When Miami and Indiana take the field for the College Football Playoff national championship, it’ll be a collision of two programs with almost no shared history - and that’s part of what makes this matchup so intriguing. Monday night’s showdown at Hard Rock Stadium will mark just the third time these two schools have ever played each other. That’s right - three meetings in total, and the last one happened before man walked on the moon.
A Brief (and Distant) History
The all-time series between Miami and Indiana is tied at 1-1, with both games played in the 1960s at the now-demolished Miami Orange Bowl. The first meeting came in 1964, and the second followed two years later in 1966.
Since then? Nothing but radio silence between the two programs - until now.
1964: Indiana Runs Wild in Miami
The inaugural matchup was a 1964 clash that saw Indiana make the long trip south and come away with a 28-14 win. It was a ground-and-pound performance from the Hoosiers, who racked up a staggering 352 rushing yards. Fullback Tom Nowatzke punched in a short touchdown, quarterback Rich Badar added a 2-yard scoring run, and also aired it out for a 43-yard TD strike to Joe Sherwood.
That game came during a transitional year for both teams. Miami had just brought in Charlie Tate as head coach, and the ’Canes were still finding their footing under his leadership. They finished 4-5-1 that season, while Indiana ended up 2-7, but Badar's performance earned him team MVP honors.
1966: Hurricanes Grind Out a Win in the Rain
Two years later, the rematch brought very different circumstances. Miami had grown into a top-10 team under Tate, finishing the 1966 season at 8-2-1 and earning a No. 9 ranking in the final AP poll. Indiana, on the other hand, was in the early days of the John Pont era and struggled to a 1-8-1 record.
The game itself was a soggy, low-scoring affair. On a rain-soaked Miami night, the Hurricanes did just enough to secure a 14-7 win - evening the all-time series and closing the book on their brief head-to-head history.
Now, It’s for Everything
Fast forward to today, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. No. 10 seed Miami (13-2, 6-2 ACC) is back on the national stage, looking to cap off a remarkable run with a national title in its own backyard. Meanwhile, No. 1 seed Indiana (15-0, 9-0 Big Ten) is chasing perfection and a championship to match.
There’s no recent rivalry here, no long-standing grudge. But that might be what makes this game so compelling. It’s a clean slate, a fresh chapter - and with a national title on the line, both teams are about to write their biggest moment yet.