The Indiana Hoosiers won their first college football national championship. Top-seeded Indiana secured the 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship with a 27-21 victory over No. 10 Miami (Fla.).
INDIANA HOOSIERS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🔥
ONE OF THE BEST HISTORY STORIES IN SPORTS HISTORY IS COMPLETE‼️ pic.twitter.com/Z0LbYUPBmh
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026
“It took a lot of guts to win a national title,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said.
It took a lot of guts for Cignetti to believe he could turn an Indiana program that went 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9 back into a national championship game when he took over two years ago.
Cignetti has now made history by leading Indiana State to a 16-0 season, joining Yale in 1894 and North Dakota State in 2019 as other Division I champions. Moreover, Indiana became the first new team to win its first National Championship since the 1996 Florida Gators.
“We won a state championship at Indiana University, it can be done.”
with Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti @MollyAMcGrath After beating Miami 👏 pic.twitter.com/516Ccpe6RF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 20, 2026
Then there’s the story of winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza won against Miami because he didn’t join the Hurricanes in the national championship game in his hometown of Miami. It’s a fight back from last year’s loss to Miami while playing at Cal.
Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards (59 percent) and earned offensive MVP honors. The Hoosier signal caller had some of the all-time moments in a game in front of Indiana fans and overwhelmed Miami fans in their home stadium.
“I would die for my team,” Mendoza said.
What a year Mendoza had when he left everything on the field. He became the eighth Heisman winner to win a CFP or BCS national championship.
Oh, and he also came out to support Lil Uzi Vert.
MR. HEISMAN IS THE CFP NATIONAL CHAMPION😤#CFBPlayoffs #State Championship pic.twitter.com/F4FVncOEg2
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) January 20, 2026
| Year | Heisman winner | National champion |
|---|---|---|
| The year 2025 | QB Fernando Mendoza | Indiana |
| 2020 | WR DeVonta Smith | Alabama |
| 2019 | QB Joe Barrow | LSU |
| 2015 | RB Derrick Henry | Alabama |
| 2013 | QB Jameis Winston | State of Florida |
| 2010 | Cam Newton | Bourne |
| 2009 | RB Mark Ingram | Alabama |
| 2004 | QB Matt Leinart | Southern California |
Defensive lineman Mikail Kamara earned Defensive MVP honors thanks to his shutout performance. With the win, Indiana wins the Big Ten’s third straight CFP title.
Indiana’s most recent men’s soccer title and most recent men’s basketball title (1975-76).
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