2026 CFP National Championship: Indiana vs. Miami 10-0 Live Updates

History will be made between Indiana and Miami tonight in Miami Gardens, Florida — and not just because one will emerge victorious in the 2026 College Football Playoff championship. It’s because, as NBC Sports college football insider Nicole Auerbach writes, the outcome is guaranteed to have an enormous impact on either program while also speaking volumes about the current state of the sport. A victory by top-seeded Indiana would be its first and punctuate one of the most remarkable turnarounds in sports history with a 16-0 season (the first since Yale in 1894). The losingest team in college football before the arrival of “unicorn” coach Curt Cignetti barely two years ago, the Hoosiers jaw-droppingly have become the blueprint for overnight success in the transfer and NIL era. Meanwhile, the bruising march to a hometown title game by 10th-seeded Miami has been a reclamation of past glory. “The U” can win its sixth national championship but the first since 2001 for a proud program that has produced a plethora of dynamic and legendary NFL superstars such as Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed (the defensive anchor of the 2001 team). Many of those luminaries will be cheering on their alma mater in person tonight as another renowed alum, head coach Mario Cristobal, tries to join elite company. Cristobal could become one of the few to win a national title as a player and coach — and the first Cuban-American to guide a championship team in history. In a playoff marked by some spectacular storylines, compelling comebacks and memorable heroics, this looms as the most intriguing matchup yet. Follow along below for our live coverage here with updates before, during and after the big game. How to watch Indiana vs. Miami in the CFP championship Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida TV: ESPN (pregame from 5-7:30 p.m.) Announcers/reporters: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Molly McGrath Other networks: ESPN2 (Field Pass), ESPNU (Film Room), ESPNEWS (Skycast), ACCN (Field Pass), ESPN Deportes (Spanish) Indiana-Miami national championship live updates Cignetti calls out the officials! Never one to mince words, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti didn’t hold back when asked by ESPN’s Holly Rowe about the hits on Fernando Mendoza. “Well, there were three personal fouls on the quarterback not called in one drive,” Cignetti said. “That need to be called because they’re obvious personal fouls. I’m all for letting them play, but when you cross the line, you’ve got to call it. They were black and white calls.” Clank! Miami misses FG attempt before halftime The Hurricanes’ best drive yet (nine plays, 43 yards) comes up empty. Carson Davis pushed a field goal attempt from 50 yards, nailing the right upright and leaving Indiana ahead 10-0 with 33 seconds to play. The only saving grace for Miami was that Indiana seemed to get confused on clock management and lost 15 seconds while trying to get in position for a field goal. The half ended on a Mendoza Hail Mary that fell incomplete. Critical fourth down conversion for Miami In danger of punting after three plays for the fourth consecutive drive, Miami coach Mario Cristobal gambles on going for it on fourth and 1 from the Hurricanes’ 34. Mark Fletcher Jr. had carried the previous three plays for 9 yards and been stopped for no gain on third down. But Miami went again to Fletcher, who picked up the first down by a foot (and drew a patented side eye from Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who thought his defense held). The play seemed to energize Miami as Carson Beck connected for a 25-yard pass to Malachi Toney, the Hurricanes’ biggest play of the game. Griding drive ends in Indiana touchdown It’s all Hoosiers now as fullback Riley Nowakowski bowls in for a 1-yard touchdown that caps a 14-play, 85-yard march that chewed up 6 minutes, 28 seconds. With six minutes left in the second quarter, the pressure has shifted to Miami and Carson Beck to start finding some answers on offense, where the Hurricanes have gone three and out three conseuctive times. What a burst for Kaelon Black The Indiana running back extends a drive by blasting up the middle for a gain of 20 yards on third and 8 to the Miami 23. On the next play, Mendoza completed his first pass to Charlie Becker, who scampered down the sidelines while breaking two tackles to the end zone. After initially ruled a touchdown, the call was overturned when replays showed Becker stepping out at the 5-yard line. Miami had Indiana stopped on third and 13, but star edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was ruled offside for the Hurricanes. Updated odds after the first quarter According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Moneyline: Indiana (-330), Miami FL (+240) Spread: Indiana -7.5 Total: 36.5 (the over/under started at 47.5, so a 3-point first quarter had a significant impact) Indiana 3-0 after first quarter In an expectedly physical game, the story so far has been defense. The Hoosiers finally got to Miami quarterback Carson Beck on a sack by star linebacker Aiden Fisher, forcing the second consecutive three and out for Miami. But the Hurricanes hung tough, dropping Roman Hemby for a loss of 6 yards on first down and forcing Indiana into fourth and as the first quarter ended. Missed targeting call? Miami, which already is missing a starting cornerback Xavier Lucas for the first half because of a targeting penalty in the Fiesta Bowl, might have been fortunate to avoid another personal foul. Replays showed that Fernanda Mendoza (after handing off) took a hit to the head from Jacobi Thomas. who led with the crown of his helmet and left the Indiana quarterback with a bloody lip. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti made his (angry) feelings known to the officials. Indiana leads 3-0 with 2:42 left in Q1 In 12 plays, Mendoza marches Indiana down to the Miami 16 before nearly throwing an interception on a pass to Charlie Becker in the end zone (Romanas Frederique Jr. had the coverage). Nicolas Radicic booted a 34-yard field goal to put Indiana ahead 3-0 with 2:42 left in the first quarter. Hoosiers on move into Hurricanes territory After Indiana starting the drive with a holding penalty, Mendoza connects with Cooper on a 25-yard strike on first and 20. Then after a false start, the Heisman winner picks up another first down on a 10-yard pass to Elijah Sarratt to the Miami side of the field. Mendoza, the level-headed Miami native who seemed amped up just before kickoff, seems to be in rhythm. Feeling like a good night for the under? Miami quickly goes three and out as Carson Beck misfires on third and 5 despite having plenty of time. The game remains scoreless as the midpoint of the first quarter approaches. (The over/under was 47.5, by the way.) Indiana punt after a first down, 0-0 with 10:00 left in Q1 Fernando Mendoza and Amari Cooper Jr. hooked up on an early first down for 11 yards, but the Hoosiers stalled out quickly deep in their own territory. So far, these vaunted defenses have shown up. A Miami ‘home game?’ Uhhh, not really! The national championship might be in Miami Gardens, Florida, but Hoosiers fans have turned Hard Rock Stadium into a sea of red (as they have in traveling en masse each game of the CFP). Miami punts after brief drive, 0-0,12:16 left in Q1 The Hurricanes managed a first down with fabulous freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, but the Hoosiers then held. Indiana stopped Toney on third down, forcing the Hurricanes to punt. Hesiman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoaz wll lead the Hoosiers on the field for the first time. Indiana wins the coin toss The Hoosiers elect to defer until the second half, so the Hurricanes will receive. Brief one-question interviews with both coaches followed the coin toss. Curt Cignetti: We’ve got to be balanced on offense. They’re good and are going to make their share of plays. We just have to make one more.” Mario Cristobal said Miami has to “make it a one-moment mentality for every single play.” PREDICTIONS! NBC Sports college football insider Nicole Auerbach has Indiana winning 37-17 (which sounds about right to this fellow Big Ten graduate). Curiously, the ESPN pregame desk tilted toward Miami with Desmond Howard, Nick Saban and Marcus Freeman all taking the Hurricanes. (As the Notre Dame coach, Freeman said he wanted to avolid giving Miami motivation for the Fighting Irish’s game next November. Saban told Freeman he never made those predictions when he worked as a studio set analyst during his legendary coaching career, but Freeman joked that he was forced to make a pick.) Pat McAfee was the only ESPN analyst to pick Indiana. UPDATE: Somehow, the 10th-seeded team has become the trendy pick to win over the undefeated top seed in the country? Mendoza vs. Beck in the quarterback matchup The next stop for Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who grew up less than a mile from Miami’s campus, is the NFL draft. With Oakland Raiders braintrust Mark Davis and Tom Brady at the game, the national chamipnoship could be the steppingstone to being the top pick. Per the PFF ratings, Mendoza is listed as “a solid NFL starter” at a 7.94 rating based on these categories: decision making 8/10, poise 8/10, touch 8/10, velocity 8/10, accuracy 8/10, distance 7/10, pocket management 8.5/10, progressions 8/10, mechanics 9/10, mobility 6/10 (his weakness). For Miami quarterback Carson Beck, this is his third shot at a national championship after winning two at Georgia as a backup. His career with the Bulldogs ended with a torn UCL in his right throwing elbow in the 2024 SEC Championship. After sugergy, he transferred to Miami and has shored up his pro quarterback prospects. PFF ranked Beck fourth among the quarterbacks in the CFP semifinal QBs but put a high value on his accuracy. Players to watch for Miami The Hurricanes might have the fiercest defense in the nation with the twin terror of edge rushers Akheem Mesidor (seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss) and Rueben Bain Jr. (4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss) stuffing opponents at the line. Miami also has a star secondary with defensive backs Jakobe Thomas (70 tackles, five INTs, TD) and Bryce Fitzgerald (15 tackles, six INTs), and a solid linebacker corps with Mohamed Toure (73 tackles, three for loss, two sacks) and Wesley Bissainthe (63 tackles, 2.5 for loss, INT). In his sixth year, quarterback Carson Beck (3,072 yards, 25 touchdowns, 74.7% completions) coolly has become the veteran master of late game-winning drives in his comeback season from major elbow surgery, relying heavily on wide receiver Malachi Toney (84 catches, 970 yards, seven TDs). Running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. (685 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns), CharMar Brown (469 rushing yards, seven TDs) and Girard Pringle Jr. (378 rushing yards, four TDs) have benefited from a line led by first-team All-American Francis Mauigoa. Players to watch for Indiana Heisman Trophy quarterback Fernando Mendoza directs college football’s most efficient offense, completing 73% of his passes for 3,349 yards, 41 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He has a trio of star receivers in Elijah Sarratt (62 catches, 802 yards, 15 TDs), Omar Cooper Jr. (64 catches, 866 yards, three TDs) and Charlie Becker (30 catches, 614 yards, four TDs). The Hoosiers also have relied on a three-pronged backfield attack of Roman Hemby (1060 rushing yards, seven TDs), Kaelon Black (961 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and Khobie Martin ( 505 rushing yards, six TDs) that runs behind a physical offensive line. The defense is led by linebackers Rolijah Hardy (98 tackles, eight sacks), Aiden Fisher (93 tackles, 9.5 for a loss) and Isaiah Jones (15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks). The secondary is anchored by cornerback D’Angelo Ponds (56 tackles, INT) and safety Louis Moore (six INTs, 81 tackles). Fisher and Ponds are among the 13 players who followed coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana. Brief coaching profile: Miami’s Mario Cristobal The Miami native and former Hurricanes player was on the famous champinoship teams of coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. After becoming the first Cuban-American head coach in FBS history, Cristobal has gone 96-78 in 13 seasons as a head coach at Miami, Oregon and Florida International. He is 34-18 through four seasons at Miami, which was awarded its first CFP berth on Dec. 7, 2025 — four years to the day that Cristobal was hired. Brief coaching profile: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti Close your eyes while listening to the Hoosiers’ head coach, and you might imagine hearing the echoes of Bob Knight, the cantankerous legend who led Indiana’s basketball team to three national championships. Cignetti, 62, might not have Knight’s credentials yet, but his famous proclamation (“I win. Google Me”) does hold up. In the four seasons before his arrival, Indiana had 15 wins combined — the same total as this unbeaten season so far. It continues a pattern of success for Cignetti, who has a 145-37 record in 15 seasons as a head coach without a losing record — Indiana (26-2), James Madison (five seasons, 52-9, first top 25 ranking), Elon (two seasons, 14-9, made FCS playoffs both seasons) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (53-17, three Div. II playoff appearances). Indiana celebs can show out, too! We already have seen a lot of Indiana alum Mark Cuban on the sidelines during pregame (perhaps too much so for Miami fans, who vociferously booed the “Shark Tank” host). The former Dallas Mavericks owner is far from the only celebrity who went to college in Bloomington, though. Another famous Indiana alums: producer Ryan Murphy, Journalist/former Today Show host Jane Pauley, author Suzanne Collins. The Miami connections With Ed Reed, Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis among the many famous alums who have been attending the Hurricanes’ playoff run, you might be able to assemble a Hall of Fame squad from just those wearing street clothes on the sideline of “The U” tonight: But the Miami Hurricanes also are a favorite for many of the beautiful people in South Florida, whose celebrities also figure to turn out in force for the big game. Among the famous who attended school in Coral Gables: Actor and professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, musician Gloria Estefan, and late actor Ray Liotta. As our intrepid insider reports from on the spot in South Florida, it can make for quite the scene on the Hurricanes sideline: Miami injury updates Head coach Mario Cristobal said he expects to have defensive linemen Ahkeem Mesidor and Ahmad Moten after both were injured (and returned) during the Hurricanes’ victory in the Peach Bowl. Cornerback OJ Frederique should be ready for the final after being injured in the Cotton Bowl and missing the semifinal game. Regular starting defensive back Xavier Lucas will be on the bench for the first half because of a targeting penalty in the Fiesta Bowl win over Ole Miss. Indiana injury updates Coach Curt Cignetti said defensive lineman Stephen Daley will remain sidelined because of a freak right leg injury suffered in a postgame celebration of the victory in the Big Ten Championship game over Ohio State. But Indiana has dominated in two consecutive wins without Daley, and every key player should be available. “We came out really good, and everybody that played in the last game will play in this game,” Cignetti said. One hour away! A friendly reminder that the big game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. ESPN has coverage. (Pssst: Based off the clock that has been running on the pregame broadcast, it seems as if the kickoff actually will be closer to 7:45 p.m.) Miami’s path to the title The Hurricanes, who have won seven consecutive, are the lowest-seeded at-large team in the field (controversially chosen over Notre Dame after failing to reach the ACC championship). First-round: Beat seventh-seeded Texas A&M 10-3 Quarterfinals: Beat second-seeded and defending national champion Ohio State 24-14 Semifinals: Beat sixth-seeded Mississippi 31-27 in the Peach Bowl Indiana’s path to the title The Hoosiers have made history as the only team with a first-round bye to have won through two years of the expanded 12-team playoff. Quarterfinals: Beat ninth-seeded Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl Semifinals: Beat fifth-seeded Oregon 56-22 in the Fiesta Bowl Hoosiers vs. Hurricanes head-to-head all time This is the first meeting in nearly 60 years for a series that’s 1-1. The Hurricanes won 14-7 at home on Oct. 22, 1966. In a game also played at Coral Gables, Florida, Indiana won the first matchup 28-14 on Oct. 24, 1964. Here come the walk-in shots! From “Mr. Heisman” Fernando Mendoza to the Hurricanes’ collection of NFL talent, the photos and video are rolling in on social media. Time to compare game faces and judge who seems loose or tight an hour before kickoff! Pregame thoughts of Mario Cristobal In the interest of equal time, here’s what the Hurricanes coach told Molly McGrath, who asked how stepping onto the field felt different tonight vs. all the previous times for the Hurricanes on their home turf. “Right now we’re in process mode, so we’re in that 1-0 mindset,” Cristobal said. “When you’re battle-tested like our team has been, they look forward to each and every opportunity. They’re fired up and ready to go. Every single day, every waking minute around our team, we feel more and more trust and confidence around each other.” A home game at a neutral site? It’s tough to avoid giving the crowd edge to the Miami Hurricanes, who literally are playing at home — and have embraced such a golden opportunity to outnumber the opposition: But lest anyone has forgotten, the Hoosier State has been traveling quite well in its past two games. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, were awash in Indiana red: Regardless of which team’s allegiance is more evident tonight, there’s no doubt of the impact on securing a ticket. On the secondary market, the get-in price for tonight’s game currently is just under $4,000. Miami projected starting lineup These were the starters in the victory over Ole Miss, but there’ll be one important caveat tonight for the Hurricanes: Starting defensive back Xavier Lucas will be on the bench for the first half because of a targeting penalty in the Fiesta Bowl win. OFFENSE (Position, number, name): WR 0 Keelan Marion; RB 4 Mark Fletcher Jr.; WR 7 CJ Daniels; WR 10 Malachi Toney; QB 11 Carson Beck; OL 52 James Brockermeyer; OL 61 Francis Mauigoa; OL 70 Markel Bell; OL 73 Anez Cooper; OL 78 Mattthew McCoy; TE 87 Alex Bauman. DEFENSE (Position, number, name): DB 0 Keionte Scott; LB 1 Mohamed Toure; DL 3 Akheem Mesidor; DL 4 Reuben Bain Jr.; DL 5 Justin Scott; CB 6 Xavier Lucas; S 7 Zechariah Poyser; DB 8 Jakobe Thomas; DB 24 Ethan O’Connor; LB 31 Wesley Bissainthe; DL 99 Ahmad Moten. Indiana projected starting lineup This will be official closer to kickoff, but these are the names you can expect to hear on the opening series tonight: OFFENSE (Position, number, name): RB 1 Roman Hemby; WR 13 Elijah Sarratt; QB 15 Fernando Mendoza; TE 37 Riley Nowakowski; OL 62 Drew Evans; OL 65 Carter Smith; OL 67 Kahlil Benson; OL 74 Bray Lynch; OL 75 Zen Michalski; OL 78 Pat Coogan; WR 80 Charlie Becker. DEFENSE (Position, number, name): LB 4 Aiden Fisher; DB 5 D’Angelo Ponds; DL 6 Mikail Kamara; DB 7 Louis Moore; DB 12 Devan Boykin; LB 21 Rolijah Hardy; DB 22 Jamari Sharpe; LB 46 Isaiah Jones; DL 91 Dominique Ratcliff; DL 95 Tyrique Tucker; DL 97 Mario Landino. Cignetti speaks! Indiana arrived at the stadium ahead of Indiana, and it didn’t take long for Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti to roll into his trademark cliches in a pregame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “We had a great day yesterday,” Cignetti said. “I like where we’re at, and now we’ve got to prove it on the field. “We’ve got to get settled in, and take it one play at a time. Eleven guys doing their job, playing our game. One play at a time. Fast and relentless. Smart, disciplined, poised. Not affected by success or failure. This is going to be a physical game. Our discipline and consistency need to be the winning edge.” His no-nonsense mannerisms and style rarely change. You can Google him to confirm it. Buses are on the move A little more than two hours before kickoff, the coaches and players were shown during the pregame show being loaded onto buses for the short trip to Hard Rock Stadium, where we should be getting those iconic “walk-in” shots soon. And speaking of ... Game odds Indiana opened as a touchdown favorite and consistently has remained there. As of two hours before kickoff, DraftKings Sportsbook had the spread at Indiana by 8.5 points.