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The NCAA college football season has come to an end with the National Championship set for this coming Monday, Jan 19, at 4:30 p.m. Big personalities and rags-to-riches tales have always had their spot in collegiate football, but this year, both teams have captivating underdog stories and something to prove to fans around the country. The newcomers take on the revitalized household name; it’s Indiana vs. Miami.
Indiana
Indiana University Bloomington has traditionally been a household name in the world of basketball with football often being a secondary consideration. With the hiring of Curt Cignetti as head coach, the football Hoosiers have risen to the top. Their 11-2 season in 2024 came to a close in South Bend, Indiana, following a defeat to Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Indiana football is now an astonishing 15-0 ahead of the 2026 National Championship.
Cignetti has instilled a sense of discipline and emotional stability into the program, displaying the team’s will to succeed in the Big Ten championship win against an undefeated Ohio State. He learned from Nick Saban, whom he coached under from 2007 to 2010, that strong foundational practices can affect a team’s ability to achieve success. Many fans, including Fresno Christian student Eli Corrao, ‘28, have noticed Cignetti’s lack of emotion in his facial expressions during games, often sporting a solemn and pessimistic look.
“Cignetti is such a great coach, it’s why I think they’ll win the Natty,” Corrao said. “But I’ve noticed he always looks like he’s mad, even when his team is doing well.”
After Indiana’s dominant performance against Oregon in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, reporters asked Cignetti why he never seems happy on the sidelines. He explains that if he requires his players to maintain a level head and be consistent throughout the game, then he must do the same.
“I’ll smile and celebrate later in the coaches’ room, with the coaches,” Cignetti said.
Transferring from Cal, Fernando Mendoza has become the team’s star quarterback over the last couple of seasons and is currently projected as the first overall draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Fernando’s younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, was a significant factor in Fernando transferring to Indiana, as Alberto is currently backing up his older brother as a redshirt freshman quarterback for the Hoosiers. In addition to Fernando’s elite performance on the field, post-game interviews showcase his big personality, discussing the special camaraderie that football brings to a team.
Miami
The University of Miami’s football team has surpassed many people’s expectations this season. In their season opener, they defeated Notre Dame, the runner-up of the 2025 national title, boosting attention towards the Hurricanes all season long. Aside from losses to Louisville and SMU, it has been smooth sailing for Miami, overpowering teams with its all-star defense, led by projected NFL first-round draft pick defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.
On the offensive side of the ball, a connection between two unlikely candidates has emerged. 18-year-old wide receiver Malachi Toney, who graduated high school a year early to play for the Hurricanes this year, has become the primary target for star quarterback Carson Beck, a sixth-year senior. Even with a five-year age difference, the two continue to shine on the field and will potentially play a significant role in the outcome of the National Championship.
Experience in winning title games will also play a part in Monday’s game. As a player, head coach Mario Cristobal has already won two national championships with the Hurricanes, coming in 1989 and 1991. Miami has not been to a national championship game in over two decades, the last time being in 2001. Similar to Cignetti, Cristobal gained experience under Nick Saban when he coached Alabama to a national championship win in 2015.
The Stakes
The stakes are high in every playoff game, but none higher than the National Championship, the most prestigious match a college football team can play in. Fresno Christian assistant football coach and head softball coach, Robert Rodriguez Jr. shares his opinion on the upcoming game.
“This one is going to be a really good game,” Rodriguez said. “You have a very good offense in Indiana versus a very good defense in Miami. I think Indiana is going to end up winning, and it’ll be on the shoulders of Fernando Mendoza. It’s his game to lose, and I think he’s going to excel; he thrives on this type of pressure and has shown it all year.”
If Indiana can pull it off, it will be the school’s first national championship win in school history, solidifying the Indiana Hoosiers as a prominent name in college football. They have drawn comparisons to the 2019 LSU Tigers, who finished 15-0, defeating every team in a dominating fashion and won the national championship with a Heisman quarterback. Indiana would be the first team since Yale in 1894 to accomplish a 16-win season as a major college program. It has been an underdog story since the beginning, and now, with the season coming to a close, they have become the clear favorites.
Miami has fought tooth and nail to even get into the college football playoffs, entering as the 10 seed, and to come this far is proof that they do belong. Playing in their home stadium for the school’s first national title in over two decades brings immense amounts of pressure to players and staff alike. Strong leadership from Cristobal and veteran quarterback Carson Beck has gotten them this far, and now, with one game left, it’s time to leave it all out on the field.
The National Championship will air on ESPN Monday, January 19, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. PT.
For more from The Feather, visit Leon Madec breaks school record in season opener and EDITORIAL: Comparison extinguishes youthful contentment.
