Jones was right there to pounce on it.
That turnover was more than a highlight - it was a momentum crusher. The Hoosiers turned the takeaway into a 58-yard touchdown drive and a 17-0 halftime lead, putting Alabama in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
4. Mikail Kamara’s Punt Block Sparks the Hoosiers - National Championship vs. Miami
This one doesn’t happen without instinct, effort, and a little bit of special teams savvy.
With Miami’s defensive front stifling Indiana’s offense in the second half, the Hoosiers needed a spark. Enter Mikail Kamara. This wasn’t a designed punt block - Kamara simply recognized a mismatch from earlier punts and made a calculated move.
He blew past his man, extended a hand, and got just enough of the ball to send it skipping off the turf. The ricochet ended up in the end zone, and who else but Isaiah Jones was there again to fall on it.
That touchdown gave Indiana a 17-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter - a cushion that proved critical when Miami mounted its late push. It was a textbook example of how special teams can swing a championship.
3. Jamari Sharpe’s Game-Sealing Interception - National Championship
Miami had scored on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter and was threatening to pull off a comeback. Indiana’s offense couldn’t put the game away, and some untimely penalties had extended Miami’s final possession.
The Hoosiers needed a stop. What they got was a statement.
With Miami quarterback Carson Beck looking to hit Keelan Marion deep down the sideline, cornerback Jamari Sharpe read the play like he was in the huddle. He knew he had safety help over the top, so he played it perfectly - staying just off the receiver and baiting the throw.
Beck’s pass was a touch underthrown. Sharpe climbed the ladder, snatched it out of the air, and sealed Indiana’s first-ever national title.
A few kneel-downs later, and the Hoosiers were champions.
2. D’Angelo Ponds’ Pick Six Sets the Tone - Peach Bowl vs. Oregon
Every great run needs a tone-setter. For Indiana, that came early in the Peach Bowl.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore looked to get into rhythm with a simple out route, but Ponds wasn’t having it. He jumped the throw, picked it clean, and raced into the end zone before Oregon even knew what hit them.
It was the first of several first-half mistakes by the Ducks, and it helped Indiana build a commanding 35-7 lead by halftime. That early punch in the mouth sent a clear message: the Hoosiers weren’t just happy to be there - they were there to dominate.
Honorable Mentions
A few more moments that deserve their flowers:
- Charlie Becker’s touchdown catch vs. Alabama - A crucial fourth-down grab that kept the pressure on the Tide.
- Becker’s fourth and third down receptions vs. Miami - The guy just kept showing up in big spots.
- Aiden Fisher’s third-down sack vs. Miami - A drive-killer when the Hurricanes were starting to heat up.
- Louis Moore’s third-down tackle on Malachi Toney - Set the stage for Kamara’s game-changing punt block.
1. Fernando Mendoza’s Dive Into History - National Championship
There are game-winners, and then there are legacy-makers.
Late in the fourth quarter, Indiana faced a decision: kick the field goal on fourth-and-four or go for the kill shot. They took a timeout, reloaded, and sent the offense back out.
Miami wasn’t ready.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza took the snap, saw the coverage, and took off. He picked up the first down, then made the kind of play that echoes through generations of Hoosier fans. With defenders closing in, Mendoza launched himself toward the goal line, stretching the ball just enough to break the plane.
Touchdown, Indiana.
It wasn’t the final play of the game, but it was the play. The one that will be frozen in time - on posters, murals, and highlight reels. The image of Mendoza soaring into the end zone will live forever in Bloomington.
One for the Books
Indiana’s title run was about more than just moments - it was about a team that understood how to rise to the occasion, again and again. But these five plays?
They’re the ones that defined it. The ones that turned a dream into a dynasty-in-the-making.
And if you’re a Hoosiers fan, you’ll be replaying them for a long, long time.