College Football Playoff National Championship Preview: Indiana vs. Miami
The College Football Playoff has reached its final stop. A year after a National Championship between two of the biggest brands in the sport, Ohio State and Notre Dame, we get a Championship no one saw coming 12 months ago: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami. Here's a preview of the final game of the college football season, and how to watch the action with DISH. Not a DISH subscriber? Follow this link to find the best offer and subscribe to DISH today!
College Football Playoff National Championship
No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 10 Miami Hurricanes
When: Monday, January 19 - 7:30 pm ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
What Channel: ESPN (Channel 140 on DISH)
Looking back five months at the 2025 preseason rankings, you’ll see the two teams now playing for the National Championship were ranked 10th (Miami) and 20th (Indiana), respectively. And who could have thought that the preseason No. 20 team in the country would now be in the conversation, in some circles, as one of the greatest college football teams of all time? Yes, the same program that went 3-9 just two years ago and has had only three winning seasons since 1993. Welcome to the portal era, where if you have the right coach and an eye for talent, you can go from doormat to dominance in the blink of a Buckeye.
In just two seasons at Indiana, Curt Cignetti is beginning to look like the man who could take over the mantle as the next Nick Saban of the sport. Hyperbole or not, this is no disrespect to the Kirby Smart’s, Ryan Day’s, or Dabo Swinney’s of the world. Sustained success in college football is incredibly hard, especially in today’s landscape. Saban won six national titles over 16 years in Tuscaloosa, so we’ll see how the Cignetti era looks a decade from now. But for the time being, it’s an unprecedented turnaround, and the Hoosiers will face off against a Miami program that went 7–6 just two years ago, losing to Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal went 12-13 over his first two years in Coral Gables, but to the administration’s credit, they stuck with him. Cristobal has instilled his tough, physical culture at “The U,” and for the first time since the early 2000s, the 'Canes look like they’re “back.” It’s a term Cristobal refuses to acknowledge, but watching their elite defense, powerful running game, and electric players like Malachi Toney, it’s hard not to think Miami will be around for a while.
So how will the 2026 College Football National Championship shake out? The game is being played on the Hurricanes’ home field, yet it’s expected there will be more red than orange at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night. The current line shows the Hoosiers as a 8.5-point favorite, and it’s with good reason. Cignetti and his team dismantled Alabama and Oregon en route to the national championship game. They’ve looked like the better-prepared team and have dominated all three phases.
However, the one team that kept it close against Indiana was Ohio State. Miami handled the Buckeyes thanks to a dominant ground game and an elite defense. If Miami is going to have a shot in this game, they’ll have to rely on what got them here: running the football, creating havoc on defense, and Carson Beck continuing to avoid costly mistakes. The Canes have rushed for over 150 yards in every playoff game behind Mark Fletcher and an offensive line with an average weight of 330 pounds.
Defensively, Miami showed some gaps against Ole Miss and Trindidad Chambliss, but who hasn’t? Against Ohio State and Texas A&M, they shut down two offenses that have been excellent all year. As for Carson Beck, he hasn’t had ‘that’ moment where he loses his team a game. He’s been a game manager when needed, while also delivering in big moments, particularly against Ole Miss.
But Indiana has overpowered every opponent and rarely beats itself. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has more touchdown passes than incompletions in this playoff! The Hoosiers boast a dominant offensive line, along with three relentless running backs Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black, and Khobie Martin, who bring both speed and power. Then there’s the three headed monster at wide receiver: Omar Cooper Jr., Elijah Sarratt, and Charlie Becker. It’s a tall task, even for a defense as capable as Miami’s.
Still, their performance against Ohio State shows there is a path for the Hurricanes, albeit a narrow one. Miami must play a near perfect game, force turnovers, and put pressure on Indiana early. Otherwise, Indiana’s consistency and execution level may simply be too high. From a coaching standpoint, Cristobal has shown over the years that he can make some questionable decisions, while Cignetti leaves no stone unturned.
Either way, on Monday night we’ll see either a first-time National Champion or a long-awaited return to glory more than 20 years in the making.
