How Miami and Indiana Used the Transfer Portal to Build a National Championship Contender
On Monday night, Miami and Indiana will square off in a College Football Playoff National Championship matchup that nobody had circled back in August. One year ago, Indiana wasn’t even in the national conversation, and Miami’s defense was so porous in 2024 that a title run felt like a long shot. And yet, here they are-two programs that navigated the chaos of the modern college football landscape and emerged as the last teams standing.
The common thread? The Transfer Portal. Love it or hate it, it’s changed the game-and these two programs are proof of just how fast fortunes can flip when the right pieces are added at the right time.
Quarterbacks: The Engine of the Turnaround
Both Miami and Indiana entered the offseason knowing they had solid rosters but needed answers at quarterback. For Miami, that answer came in the form of Carson Beck, the top-ranked transfer QB on the market. He’s had his ups and downs, sure, but he’s done enough to steer the Hurricanes to the biggest stage in college football.
Indiana, meanwhile, took a swing that few saw coming-bringing in Fernando Mendoza from Cal. That move has turned into a home run.
Mendoza didn’t just stabilize the position; he took a massive leap and has become the best player in the country. His growth has been the heartbeat of Indiana’s run.
Building the Trenches Through the Portal
Quarterbacks get the headlines, but games are still won in the trenches. Indiana’s offensive line has been a revelation, and much of that credit goes to Pat Coogan.
The Notre Dame transfer was a victim of a numbers game in South Bend, but he’s been a cornerstone in Bloomington-so much so that he earned Rose Bowl Offensive MVP honors. That’s not a small feat for a lineman, and it speaks volumes about his impact.
Miami’s offensive line didn’t need as much retooling, but the Hurricanes made a sneaky-important addition in North Dakota State’s CharMar Brown. With Mark Fletcher Jr. already in place, Brown wasn’t expected to carry the load. But his late-game performances-especially in the Playoff wins over Ohio State and Ole Miss-have been clutch.
Indiana also struck gold in the backfield by adding Maryland’s Roman Hemby. The Hoosiers needed a reliable workhorse, and Hemby delivered with a 1,000-yard season that helped balance the offense and take pressure off Mendoza.
Transfer Receivers Making Championship-Level Plays
The impact of the portal didn’t stop in the backfield. Miami’s biggest offensive spark against Ole Miss came from Keelan Marion, a transfer who racked up 107 yards and a touchdown in that semifinal win. That kind of production in the biggest moments is what separates good teams from great ones.
Indiana has leaned on Elijah Sarratt, a former Saint Francis and James Madison receiver who’s been their top target for two straight seasons. His consistency and playmaking ability have given Mendoza a go-to option in crunch time.
Defensive Overhauls That Made It All Possible
Let’s be clear-Miami isn’t playing for a national title without the complete transformation of its defense. A year ago, this unit was a liability.
Now? It’s a strength.
The Hurricanes hit the portal hard and landed difference-makers across the board.
Keionte Scott, Jakobe Thomas, Ethan O’Connor, and Zechariah Poyser have completely reshaped the secondary. And Mohamed Toure’s game-saving play against Texas A&M-dislodging a would-be touchdown pass-might go down as the moment that kept Miami’s season alive.
Indiana didn’t need as many new faces on defense, but the few they added have made a major impact. Stephen Daley, Kellan Wyatt, and Dominique Ratcliff have given the Hoosiers a defensive line that sets the tone every week. They’ve been relentless, and that front has been the foundation of Indiana’s success on that side of the ball.
The Blueprint: Right Players, Right Fit
What Miami and Indiana have done isn’t just impressive-it’s instructive. They didn’t just chase the biggest names in the portal.
They found the right fits. They identified needs, filled them with purpose, and built rosters that could compete with-and beat-the blue bloods.
This National Championship isn’t just a celebration of two great teams. It’s a case study in how the modern era of college football works. The portal is here to stay, and if you use it wisely, it can take you from overlooked to elite in just one offseason.
On Monday night, we’ll watch two programs that rewrote their stories in real time. And win or lose, they’ve already shown that the path to the top doesn’t always start with five-star recruits. Sometimes, it starts with knowing exactly who you need-and going out to get them.