Sharpe is a well-known last name to Miami Hurricanes fans.
Glenn Sharpe, a former defensive back for the team, went down in program lore in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, when his controversial pass interference call allowed Ohio State to come storming back, beat Miami in overtime, and prevent the Hurricanes from repeating as national champions.
Fast-forward 23 years, and a different Sharpe will now be haunting Miami for some time. Trailing 27-21 in Monday’s national championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers, Carson Beck had a chance to lead the Hurricanes on a game-winning drive, but instead, defensive back Jamari Sharpe intercepted him to secure Indiana’s title.
Here’s the full-circle moment that brought Indiana a championship under Curt Cignetti and ended Miami’s season.
MORE: How Fernando Mendoza can join exclusive club as No. 1 pick in draft
Jamari Sharpe interception on Carson Beck seals Indiana CFP championship
After Fernando Mendoza’s heroic fourth-down sprint to the end zone gave Indiana the lead, Miami answered with a Malachi Toney touchdown to cut the deficit to three points. The Hoosiers then tacked on a field goal.
Trailing 27-21, Beck got the ball with under two minutes remaining, needing a touchdown to potentially win a title for Miami. But it wasn’t meant to be.
On the sixth play of the Hurricanes’ drive, Beck went deep for Keelan Marion, but Marion wasn’t ready for the pass. The throw was slightly off-target, and Jamari Sharpe jumped up to make an easy interception, sealing Indiana’s CFP title.
INDIANA PICKS IT, THE HOOSIERS ARE ON THE VERGE OF A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP‼️ pic.twitter.com/YFTgZUVC4x
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026
Who is Jamari Sharpe?
Jamari Sharpe is a redshirt junior defensive back at Indiana. He attended Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Florida, owning ties to the area of the team he helped eliminate in the 2026 CFP title game.
Jamari Sharpe—a Miami native—just sealed the National Championship for Indiana in his own hometown.
— Zach Schumaker (@ZachSchumaker) January 20, 2026
Against the Miami Hurricanes. At Hard Rock Stadium.
From an overlooked recruit to the man who closed out the greatest season in Indiana history. Pic.twitter.com/XdZczFv5h8
The 6-foot-1 defensive back joined the Hoosiers in 2022, redshirting in his first year. In 2023, Sharpe played in all 12 games with nine starts, totaling 22 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.
In 2024, Sharpe had nine appearances and three starts, totaling 13 tackles, six pass breakups, one fumble recovery and 0.5 sacks.
MORE: How Fernando Mendoza's heroic touchdown run lifted Indiana to CFP title win
Is Jamari Sharpe related to Glenn Sharpe?
Jamari Sharpe's uncle, Glenn Sharpe, is a well-known figure in Miami history.
Glenn Sharpe played cornerback for the Hurricanes in the early 2000s, and the defining play of his collegiate career came in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Sharpe was flagged for a questionable pass interference after Miami had appeared to beat Ohio State; the call kept the Buckeyes' drive alive and allowed them to tie it, then eventually win in double-overtime.
With 20 years of hindsight:
— College Sports Only (@CSOonX) December 22, 2025
Was the much-debated pass interference penalty at the end of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl b/t Miami & Ohio State the correct call? Pic.twitter.com/HBm2GgrNru
On this day 20 years ago, Ohio State took advantage of a controversial pass interference call to beat Miami in double-overtime in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national championship and snap the Hurricanes' 34-game winning streak, 31-24: https://t.co/UZjfib0uzk pic.twitter.com/dXe2hl9chj
— Mike Ferguson (@MikeWFerguson) January 3, 2023
Now, Sharpe's nephew, Jamari, has eliminated the Hurricanes 23 years later in another massive postseason game by picking off Carson Beck.
MORE: Inside Fernando Mendoza's 4th-down TD run that sealed IU's national title