Adidas scored a rare and significant victory on college football’s biggest stage, as the College Football Playoff National Championship will feature two of its partner programs — Indiana and Miami — for the first time.
The matchup marks only the second time in the last 28 years that Nike will not be represented in the national title game, underscoring a notable shift in the sport’s apparel landscape. According to sportswriter John Canzano, it is the “first time that two Adidas-sponsored teams will play for all the marbles.”
Adidas moved quickly to capitalize, launching overnight championship merchandise for the Hoosiers and Hurricanes while planning a CFP party in Miami, a South Beach pop-up activation and celebrations with both schools. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to be part of the festivities.
This year's national championship is the first all-Adidas matchup in the title game.
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) January 13, 2026
It will be the first Adidas branded team to win a national title since Tennessee in 1998. Pic.twitter.com/hnq9di2V4r
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“It helps build on the momentum the brand has in the U.S.,” Adidas vice president of sports marketing Chris McGuire said. “The opportunity to celebrate a national championship with one of our partners will be surreal.”
Canzano noted Indiana and Miami both eliminated Nike-sponsored programs in the semifinals, though he cautioned against overplaying the rivalry between Adidas and Nike. But the high-profile stages amplify brand stakes.
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Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden is traveling from Germany for the game, a sign of its importance to the company’s American business.
Top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers will face the Miami Hurricanes on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium.
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