NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
It all comes down to this.
The Indiana Hoosiers will look to finish the season undefeated when they take on the Miami Hurricanes, who hope to end a long title drought for one of college football’s most storied programs, in the national championship Monday night.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti pose with the trophy after a news conference before the College Football Playoff national championship game, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The Hoosiers have never won a national title and have rarely appeared in high-profile bowl games throughout the program’s history. This season is unlike any year the Hoosiers have ever had. Indiana has a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, leading the charge while putting together Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl victories en route to the final game.
Indiana will face an extremely hungry Miami team. The Hurricanes have a long history of greatness in college football, having won national championships five times. But it’s been a long time since they played for a title. Miami narrowly qualified for the College Football Playoff and made the most of it.
Miami dominated Texas A&M in the first round of the CFP, beat defending champions Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, then stunned Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. The Hurricanes will play at their home stadium – Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Here are some things to know about the game.
INDIANA COACH CURT CIGNETTI WANTED 1 THING AFTER HISTORIC VICTORY OVER OREGON
Will President Trump be there?
President Donald Trump is expected to attend the national championship Monday night alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump has a history of being at the last college football game of the season.
Trump was in attendance at the 2019 national title game between the LSU Tigers and Clemson Tigers. He was also at the Alabama-Georgia game for the 2017 national championship.
Who is Indiana’s quarterback?
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts during the Peach Bowl playoff semifinal against Oregon on Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Fernando Mendoza will lead the charge for the Hoosiers. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy as he was a first-time All-American and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He has 3,349 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in 15 games this season.
Mendoza came to Indiana after spending two seasons with the California Golden Bears. He suggested he thought head coach Curt Cignetti could help him get to where he wanted to be as a player.
“I felt like Coach Cignetti could help me get to where I thought I could be as a quarterback,” he said.
Now, they are just one win away from a national title.
Who is Miami’s quarterback?
Miami quarterback Carson Beck holds the offensive player of the game trophy after winning the Fiesta Bowl against Mississippi on January 8, 2026, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Carson Beck is the Hurricanes’ field general. He transferred to Miami after having an illustrious career with the Georgia Bulldogs. Beck was part of the Georgia team that won back-to-back national championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. However, he was a backup to Stetson Bennett at the time.
Beck had a great career with Georgia, but as the Bulldogs moved on from Beck, he extended his career for another season with his decision to transfer to Miami. He replaced Cam Ward at quarterback and helped the Hurricanes win the national title.
He has 3,581 passing yards and 29 touchdown passes in 15 games.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
How to watch the game
The College Football Playoff National Championship will be broadcast on ESPN. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
