MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes will try to cap a memorable season on their home field when they face top-seeded Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
No. 10 Miami (13-2) meets the undefeated Hoosiers (15-0) in a matchup that marks the first time in the CFP era a team will play for a national title in its own stadium.
Despite the familiar setting, the Hurricanes will be listed as the road team because Indiana earned the No. 1 seed and home designation throughout the playoff.
Local 10 is airing our “Chasing a Championship” special highlighting the historic seasons of both programs at 8 p.m. Friday.
Indiana enters as the nation’s lone unbeaten team and an 8.5-point favorite.
The Hoosiers have rolled through the playoff behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to the Big Ten title. In postseason wins over Alabama and Oregon, Mendoza threw eight touchdown passes with just five incompletions.
The championship game will be a homecoming for Mendoza, a Christopher Columbus High School product who grew up in Miami.
Last season, while quarterbacking Cal, he nearly upset the Hurricanes before Miami rallied for a 39-38 win after trailing by 25 points in the second half.
Miami being listed as the “road team” in the championship game might motivate them even more.
The Hurricanes have won five straight road games, including playoff victories at Texas A&M, Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. They are also 14-1 at Hard Rock Stadium over the past two seasons.
Indiana’s offense features a balanced backfield led by Roman Hemby (1,060 yards, seven touchdowns) and Kaelon Black (961 yards, 10 TDs).
Receiver Charlie Becker has emerged as a deep threat late in the season, while Elijah Sarratt and leading receiver Omar Cooper Jr. remain key targets. Cooper made a game-winning, highlight-reel catch against Penn State earlier this year.
When Miami is on offense, the team will likely lean on their vicious ground game to keep Indiana off the field.
Although the Hurricanes rank 72nd nationally in rushing during the regular season, they have averaged 173 yards per game in the playoffs, according to teamrankings.com.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. has led the way, rushing for a career-high 172 yards against Texas A&M, 90 against Ohio State and 133 against Ole Miss. CharMar “Marty” Brown has also provided a spark, scoring in consecutive games, including the clincher against Ohio State.
Against Ole Miss, Miami rushed for 191 yards, with Fletcher and Brown combining for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Carson Beck passed for 268 yards and two scores. He also added the game-winning rushing touchdown.
Miami’s Keelan Marion led the way in receiving for seven catches and 114 yards, including a 52-yard score vs. the Rebels.
Defensively, Miami will rely on its front seven, led by defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, to pressure Mendoza.
Miami managed just one sack against Ole Miss but still held the Rebels to three points in the first and third quarters.
That defensive effort will need to rise another level Monday against Mendoza, who is coming off a near-flawless 17-of-20 performance with five touchdown passes in a 56-22 win over Oregon.
Indiana’s defense ranks among the nation’s best in points and yards allowed and is third nationally against the run.
The Hoosiers will look to slow Fletcher and contain Miami’s passing game, including freshman standout Malachi Toney, whose 36-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Ole Miss proved decisive.
The game also highlights deep South Florida ties.
More than two dozen Miami players have local roots, along with four Hoosiers, including Fernando and Alberto Mendoza.
Regardless of the game’s outcome, it’s a huge win for South Florida.
Kick off for the CFP National Championship Game is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday.
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