Indiana is playing Miami football in the CFP national championship game. Follow live updateshere.
Indiana and Miami match up for the 2025-26 national championship on Monday, Jan. 19, with both teams taking unlikely routes to the title game.
The Hoosiers went 3-9 in 2023 and have zero 5-star recruits on their roster, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t talented. They have multiple future NFL draft picks, including Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who’s likely to be the first quarterback selected in April.
Mendoza has been outstanding in the College Football Playoff, with eight touchdowns to only five incompletions in romps over Alabama and Oregon. Miami will be tasked with speeding up the star quarterback, although no team has quite been able to do that this season.
Miami might be best suited to do so, though, as it boasts the most ferocious pass rush in college football. Led by projected first-round picks Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, the first-team All-ACC selections have 19 combined sacks this season.
Here are the 10 most important players for Indiana and Miami’s national championship match up.
Indiana vs Miami key players in national championship game
10. WR Charlie Becker, Indiana
Indiana’s star receiving duo of Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., are problems for opposing defenses, but Charlie Becker has emerged as the Hoosiers’ go-to deep threat in recent weeks.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore has gains of 36, 30 and 51 yards in Indiana’s last three wins against Oregon, Alabama and Ohio State, respectively. He has a wide catch radius and good speed for his size.
Indiana will try to dial up a few plays for Becker against Miami, which might have some trouble trying to stop the breakout receiver.
9. DB Keionte Scott, Miami
Miami has deployed Keionte Scott in a variety of ways during the CFP, including as a pass rusher. Scott mostly lines up as a nickelback, and has five sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions this season, along with 61 total tackles.
Scott made the play of the game against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, intercepting Julian Sayin for a 72-yard touchdown.
The first-year transfer from Auburn has been used in a variety of ways this season and will look to disrupt Mendoza and throw him off rhythm in the national championship game.
8. LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana
A two-time All-American in his two seasons at Indiana, linebacker Aiden Fisher is the leader of Indiana’s defense. He has 91 total tackles this season with 3.5 sacks and two interceptions.
The senior will be integral to the Hoosiers’ run defense against Miami’s stout offensive line that has dominated in the CFP. Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher, who stands 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, has 395 rushing yards in three CFP games, and Fisher will be tasked with stopping Miami’s best offensive trait.
Tackling will be crucial, especially against someone of Fletcher’s stature.
7. CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
All-American cornerback D’Angelo Ponds returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage against Oregon in the Peach Bowl, showing his playmaking ability.
He’ll be tasked with slowing down Miami receiver Malachi Toney, one of the most electrifying players in college football this season. Miami uses Toney in a variety of ways, lining him outside, in the slot, in the backfield and even as a Wildcat quarterback.
Ponds vs. Toney, who are both small yet wiry, could be one of the underrated matchups of the game.
6. WR Malachi Toney, Miami
Toney reclassified to the 2025 recruiting class a year ago, skipping his senior year of high school to play at Miami. It was the right decision, as he leads the team with 99 receptions for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns this season, along with 113 rushing yards and a score. Toney also has two touchdown passes.
The Hurricanes manufacture touches for Toney, getting him the ball in creative ways. He caught a screen pass and maneuvered around multiple Ole Miss defenders for a 36-yard touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl.
5. Akheem Mesidor, Miami
One-half of Miami’s pass-rushing duo, Mesidor leads the team with 10.5 sacks this season, 3.5 of which have come in the CFP.
The 280-pound defensive end also has four forced fumbles this season. His presence allows for Bain Jr. and others to face 1-on-1 situations, as both pass rusher can’t be double teamed at the same time.
Perhaps the most important matchup in the game will be if Miami can cause havoc in Indiana’s backfield.
4. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Mendoza is likely the best player on the field for the national championship, although he’s surrounded by one of the best supporting casts in college football to help pick up the slack if he struggles.
Mendoza is a combined 31-of-36 passing for 369 yards with eight touchdowns in two CFP starts. He hasn’t been asked to take over games, either, with Indiana’s getting out to commanding leads so early in the game.
Mendoza is looking to keep Miami’s strong defense on its heels, especially its pass-rushing duo. Otherwise, it could be tough to score points.
3. OT Carter Smith, Indiana
Consensus All-American offensive tackle Carter Smith will likely face the best pair of rushers he has faced all season against Miami and will be tasked with slowing down Bain and Mesidor.
Smith, the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, is likely up for the task. If he can hold up against Miami’s duo, the Hurricanes could be in for a long night.
2. QB Carson Beck, Miami
Miami has leaned on its defense and rushing attack during the CFP run, allowing for quarterback Carson Beck to not have to be a playmaker to win games.
The sixth-year senior Georgia transfer might very well be asked to do a bit more with his arm against the Hoosiers, who can score a bunch of points. Beck passed for a combined 241 yards with two touchdowns in wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State, but threw for 268 yards with three total touchdowns against Ole Miss, leading a game-winning touchdown drive in the final seconds.
The experienced quarterback might not be of the same caliber as Mendoza, but how he performs on the grandest stage could be the difference for Miami. He’ll need to limit turnovers against a defense that has forced them in bunches this season.
1. DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Bain Jr. has shown an ability to take over games for Miami this season. The Hurricanes will need his best if they want to have a chance against the Hoosiers.
Bain Jr. has 8.5 sacks this season, although he affects the quarterback with pressure much more often than the statistic shows. The likely first-round pick had three sacks against Texas A&M in Miami’s 10-3 win, and had another sack in a key moment against Ohio State in the quarterfinals.
He was mostly held in check against Ole Miss, and will be looking to rebound against Indiana.
