Indiana Wins National Championship After Beating Miami: Score, Highlights

For the first time in program history, Indiana football has reached the mountaintop of collegiate football.

The top-seeded Hoosiers defeated No. 10 Miami 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Hoosiers’ victory also caps off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, as they went from the sport’s losingest school to national champions in just two years under Curt Cignetti.

The Hoosiers’ aggression in going for it twice on fourth down on their ninth drive of the night in the fourth quarter proved to be the deciding factor: first, a 19-yard grab to the sideline by Charlie Becker, and then a 12-yard rushing score by Fernando Mendoza.

Nicolas Radicic’s 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter provided insurance for the Hoosiers, and Jamari Sharpe’s interception of Carson Beck sealed the game.

Here’s everything you need to know about who won Monday’s CFP national championship game between Indiana and Miami, including the box score, stats, and highlights.

Who won the National Championship between Indiana and Miami?

Indiana defeated Miami, 27-21, in the 2026 CFP Championship on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It’s Indiana’s 16th win of the season, making Cignetti’s team the first in the 12-team CFP era to win the national championship with an unbeaten record.

With the victory, the Hoosiers handed the Big Ten its third consecutive national championship, something the SEC has only accomplished among the Power Four conferences during the CFP era.

To win the national championship, Indiana defeated No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the CFP Rose Bowl semifinal. The Hoosiers then defeated No. 5 Oregon and Dante Moore 56-22 in the CFP Peach Bowl Semifinal, advancing to the program’s first national title.

Indiana-Miami national championship game score

TEAMS	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Miami	0	0	7	14	21
Indiana	3	7	7	10	27

Indiana vs Miami statistics

Here’s a look at each team’s numbers from Monday’s national championship game:

Total offense yards: Miami 342, Indiana 317
Total rushing yards: Indiana 131, Miami 110
Total passing yards: Miami 232, Indiana 186
First downs: Indiana 20, Miami 15
Third down conversions: Indiana 6-15, Miami 3-11
Turnovers: Miami 1, Indiana 0
Penalties: Miami 7-60, Indiana 5-38

CFP national champions

With Indiana’s national championship win, here’s an updated look at all College Football Playoff champions dating back to the start of the CFP era in 2014: