MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — No. 1 Indiana used a legendary run from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza to defeat No. 10 Miami 27-21 and capture the first national championship in program history.
The Hoosiers faced fourth-and-5 in the fourth quarter deep in Miami territory. After initially sending out the kicking unit, coach Curt Cignetti called a timeout and sent the offense back onto the field. Indiana dialed up a quarterback draw for Mendoza, who bounced off multiple defenders before leaping into the end zone for an improbable touchdown.
Miami answered with a late surge, cutting the lead to three behind strong contributions from running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and receiver Malachi Toney, the latter breaking tackles for a 22-yard touchdown. But Indiana’s offense kept responding.
Mendoza connected with Omar Cooper Jr. for 14 yards on third down before hitting Charlie Becker on a 19-yard third-down pass. The Hoosiers chewed up the clock and drove for a field goal to extend the lead to six points.
Miami had one final chance with 1:47 remaining. A roughing-the-passer penalty helped erase two incompletions, but quarterback Carson Beck threw an interception to Jamari Sharpe with 44 seconds left, allowing Indiana to run out the clock and secure its historic victory.
By the numbers Indiana milestones
- Wins National Championship, first in school history
- Entered season with most losses in FBS history: 715
- IND: 7th straight favorite to win CFP National Championship Game
- IND: 6 wins vs. AP-ranked teams (school record; previous record 3 in 1945 & 2020)
- IND: 1st win vs. an ACC team since 2018 (vs. Virginia)
Team Records under Curt Cignetti
Key player notes
- Jamari Sharpe – Game-sealing interception
- Miami native, not offered a scholarship by Miami
- Nephew of Glenn Sharpe, called for pass interference in 2002 National Championship Game vs. Ohio State
- Fernando Mendoza – Heisman Trophy winner, led Indiana to its first national title
- Grew up a mile from Miami’s campus
- Father was high school teammate of Miami coach Mario Cristobal at Christopher Columbus High School
- Mother played tennis at Miami
- Won a state title at Columbus HS in 2019
- Was not offered a scholarship by Miami
QBs to win Heisman & national championship in same season (BCS/CFP era)
Best point differential in a season (AP Poll era)
Bowl wins in Indiana historyIndiana under Curt Cignetti vs. all others coaches
Scroll down for highlights and analysis from Indiana’s thrilling win over Miami in the College Football Playoff National Championship.Â