From rebuild to the summit: Indiana completes historic run with CFP title

Indiana football completed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in modern college sports Monday night, capturing its first-ever national championship with a 27-21 win over Miami in the College Football Playoff title game.

Just two seasons after inheriting a program mired in double-digit losses, head coach Curt Cignetti guided the Hoosiers to an unblemished 16-0 season, placing Indiana among the rarest company in Division I history. Only two other programs, 1894 Yale and 2019 North Dakota State, have ever finished a season undefeated at 16-0. Indiana also became the first school to claim its first national title since Florida broke through in 1996.

Cignetti, who arrived in Bloomington preaching belief and toughness, said grit defined the championship effort. That same mentality fueled Indiana’s rapid ascent from Big Ten afterthought to national power.

The defining moments of the night belonged to quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who delivered a championship performance on the biggest stage, and in the most personal setting. Playing in his hometown of Miami and against a Hurricanes program that never offered him a scholarship, Mendoza led Indiana to victory one year after suffering a loss to Miami while at Cal.

Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards and added a pivotal rushing touchdown, earning Offensive MVP honors. His performance capped a remarkable season that included a Heisman Trophy, making him the eighth Heisman winner to also capture a national championship in the same year.

Indiana’s defense made its own statement, with Mikail Kamara earning Defensive MVP recognition after blocking a punt that shifted momentum in the Hoosiers’ favor. The victory also extended the Big Ten’s dominance, marking the conference’s third consecutive College Football Playoff championship.

The title further cements Indiana’s unique place in college sports history. The Hoosiers now hold the distinction of being the most recent undefeated national champion in both major men’s sports: football in 2025-26 and men’s basketball in 1975-76.

For Indiana, the championship is more than a trophy. It’s the culmination of belief, resilience, and a transformation few thought possible just two years ago, a reminder that in college football, the distance between rebuilding and reigning can be shorter than anyone expects.