Hoosiers Top Canes in College Football Playoff Final

The Indiana Hoosiers (16-0) topped the Miami Hurricanes (13-3) by a 27-21 score at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night and took home the CFP National Championship Trophy.

It was a well-earned win for the Hoosiers, but it took an interception of a Miami quarterback Carson Beck pass by Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe at the Hoosier six-yard line with 38 seconds left to secure the victory.

Indiana’s 16 wins are the most in the modern era (post-1900). The Hoosiers never trailed in their three CFP games, leading for 152:28 out of 180 minutes and being tied for 27:32.

Indiana quarterback and Miami native Fernando Mendoza was named Offensive Player of the Game. Mendoza attended and played quarterback for Christopher Columbus High School, the same school Miami head coach Mario Cristobal played offensive line at, while Mendoza’s father, also Fernando, played on the Columbus team.

Defensive lineman Mikail Kamara, who blocked a punt by Miami’s Dylan Joyce that was recovered in the end zone by linebacker Isaiah Jones for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead with 5:04 left in the third quarter, was named Defensive Player of the Game.

The championship got off to a slow start. Miami took the opening kickoff and managed 20 yards on five plays before punting. Indiana gained 13 yards on four plays and punted it back. Miami went three-and-out on its second possession and kicked it back to Indiana.

The Hoosiers went 55 yards on 12 plays before a 34-yard field goal by Nicolas Radcic opened the scoring for a 3-0 lead — the only points of the first quarter.

The next three drives were all three-and-outs — Miami punt, Indiana punt, and Miami punt. With 12:57 left in the second quarter, Mendoza led a 14-play, 85-yard drive over 6:44 that culminated with a one-yard rushing touchdown by tight end Riley Nowakowski, putting Indiana up 10-0 with 6:13 remaining in the first half.

Miami drove 43 yards on nine plays and faced a fourth-and-two at the Indiana 32. Hurricanes kicker Carter Davis’ 50-yard attempt hit the right goalpost, and Miami remained scoreless with 33 seconds left before halftime. A rush, a pass, and an incompletion ran out the clock, and it was halftime.

Miami’s offense struggled in the first half, managing just 69 yards on 22 plays. Indiana ran 35 plays for 169 yards over the first two quarters.

The Hurricanes came out of the locker room on fire in the second half.

Indiana took the kickoff and managed only six yards before punting to Miami. A five-yard completion from Beck to Malachi Toney made it second-and-five at the Miami 43. Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. took the handoff and burst through the right side for a 57-yard touchdown run, cutting Indiana’s lead to 10-7 with 11:06 left in the third quarter.

Indiana could only manage 22 yards on its next possession and punted. Miami followed with a three-and-out and kicked it back. Indiana ran three plays for minus-two yards, and its punt put the Hurricanes on their own seven-yard line.

On first down, Fletcher rushed for three yards. Beck’s second-down pass was incomplete, and on third down Beck connected with Toney for a six-yard gain. It was fourth-and-one at the Miami 16, and this proved to be the game changer — the biggest play of the game. Kamara blocked the punt, which was recovered in the end zone by Jones for a touchdown and a 17-7 Hoosiers lead with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

The quarter ended with Miami driving and facing a third-and-one at the Indiana three-yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Fletcher rushed up the middle for a touchdown, making it 17-14. Miami drove 81 yards on 10 plays and was back within three just three seconds into the final frame.

Indiana responded in a big way. On a 12-play, 75-yard drive, the Hoosiers faced a fourth-and-five at the Miami 37 and a fourth-and-four at the Hurricanes’ 12. Mendoza completed a 19-yard pass to Charlie Becker on the first and ran it himself for a 12-yard touchdown on the latter. Indiana led 24-14 with 9:18 remaining.

Miami was not done. The heart of a Hurricane was still beating strong on the Canes sideline. A penalty on the Indiana kickoff put Miami at its own nine-yard line. A completion to Toney and a run by Fletcher led to first-and-10 at the 20. After two incompletions and a false start, Beck connected with tight end Alex Bauman for 22 yards and a first down at the Miami 37.

On the next play, Beck hit Toney on a short pass, and Toney took it 41 yards to the Indiana 22. On second-and-10, Beck again found Toney on a short pass, and Toney took it to the house, running through and around more than half of the Indiana defense. The score was 24-21 with 6:37 left to play.

Indiana took possession at its own 25. Mendoza faced a third-and-four at the Indiana 31 and completed a 14-yard pass to the 45. On third-and-seven, he connected on a 19-yard pass to the Miami 33.

With under three minutes remaining, Indiana ran nine yards on first down to reach second-and-one at the Miami 14 as the clock hit the two-minute warning. Miami’s defense stepped up and held the Hoosiers to a field goal.

Indiana led 27-21, and Miami took the ball at its own 25 with 1:42 remaining. After a roughing-the-passer penalty and an 11-yard run by Marty Brown, the Hurricanes had first-and-10 at their own 48 with 1:11 left. Completions to Toney and C.J. Daniels moved the ball to the Indiana 41 with one minute remaining.

On first-and-10, Beck’s pass was intercepted by Sharpe, and the dream was over. Dreams die hard, and this one was as tough as it gets.

While there is certainly no joy in Hurricane Nation, there should be pride in what this year’s Miami team accomplished. Here at Canes Corner, I could not be more proud of the players, coaches, staff, and administration.

Miami football — thanks for the ride.

That’s it for now. Be well, all, and Go Canes!