All Eyes on Indiana, But Miami’s Playing Loose-and Dangerous
It’s true-this isn’t just another game. It’s the College Football Playoff National Championship, and while the Miami Hurricanes technically get to sleep in their own beds, the Indiana Hoosiers are walking in as the heavyweight favorite.
That’s what happens when you’re the No. 1 overall seed facing a No. 10 team that barely punched its ticket into the 12-team field. But don’t let the seeding fool you-Miami’s no fluke, and they’re not just here to make up the numbers.
On ESPN’s First Take, Desmond Howard put it plainly: the pressure is squarely on Indiana’s shoulders. And he’s not wrong. The Hoosiers have been the story of the season-undefeated, dominant, and now one win away from a perfect campaign that would go down as one of the most impressive in the expanded playoff era.
“You start beating blue-bloods like Alabama the way Indiana did,” Howard said, “and suddenly, you’re not just a feel-good story anymore-you’re the team with everything to lose.”
That’s the reality Indiana walks into this game with. They’ve got the Heisman winner under center-Miami native Fernando Mendoza, who’s already being penciled in as the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
They’ve got the momentum, the coaching, the pedigree from this season. And they’ve got the 8.5-point favorite tag hanging over them like a crown that’s just a little too heavy.
Meanwhile, Miami? They’re playing with house money. And that makes them dangerous.
Let’s not forget how the Hurricanes got here. They’ve been the underdog in every CFP game so far-and they’ve thrived in that role.
First, they went into College Station and knocked off Texas A&M. Then they handled Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
And most recently, they outlasted a gritty Ole Miss team in the Fiesta Bowl. That’s not just a Cinderella run-it’s a gauntlet.
Head coach Mario Cristobal has leaned into the underdog identity, and his team has responded with resilience and swagger. Miami isn’t just happy to be here-they’re confident they can win.
And they might be right.
From a pure talent standpoint, Miami can match up with Indiana. They’ve got athletes at every level, and they’ve been battle-tested in a way that sharpens a team’s edge.
Indiana may be the more polished, better-coached unit-but Cristobal isn’t walking into this one alone. Coordinators Shannon Dawson and Corey Hetherman have shown they can scheme with the best of them.
If either of them calls the game of their lives, Miami has a real shot at flipping the script.
But it all starts with quarterback Carson Beck. If Miami’s going to pull off the upset, Beck has to be sharp.
No turnovers. No mistakes.
He has to play clean, efficient football and take what Indiana’s defense gives him. Because one thing’s for sure-Indiana will make you pay if you’re careless with the ball.
So yes, Indiana is the favorite. Yes, they’ve got the Heisman winner, the perfect record, and the expectations of a program on the verge of history.
But pressure can do funny things in a championship setting. And Miami?
They’re loose, they’re confident, and they’ve got nothing to lose.
Sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of team you don’t want to face.