The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes was held on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at 7:30 p.m at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. In spite of the home team advantage, Miami lost with a final score of 27-21.

To begin the highly anticipated 2026 National Championship Game, Indiana elected to defer until the second half. Miami received the opening kickoff, but Indiana’s dominant defense wasted no time making an impact, forcing a three-and-out. Indiana took possession of the ball and drove down the field almost effortlessly, but Miami’s defense got a stop to force them to kick a field goal to make the score 3-0. Miami received the ball again, and Indiana’s top defense continued to show why they were regarded as one of the best and got another stop, forcing Miami to punt again. Indiana received the ball and Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza, drove down the field and the Indiana Hoosiers scored on a short rushing touchdown to make the score 10-0. Miami received the ball again, and drove down the field right before halftime, but ended up missing the field goal.

Coming out of halftime, Indiana received the ball and Miami’s elite defense got back to back sacks, forcing Indiana to punt the ball. Miami got the ball back, and on the second play from scrimmage, elite running back, Mark Fletcher, rushed from the 50-yard line on a long run, and scored to make the score 10-7. Both defenses continued to play well, forcing back-to-back punts. On one punt, Indiana showed why there are three phases to a football game, and on a special teams punt, they blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone to make the score 17-7.

Miami received the kick and drove down the field, and elite running back, Mark Fletcher, rushed into the endzone to close up the lead, bringing the score to 17-14. Indiana got the ball back, and drove down the field with ease. On 4th-down and five, Indiana’s elite Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza, showed his grit and athleticism to run into the endzone while breaking tackles to make the score 24-14. Miami received the ball and drove down the field, and on 2nd-and-ten, elite freshman Malachi Toney got a jet sweep and juked a couple of defenders, rushing in the endzone to make the score 24-21. Indiana drove down the field again, but was forced to kick a field goal to make the score 27-21. On the final drive of the game, Miami was driving down the field with forty seconds to go, and Miami native Jamari Sharpe caught the game-winning interception to win the Indiana Hoosiers the 2026 National Championship.