Written by: TJ Inman
Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers have won the College Football National Championship. There are no more mountains to climb and no more giants to slay. In front of a raucous crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, the Indiana Hoosiers capped off a remarkable 16-0 season with a heart-stopping 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes and captured IU’s first-ever college football title.
The Indiana Hoosiers finished a storybook year and completed the greatest turnaround in history, etching their names in lore forever and earning the kind of eternal glory that only champions achieve. To paraphrase star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers are indeed flippin’ champs.
The Miami Hurricanes began with the ball and Mark Fletcher Jr. churned out a nine-yard gain on the first play of the game. Miami got a first down one play later but their drive was halted on a third and long and they pinned IU at the five-yard line. Indiana’s offense picked up a first down with a quick pass Omar Cooper but similarly stalled out and had to punt back to the Hurricanes.
Indiana’s defense forced a three and out and the Hoosiers took over at the 29-yard line. Despite a pair of penalties on the offensive line, IU’s offense marched into scoring territory. A late hit by a Miami defender bloodied Fernando Mendoza’s lip and appeared to be targeting but the officials ignored it and the Hoosiers settled for a 34-yard field goal from Nico Radicic to open the scoring.
The teams combined for three straight three-and-out possessions as both defenses caused serious issues for the offensive lines. Indiana’s attack found some traction with a first down to Elijah Sarratt followed by a pair of them for Kaelon Black and then Charlie Becker took a reception to the six-yard line. The Hoosiers punched it in with a fullback dive to Riley Nowakowski on third and goal and took a 10-0 lead. It was a 14-play drive that showed the nation that Miami was not the only team capable of being physical.
Miami converted a fourth and short deep in their own territory and got a nice pass play to CJ Daniels but came up short on third and long and attempted a 50-yard field goal that doinked off the right upright with 38 seconds remaining. Indiana’s Hail Mary attempt at the end of the first half was incomplete and the score was 10-0 at the break. Indiana outgained Miami 169-69 and had the ball for more than 18 minutes of the 30-minute half.
The second half was a much different story as the Hurricanes dialed up the pressure on Fernando Mendoza, sacking him and forcing a three and out. On the second play of their first second half possession, Mark Fletcher Jr. ripped off a 57-yard run to the end zone and chopped the lead to 10-7.
IU’s offense was responding well before an incredibly rare drop on third and short by Elijah Sarratt halted the drive and forced the Hoosiers to punt. Indiana stopped Miami’s offense quickly but another IU drive ended as Elijah Sarratt was unable to come up with a deep ball on third and long. Mitch McCarthy pinned the Hurricanes inside the ten-yard line, IU’s defense stuffed the Miami offense and Mikail Kamara blocked the punt. Indiana’s Isaiah Jones pounced on the ball in the end zone and restored the Hoosiers’ lead to ten points at 17-7.
The Miami Hurricanes refused to go away, responding with a strong drive that was finished with Mark Fletcher’s second touchdown, this time on the first play of the fourth quarter. With all the momentum back on Miami’s side, Fernando Mendoza led IU on a legendary drive that was capped by a memorable play from the Heisman Trophy winner.
On fourth and five from the 12-yard line, Mendoza weaved through Miami defenders for the first down conversion and then bounced off of would-be tacklers and dove into the end zone for the touchdown. With 9:18 remaining, IU led 24-14.
As was the case all night, Miami fought back. The Hurricanes converted a third and 15 with a pass to Alex Bauman and then scored on a sweep to Malachi Toney to slice the lead back to three points with just 6:37 remaining. Indiana’s offense converted a couple of key third down plays including a remarkable catch by Charlie Becker and they nearly had the game won but a false start penalty on Carter Smith gave Miami’s defense new life.
IU hit a field goal to go ahead 27-21 with 1:42 remaining but the Hurricanes got the ball back needing just a touchdown with an extra point to snatch the victory away. After a pair of first downs and a roughing the passer penalty called on Mario Landino, Carson Beck made his only critical mistake of the game. He sailed a deep pass that was intercepted by Jamari Sharpe with less than a minute remaining. Fernando Mendoza took two kneel downs and the Indiana Hoosiers survived a physical battle for the ages with a 27-21 triumph.
Hoosier Huddle will have extensive coverage of this historic and unprecedented college football season.