The Indiana Hoosiers are college football national champions for the first time in program history.
The undefeated No. 1 Hoosiers defeated the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes, 27-21, in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium in Coral Gables, Florida, Monday (January 19) night. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw for 186 yards on 16-of-27 passing and recorded a 12-yard touchdown on 4th-and-4 to extend Indiana’s lead to 10 with 9:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Miami answered with a 22-yard touchdown pass by Carson Beck to Malachi Toney with 6:32 remaining to cut its deficit to three before Mendoza completed a 19-yard pass to Charlie Becker on 3rd & 7 to extend Indiana’s ensuing drive, which was capped off by a 35-yard field goal by Nico Radicic with 1:42 remaining.
The Hoosiers never trailed in Monday’s game, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first half and held off Miami’s strong second half performance to complete a perfect 16-0 season. Indiana has experienced a program renaissance under head coach Curt Cignetti, who has gone 27-2 (17-1 Big Ten) and made the College Football Playoff during each of his first two seasons in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers defeated No. 9 Alabama, 38-3, in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on January 1 and No. 5 Oregon, 56-22, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl on January 9.
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