Miami is set to host the College Football Playoff National Championship in the Hard Rock Stadium. While only one team will leave with the title, the city itself becomes the focal point of the sport, receiving two programs whose seasons have reshaped the national landscape.
On one sideline stands the University of Miami Hurricanes, ranked No. 10 and led by head coach Mario Cristobal, who has restored his alma mater to national relevance four years into his tenure. On the other is No. 1 Indiana, guided by Curt Cignetti, whose rapid transformation of the Hoosiers has culminated in an undefeated season and a historic shot at the school’s first national championship.
For Cristobal and Cignetti, the meaning of victory is straightforward: becoming national champions. But the road to Miami has been anything but simple. The Hurricanes (13-2) endured midseason adversity, dropping two of three games and watching their playoff odds fall sharply. Their response was decisive. Miami closed the regular season with four dominant wins and then asserted itself in the playoff by defeating higher-ranked opponents Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss. The reward is a return to the championship stage for the first time since 2001.
Indiana (15-0), meanwhile, arrives as the nation’s top-ranked team and an eight-point favorite. Under Cignetti, the Hoosiers have gone from a struggling program to one of the most complete teams in college football, eliminating traditional powers such as Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon along the way.
The College Football Playoff National Championship impulse Miami
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on ESPN. Although the Hurricanes are technically the visiting team, Hard Rock Stadium is their home field, adding another layer of intensity to the matchup. Miami has thrived in the underdog role all season, posting a 3-0 record when counted out.
As the final chapter of the season is written, Miami serves as more than a backdrop. For one night, the city becomes the center of college football’s highest stakes.
