Miami vs Indiana CFP title: Michael Irvin says Hurricanes must ‘make it a dirty game’

Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin was blunt in his wishes for Miami ahead of their National Championship game against Indiana on Monday night. Challenging his team to embrace a physical, hard-fought battle against heavily favored Indiana.

Michael Irvin says he expects a physical fight.

“Listen — Indiana’s been told they’re the greatest of all time,” Irvin said. “They’re eight-point favorites right now. You make this a dirty-ass game.”

Irvin, known for his fiery leadership during his playing days with the Dallas Cowboys, he told players to lean into the team’s gritty identity, reminding them they had fought through adversity all season.

“We’ve been in fights all the way through, so we’re used to a brawl,” he said. “They’ve been blowing everybody out. So if this game gets late and it’s close, they’re going to start tightening up — and we’re used to it.”

“Make it a dirty game,” Irvin said. “Make sure they know they played a team today. And understand this — this is your home. You never let anyone come into your home, especially in a championship game, and beat you.”

Irvin has been a constant presence on Miami's sidelines during their playoff run, appearing at various venues including Kyle Field for the first round, AT&T Stadium for the Cotton Bowl, and State Farm Stadium for the Fiesta Bowl. The 2026 CFP National Championship will be held at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami's home stadium since 2008, effectively making this a home game for the team.