At a Glance
- Indiana leads Miami 10-7 at halftime after Riley Nowakowski’s touchdown and Mark Fletcher Jr.’s 57-yard answer.
- Quarterback Fernando Mendoza pilots the undefeated, top-seeded Hoosiers in their first-ever title game.
- Fifth-year transfer Carson Beck directs the tenth-seeded Hurricanes inside Hard Rock Stadium, Miami’s de-facto home turf.
- Why it matters: Indiana can finish a perfect season and claim its first national championship, while Miami seeks its first title since 2001.
Indiana and Miami are battling in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, a historic meeting between the tournament’s top seed and its lowest remaining seed. The contest is unfolding inside Hard Rock Stadium, normally the Dolphins’ venue, giving Miami a rare home-field edge despite its underdog seeding.
First-Half Summary
The opening quarter ended with only a field goal on the board, keeping both fan bases on edge. Indiana broke the stalemate midway through the second quarter when tight end Riley Nowakowski barreled across the goal line for the game’s first touchdown. The score pushed the Hoosiers to a 10-0 lead and ignited the Indiana sideline.
Miami answered on the very next drive. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who had been nursing an unspecified first-half injury, burst through the line for a 57-yard touchdown run just seconds into the second half of the quarter. The explosive play trimmed the deficit to 10-7, where it remained until halftime.
Quarterback Spotlight
Fernando Mendoza has orchestrated Indiana’s high-octane attack all season. The junior signal-caller entered the night as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, with the quarterback-needy Las Vegas Raiders owning the top selection. Against Miami’s pressure packages, Mendoza has relied on quick timing routes and occasional designed quarterback runs to move the chains.
On the opposite sideline, Carson Beck is making his 40th collegiate start after spending four seasons at Georgia. The graduate transfer has brought poise and experience to a Miami offense that leans on play-action passes and a physical rushing attack. Beck’s familiarity with marquee games has kept the Hurricanes calm despite facing an undefeated opponent.
Program Histories at Stake
Indiana arrived in South Florida seeking its first national championship in program history. The 2026 appearance marks the Hoosiers’ debut in the title game after a breakthrough season that featured several second-half comebacks and a Big Ten crown.
Miami owns five national titles, but none since its dominant 2001 campaign. The Hurricanes also triumphed in 1983, 1987, 1989, and 1991, cementing their legacy as a college-football powerhouse. A victory tonight would snap a 25-year championship drought and validate the program’s return to national relevance.
Viewing Information
ESPN is televising the contest nationally. Fans can stream the action on ESPN.com or inside the ESPN app by logging in with a participating TV-provider account. Kickoff was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern, with the broadcast team providing live cut-ins from multiple on-field cameras and drone shots above the Miami skyline.
Key Stats at Halftime
| Category | Indiana | Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 198 | 175 |
| Rushing Yards | 92 | 98 |
| Passing Yards | 106 | 77 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of Possession | 16:22 | 13:38 |
The numbers reflect a tight contest in which both defenses have limited explosive plays outside of Fletcher’s long touchdown. Indiana’s offensive line has surrendered only one sack, while Miami’s front four has pressured Mendoza on nearly one-third of his drop-backs.
What’s Next
The third quarter will begin with Miami receiving the kickoff and hoping to capitalize on the momentum generated by Fletcher’s sprint. Indiana’s coaching staff has stressed ball security and field-position battles, knowing that a second touchdown could extend the lead and force Miami into a one-dimensional attack.
Michael A. Turner reported live updates throughout the night, providing scoring plays, injury alerts, and strategic adjustments as they happened. News Of Philadelphia will continue to refresh the story after every major development until a champion is crowned.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana’s balanced offense and stingy red-zone defense have produced a slim halftime edge.
- Fletcher’s 57-yard burst proves Miami can strike quickly, keeping the Hurricanes within one possession.
- History hangs in the balance: Indiana eyes perfection, Miami eyes its first crown in a generation.
