Indiana outlasts Miami, wins program's first college football national championship

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. —

The Indiana Hoosiers have claimed the college football national championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in a nail-biting game in Miami, marking the end of a historic season.

As recently as two years ago, the Indiana Hoosiers football program only won three games and struggled to fill their home stadium. On Monday night, they became undefeated national champions, a remarkable achievement in the current era of NIL and the transfer portal, without any five-star recruits.

On Sunday, head coach Curt Cignetti said that a win would mean they are national champs, but acknowledged it means much more to the team.

"It means the world," said Charlie Becker, a wide receiver for Indiana. Becker finished the game with four catches for 65 yards, including a fantastic sideline grab on a 4th-and-5 play.

The game grew tense towards the end, but the Hoosiers' defense managed to secure the victory with a game-sealing interception with 47 seconds left in the game.

Mark Cuban, who was at the game supporting the Hoosiers, said, "It's the stress release that just lets go."

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