Indiana football is set to take on Miami in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
It’s the final game of the college football season and the Hoosiers are playing in it. The program’s meteoric rise since the hiring of head coach Curt Cignetti two years ago has led it here, to the pinnacle of the sport with a chance at capturing the greatest prize of all.
Miami, as a program, has been here before. In contrast with
the Hoosiers, the Hurricanes boast as storied of a history as just about any program around the sport. The modern day iteration of the program resembles its teams of yore in a few ways, presenting unique challenges for Indiana.
Some of this is going to be no-duh, because sometimes analysis is simple like that. In fact just about all of it will. Well, one way or another, here’s three positions for the Hoosiers that will prove critical in the national championship game.
Offensive line
Miami boasts one of the top defensive lines in the country in a way Indiana hasn’t really seen up to this point. The Hoosiers have faced strong fronts against Ohio State, Alabama and Oregon, but Miami plays at a different level creating havoc with its tackles and edge rushers. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor are nightmares to deal with on the edges.
There’s ways to call plays and scheme around play like that, even needing to do so recognizes its strength, but one way or another Indiana’s going to have to block those guys. Indiana’s offensive line has largely held up well but hasn’t been without its moments of weakness.
Indiana’s probably going to try to get the ball out of Fernando Mendoza’s hands a bit earlier than it had to against Alabama and Oregon, but that defensive line is capable of making game-wrecking plays. Indiana’s tackles, Carter Smith and likely Kahlil Benson, are going to have to hold up strong to let Mendoza get throws off cleanly.
The line’s also going to have to create room for Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black to pick up yards on the ground. Miami’s going to be doing this when its offense is on the field and Indiana’s going to have to find ways to extend drives with the run.
If Indiana’s line falters, Miami’s path to a win opens up wide. It’s arguably the most critical position on the field for the Hoosiers on Monday.
The linebackers
Speaking of the run, Indiana’s linebacker corps is going to have to be ready to stand up to a strong Miami offensive front on the other side of the field.
The Hurricanes run an offense that focuses on controlling the ball and sustaining drives. They’re gonna run Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown while setting up quick, favorable completions for quarterback Carson Beck, letting their receivers pick up yardage from there. Stopping both of these things would be incredible, but almost certainly isn’t feasible. Indiana’s going to have to zero in on run.
This is where the linebackers come in. Aiden Fisher has been masterful at scouting opponents and calling out plays before they happen. Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy have been great at pressuring opposing quarterbacks and lead the Hoosiers in sacks. Fisher’s going to need to be the head of the snake again, directing traffic so Miami’s running game doesn’t get momentum and keeping receivers from exploiting any gaps they find in the defense.
Quarterback
Yes, this one is as obvious as it gets.
Fernando Mendoza has been spectacular throughout Indiana’s run through the playoff. He’s going to need to maintain that level of play for the Hoosiers to beat the Hurricanes.
Mendoza just keeps making the right play when Indiana’s offense puts him in favorable situations, be it quick completions outside to Elijah Sarratt or deep shots to Charlie Becker. He’s had a bit more time and set up shop in Oregon territory plenty of times, which probably won’t happen against Miami.
The Hurricanes’ defensive front is going to cause problems. Indiana’s play-calling is going to have to account for that and Mendoza will have to execute at a high level. In the moments he has more time, Mendoza’s pocket awareness has to be at its best so any strong play from receivers doesn’t go for nothing thanks to unchecked pressure.
