PERFECT: Indiana Stuns Miami 27-21 to Win First National Title; Mendoza’s ‘Revenge’ Complete
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The rejection letter didn’t matter anymore. Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback Miami once declined as a walk-on, stood at midfield of Hard Rock Stadium Monday night as a national champion. In a defensive slugfest that came down to the final minute, the Indiana Hoosiers completed a perfect 16-0 season, defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to claim the first College Football Playoff National Championship in school history.
Forget the stats. This game wasn’t won on a spreadsheet; it was won in the trenches. With 9:18 left in the fourth quarter and Indiana clinging to a tenuous lead, Head Coach Curt Cignetti rolled the dice on 4th-and-4 from the 12-yard line. Mendoza didn’t throw. He took the snap, bulldozed through the heart of the Miami defense, and went airborne, sacrificing his body to stretch the ball over the pylon.
"I got declined to walk-on at the University of Miami. Full circle moment here playing in Miami."
Fernando Mendoza's full interview with @sportsiren after winning the CFP National Championship ❤️ 🥺 pic.twitter.com/2cWbD9sc3H
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 20, 2026
That 12-yard touchdown run gave Indiana a 24-14 cushion—just enough breathing room to survive Miami’s late surge. While Mendoza finished with 186 passing yards, his grit defined the night. He took hit after hit from a ferocious Hurricanes pass rush, bleeding from his lip and arm, but refused to stay down.
Miami (13-2) refused to go quietly. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. kept the Hurricanes alive with 112 yards and two touchdowns, punishing the Hoosiers’ front seven. Miami cut the lead to 27-21 and marched into Indiana territory with under two minutes to play, threatening to steal the trophy on their home turf.
But the “miracle” ended there. With 44 seconds on the clock, Miami quarterback Carson Beck launched a desperation heave that Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe—another Miami native—snatched out of the air. Sharpe’s interception sealed the perfect season and sent the crimson-clad contingent in the stands into hysteria.
“I got declined to walk-on at the University of Miami. Full circle moment here playing in Miami.” — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Quarterback
“I would die for my team. Whatever they need me to do… I’m going to die for my team out there.” — Fernando Mendoza
This isn’t just a win; it’s a paradigm shift. Indiana, a program historically known for losing, just went 16-0 in the expanded playoff era. Coach Cignetti took a team with zero historical pedigree and toppled the sport’s giants. For Miami, the loss stings, but their resurgence under Mario Cristobal is undeniable. They played for a title in their home stadium—a feat few predicted back in August.
But tonight belongs to Bloomington. The Hoosiers aren’t just a basketball school anymore. They are the Kings of College Football.
