No. 1 Indiana meets No. 10 Miami in the College Football Playoff championship game in the second title game of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Indiana (15-0) routed No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Friday. Second-year coach Curt Cignetti has a chance to complete one of the greatest two-year turn-arounds in sports history, and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has been brilliant in two playoff blowouts. Indiana has a top-five scoring offense and top-five scoring defense and has a chance to be the first 16-0 team in FBS history.
Miami (13-2) advanced to the CFP championship game with a 31-27 victory against No. 6 Ole Miss in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Thursday. Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal has the program in position to claim its sixth national championship. Sixth-year quarterback Carson Beck leads an efficient offense, and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Has emerged as one of the stars of this playoff.
It's a chance for the Big Ten to win a third national championship in three seasons. Will the ACC stop that national title run in improbable fashion?
Who has the edge in the first CFP championship? Let's take a closer look:
College Football Playoff championship odds
- Spread: Indiana -7.5 (Caesars)
- Over/under: 48.5
- Moneyline: Indiana -300, Miami +250
The Hoosiers are 5-0 S/U and 5-0 ATS in games where the spread is 7.5 points or less as either a favorite or an underdog. It's a remarkable run where Indiana is 16-7 as a favorite under Cignetti. Miami is 3-0 S/U and 3-0 ATS as an underdog this season, and they are playing in their backyard.
College Football Playoff championship pick, prediction
Can the Hurricanes slow down Indiana in the time-of-possession game? Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has leaned on the rushing attack through three playoff victories. The Hurricanes average 38.7 rushing attempts and 173 rushing yards per game. Mark Fletcher Jr. Is a tough inside runner, and Miami has converted 18 of 33 (.545) on third down in victories against No. 2 Ohio State and Ole Miss. Indiana specializes in tackles for loss around a defense that features linebackers Aiden Fisher and Rolijah Hardy and defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker. Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has been on a roll with this group.
Beck has a 67.4 completion percentage through this run. He has just one interception in three playoff games, and the connection with receiver Malachi Toney, the Hurricanes' best game-breaker in space – is strong. How much will Beck attack Indiana down the field? D'Angelo Ponds – an AllSportsPeople first-team All-America cornerback – set the tone in the Peach Bowl blowout with a pick six on the first play from scrimmage. Will that pressure lead to turnovers for Beck, which he has avoided since a Nov. 1 loss to SMU?
MORE: AllSportsPeople CFB All-American team
The Hurricanes have some injuries on the defensive side. Cornerback Xavier Lucas will miss the first half after being ejected for targeting against the Rebels. Akheem Mesidor suffered an arm injury and defensive lineman Ahmad Moten is dealing with a leg injury. Bain continues to be a force in the CFP with four sacks and 16 hurries. Expect Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman to continue to dial up the pressure.
Will that land against Mendoza? The Heisman Trophy winner has been near-flawless in two CFP games. He is 31 of 36 passing for 369 yards with eight TDs, and no interceptions. He works the back-shoulder face with receiver Elijah Sarratt, and Omar Cooper Jr. And Charlie Becker continue to come up with huge catches. That compliments a dominant running game with Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. The offense is clicking at a LSU 2019-like level with coordinators Mike Shanahan and Chandler Whitmer. The challenge for Miami's secondary, which features Bryce Fitzgerald, Jakobe Thomas and Keionte Scott. Those three defensive backs combined for 13 interceptions in 2025. If Miami cannot get to Mendoza and disrupt that rhythm, then this might not be close.
MORE: Is Indiana better than the Joe Burrow-led 2019 LSU Tigers?
Miami allowed a season-high 27 points in the semifinal victory against Ole Miss, but the defense must create a few turnovers for Cristobal's formula to work here. The margin for error is slim, and Beck will have to be at his best for Miami to pull an upset as the underdog here. Will the Hard Rock Stadium environment favor Miami close to home? It might not matter. Cignetti has Indiana operating at a historic level, and after a tight first half the Hoosiers will pull away behind Mendoza. A late turnover leads to the game-clinching TD run by Hemby, and Indiana – that's right – is the second national champion of the 12-team CFP era.
College Football Playoff final score prediction
Indiana 31, Miami 19