The field to win the 2026 College Football National Championship has been narrowed to two teams. Those clubs, the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers, meet on Monday, January 19, to determine who will walk away with that title. Miami and Indiana meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The game airs on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Miami finished the 2025 NCAA Football season with a 13-2 record. The Hurricanes were the No. 2 team in the ACC at the end of the year. Miami earned its spot in the National Championship with wins over Texas A&M (10-3), Ohio State (24-14), and Ole Miss (31-27). Each of those squads was ranked higher than the Hurricanes. The team was ranked No. 10 at the end of the year.
Indiana sat at the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll at the end of the 2025 NCAA season. The Hoosiers were a perfect 15-0 and in first place in the Big Ten. The club dominated Alabama (38-3) and Oregon (56-22) on its way to the National Championship Game.
Miami has won the National Championship five times, most recently in 2001. Indiana has never won a National Championship in football.
| To Win College Football National Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Hurricanes | +270 | +260 | +275 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | -335 | -320 | -340 |
| Miami +8.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Indiana -8.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Over 48.5 Points | -110 | -105 | -110 |
| Under 48.5 Points | -110 | -115 | -110 |
With the 2026 NCAA Football National Championship game nearly upon us, be sure to check out our college football betting odds, as well as our list of the best betting sites to wager on the College Football National Championship.
One thing the Miami Hurricanes bring into this game is the knowledge that they beat three teams ranked higher than them on their way to the National Championship Game against Indiana. With that momentum, expect the Hurricanes to take the field in their home stadium with a certain amount of swagger and confidence. They will not be awed by the Hoosiers’ season, record, or accomplishments.
Miami’s biggest goal on Monday will be to shake 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The Oregon Ducks did their best to change up their game plan against the Indiana QB, and he went 17-for-20 for 177 yards and five touchdowns, with zero interceptions. Miami has solid defensive backs and a good pass rush, but the fact remains that no one has had much success containing Indiana’s passing game this year.
Miami’s average third down distance against Ole Miss was eight yards. Sure, the Hurricanes won that game, but the Indiana defense was the second-best defense in college football this season. The Hurricanes and quarterback Carson Beck need to reduce that number of yards in a big way if they hope to convert on third down against the Hoosiers.
Beck cannot be off target with his passing in this game. Against Ole Miss, Beck went 23 for 37. That’s not going to be good enough to beat Indiana.
Miami must reduce its penalties. They took 10 for 74 yards against the Rebels.
Miami has no room for error on Monday night.
The Indiana Hoosiers have been the dominant force in college football in 2025. Going undefeated and then easily winning in its two college football playoff games before securing a berth in the National Championship. The last time the team was in a close game was on December 6, when it defeated then-No. 1 Ohio State 13-10 to win the Big Ten title. The Hoosiers will be focused and locked in on Monday, just like they have been all season long.
Miami plays a lot of man coverage on defense. Oregon tried to do that, and Fernando Mendoza and his receivers took advantage of that. If Miami opts for the same approach, things could get out of hand very quickly for the Hurricanes in the National Championship. Mendoza will need to get rid of the ball quickly, which could limit Indiana’s passing yardage, as Miami has an effective pass rush.
The Hoosiers need to contain Mark Fletcher’s running game. Fletcher was the No. 2 running back in the ACC in 2025 with 1,080 yards on 199 attempts. Fletcher was one of the best players against Ohio State and Ole Miss. The good news for Indiana is that the team ranked third in the nation in rushing defense, allowing an average of 75 yards per game. The Hoosiers limited Alabama to 23 yards on the ground on 17 attempts and held Oregon to 93 yards on 26 carries.
Indiana has been machine-like this year, just rolling forward and never losing focus. If they can remain the team they have been, they have all the tools to win. They don’t need to get cute or change things up too much, they just need to execute as they have.
As the betting odds indicate, an Indiana Hoosiers loss to the Miami Hurricanes in the championship game would be an incredible upset. Indiana has been too good this year to think that the team will fold in the biggest game of the season. The betting pick is that the Indiana Hoosiers will beat the Miami Hurricanes in the National Championship Game.
Both teams playing in the national championship have strong offenses. The Hurricanes have averaged 31.5 points per game this year, while the Hoosiers have averaged 42.6 points. The betting pick is that Indiana and Miami will score over 48.5 points on Monday.
See below the best online betting sites. You can read our comprehensive reviews to help determine the best option for your 2026 NCAA National Championship Game betting.
