The Hoosiers did it.
In Curt Cignetti’s second year as head coach, Indiana has won its first National Championship in program history, finishing the season at a perfect 16-0. It was Indiana’s first undefeated season, first Big Ten Championship win, first Rose Bowl win, and first three College Football Playoff wins in program history.
Indiana won the first half 10-0, shutting out a Hurricane offense that had dominated on the ground in the playoff with plenty of explosive plays through the air to match.
Miami’s defense challenged Indiana and its Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, who finished the year with under 200 passing yards on the game. Miami got to him for three sacks, making him look slightly uncomfortable, but it was Fernando who ran it in for Indiana’s final touchdown of the game, converting a 4th and 5 for a touchdown.
Charlie Becker, a sophomore who only emerged later this season when Elijah Sarratt went down with an injury, came up with a couple of big third down, contested catches to keep Indiana alive when the Hoosiers needed to burn some clock.
On the defensive end, Mikail Kamara blocked a punt that Isaiah Jones recovered for a touchdown, giving Indiana a 17-7 lead to start the fourth quarter, but it was Mendoza’s ability to keep the ball moving on offense and run the clock out in the second half that gave the Hoosiers the win.
It wasn’t Indiana’s prettiest performance. The Hoosiers didn’t cover the spread.
But for the first time in program history, Indiana is the National Champion in football. That’s something you can’t take away from us.
