A heartbreaking end to an incredible season for Miami, but the happy conclusion to Indiana’s storybook season, the Canes fell short, losing the National Championship Game 27-21.
Early on, Indiana had all the momentum. After an early field goal, Indiana extended their lead to 10-0 on a 1-yard touchdown run by H-Back/Fullback Riley Nowakowski.
While Indiana was scoring, Miami was doing precious little with the ball when they had it. Miami would struggle to get anything going offensively, going 3 and
out on 3 consecutive drives — and those came after a quick 5 play drive to start the game — and posted an all-time CFP low 18 yards in the first quarter. Total.
After falling behind 10-0, Miami would work their way down the field for a FG attempt late in the 2nd quarter. Carter Davis would doink it off the right upright, however, and Miami was scoreless through a half.
Things picked up some after the break, however. Miami’s pass rush continued to harass Indiana star QB Fernando Mendoza, sacking him 5 times. A couple of those were turned into 0 yard rushes, but regardless, Miami got off the field defensively, but needed the offense do show signs of life.
They did just that on the 1st drive of the second half.
After a short pass on the first play of the drive, RB Mark Fletcher Jr. burst through the right side of the line and raced 57 yards untouched to the endzone. With the score 10-7, Miami had life and were in the ball game again.
Indiana was up to the challenge, and continued to keep Miami at arms length. The teams traded punts on 2 possessions and then the dam broke. Facing 4th down and a punt situation, Miami whiffed a block, and Indiana blocked the punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Hoosiers a 17-7 lead. That was a truly massive mistake, and the Canes were reeling in the aftermath.
But, in typical fashion for this team, they would not quit. Miami went down the field with a 10 play, 81 yard touchdown drive, capped off by Fletcher’s second touchdown of the day, this one from 3 yards out. That made the score 17-14 and Indiana was under pressure to complete the victory.
As has been the case all season, Indiana was up to the challenge. The Hoosiers went on an arduous 12 play, 75 yard drive, capped off by a 12 yard touchdown run by Fernando Mendoza on 4th down. Another massive, MASSIVE play in a key moment, which has been Indiana’s specialty and calling card all season long.
Undeterred, Miami punched back AGAIN. An 8 play, 91 yard touchdown drive, capped by a Malachi Toney 22 yard touchdown on a jet touch pass put Miami back in the game, trailing 24-21. Indiana would work the ball down the field on their next drive, but had to settle for a field goal to make the score 27-21.
On Miami’s final drive, Carson Beck started slowly (he was almost sacked on the first play), then got going. Following a roughing the passer penalty, Beck had completions of 11 to Marty Brown, 7 to Malachi Toney, and 6 to C.J. Daniels. Indiana called timeout to set the defense for the final stretch.
And that’s when the dream died.
On the first play after Indiana’s final timeout, Beck lofted a pass up the left sideline toward Keelan Marion. Indiana, however, was playing perfect trap coverage, disguising the play to make Marion appear to be open, but the corner playing trail technique was hoping the ball would come his way to make a play. And make a play Jamari Sharpe did, leaping into the air to intercept the pass, killing Miami’s drive and their season.
Indiana kneeled the ball twice to run out the clock and win the National Championship by a 27-21 score.
Credit to Indiana for making the winning plays to emerge victorious, but this is a bitter, painful defeat for Miami. The teams played pretty evenly, but Indiana won every big moment and with it, the national championship.
Miami ends the season 13-3 following the loss.
Indiana is the first team in CFB history to go 16-0.
