Indiana Raised Some ‘Cane’ in Win Over Miami for First National Title

The Indiana Hoosiers (15-0) came into the national championship game against the Miami Hurricanes (13-2) on Monday night with a history of losing football, about 125 years of gridiron doom, despair and agony.

When coach Curt Cignetti took over the program in 2024, the Hoosiers have gone 26-2 during his tenure, a .929 winning percentage.

The former Nick Saban assistant has turned Indiana football into a crimson-colored winning machine and needed one victory to earn their first national title in football.

Indiana set the tone and held the Hurricanes to 69 total yards, no points and just three first downs in the first 30 minutes, on their way to defeating Miami 27-21. 

First Half

Miami quarterback Carson Beck, the hero in the semifinal win over Ole Miss, was a non-factor in the first half, with just 49 yards through the air and no touchdowns.

Beck’s counterpart, Indiana quarterback and Heisman-winner Fernando Mendoza, completed 71 percent of his passes (12/17) for 116 yards. The Hoosiers gained 11 first downs in the first half.

Indiana’s explosive plays consisted of a 21-yard run by Kaelon Black and a 20-yard catch by Charlie Becker to set up the only touchdown by the Hoosiers in the first half, a one-yard run by Riley Nowakowski to increase Indiana’s lead to 10-0 going into halftime.

The Hoosiers forced three Miami punts and the only chance at points for the Canes was a missed field goal that bounced off the right upright. It was the “doink heard ‘round the world.”

Second Half

The Hurricanes busted through the Indiana defense for a 57-yard touchdown run by Mark Fletcher that cut the Hoosiers lead to 10-7.

The Hoosiers punted three times on three straight possessions to start the second half.

As the game progressed to midway of the third quarter, the Hurricanes had sacked Mendoza three times. Indiana receiver Elijah Sarratt, usually a sure-handed pass catcher, had two drops.

Then, the Indiana special teams got a blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown and the Hoosiers increased their lead to 17-7 at the 5:00 mark of the third quarter. It was the Hoosiers eighth blocked punt in the Cignetti era. Complimentary football at its best.

In the fourth quarter, Miami responded by driving down the field and scored a short run by Fletcher to cut the Hoosiers lead to three, 17-14.

At 9:27 in the fourth quarter, Indiana drove 75-yards down the field and were faced with a 4th-down and five at the Miami 12-yard line. Instead of attempting a field goal, Cignetti kept the offense on the field and went for it. Indiana would either get a first down without scoring to keep the drive alive, or they would score a touchdown.

Mendoza weaved his way through traffic and dove for the goal line, extending the ball across the plane of the goal line for touchdown to make it a two possession game and a 24-14 lead for the Hoosiers.

Miami responded with Beck completing two long passes, including one to Malachi Toney for 41 yards that put Miami deep into Indiana territory. A couple of plays later, Toney scored on 22-yard rushing play to cut the Indiana lead to 24-21.

Indiana drives down the field and is forced to settle for a field goal that extends their lead to 27-21 with 1:42 left in the game.

On the final Miami possession, they start with a delay of game penalty. On 2nd and 15, Indiana gets flagged for roughing the passer, resulting in a automatic first down.

On 1st and 10 with 0:51 left in the game, Beck throws his first interception of the game that seals the victory for Indiana. The Hoosiers ran out the clock to win their first national championship in football. Mendoza leaves his native Miami as a conquering hero.