Overview
- Indiana defeated Miami 27-21 at Hard Rock Stadium to claim its first football national championship and finish 16-0.
- Fernando Mendoza’s 12-yard quarterback draw on fourth down with 9:18 remaining provided the decisive score as he finished 16-of-27 for 186 yards.
- Key swings came from special teams and defense, including a blocked punt by Mikail Kamara recovered for a touchdown by Isaiah Jones and Jamari Sharpe’s clinching interception with 44 seconds left.
- Coach Curt Cignetti criticized the officiating at halftime, saying multiple obvious personal fouls on Mendoza went uncalled during a bruising first half.
- Indiana’s rise has been fueled by major financial backing and NIL-era roster building, with spending climbing from about $24 million in 2019 to over $61 million in 2024 and notable donations from alumnus Mark Cuban, feeding broader policy scrutiny of private investment in college athletics.