Miami Hurricanes Set for Historic Championship Showdown at Home, With Star-Studded Crowd on Hand
There’s history on the line in Miami - and not just the kind that ends with a trophy. For the first time in the modern era of college football’s title chase - from the BCS days of 1998 through today’s College Football Playoff - a team will play for a national championship in its own stadium.
The Miami Hurricanes are set to take the field at Hard Rock Stadium with more than just their legacy at stake. They’ve got the chance to win it all, right in their own backyard.
And the spotlight? It’s never been brighter.
The guest list is stacked, and it’s not just former players and local legends making the trip. President Donald J.
Trump is expected to be in attendance, adding a layer of political star power to an already electric atmosphere. The 79-year-old, known for his long and colorful relationship with sports, brings with him decades of ties to the game - from playing multiple sports in his youth at the New York Military Academy to owning the USFL’s New Jersey Generals in the 1980s.
Trump’s football ambitions didn’t stop there. Throughout the ‘80s, he made attempts to buy into the NFL, including bids for the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots.
In 2014, he made a serious push to acquire the Buffalo Bills, though that effort ultimately came up short. These days, he’s more often seen on the golf course, but he’s no stranger to the big stage - attending major events like the Daytona 500, Yankees-Tigers games, and UFC cards throughout 2025.
Joining him at Hard Rock Stadium will be Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Florida native and former senator has deep ties to the state’s college football culture.
A University of Florida alum, Rubio made headlines late last year when he publicly defended Miami’s case for a playoff spot. Despite his Gator roots, Rubio didn’t hesitate to back the Canes after their 10-2 season and marquee win over Notre Dame.
“If the University of Miami gets screwed out of the College Football Playoffs after going 10-2 and beating Notre Dame, the whole thing should be scrapped,” Rubio joked on December 2nd, 2025. That comment, half in jest, half in frustration, captured the mood of a fanbase that felt overlooked. Now, just weeks later, Miami’s not only in - they’re one win away from completing one of the most memorable runs in program history.
Leading the charge is head coach Mario Cristobal, a man whose path to the sideline almost took a very different turn. Before diving into coaching full-time, Cristobal was seriously considering a career with the United States Secret Service in the late 1990s.
But a call to return to football - and to the Hurricanes - changed everything. The former Miami offensive lineman has brought the toughness and swagger of those legendary Canes teams into the modern era, and now he’s got them knocking on the door of greatness once again.
It’s been more than two decades since Miami last played for a national title - that unforgettable 2002 BCS Championship Game in the Rose Bowl, where they fell to Ohio State in a controversial overtime finish, 31-24. That loss still stings for many in Coral Gables. But now, this new generation of Hurricanes has the opportunity to write its own chapter - and this time, they’ll do it on home turf.
Kickoff is set for January 19th at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, the crowd couldn’t be louder, and the moment couldn’t be bigger. Miami has a chance to make history - and they won’t have to leave home to do it.