The College Football Playoff national championship game can be a fun stage for final statements from NFL draft prospects, even if it doesn’t end up being a particularly consequential one for pro assessments.
A title itself is plenty compelling when it comes to the stakes for Monday night’s tilt between the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes. But while the matchup might serve as a valuable introduction to a handful of prospects for a few NFL fan bases and amount to good theater, it might not actually swing any player’s fortunes drastically, as an isolated contest can only do so much to reshape a more voluminous body of work.
Still, there will be ample professional intrigue surrounding a showdown that features two of the 2026 NFL draft class’ top players as well as a host of other figures who could hear their names called in the early-to-middle rounds.
Here are the top 10 prospects set to square off in the game:
1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
What’s left to say about the Heisman Trophy winner and runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick? Mendoza has been nearly flawless in guiding the Hoosiers to heretofore unknown heights, dicing apart defenses while seldom slipping up. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound passer is about as consistent as it gets from behind center, establishing a clear rhythm while operating with poise and precision. His improvisational skills leave him short of the ‘generational’ prospect label that some might want to affix to him. But between his skill set and readily apparent leadership ability, Mendoza is the kind of player any franchise would be thrilled to put at the center of a rebuild.
2. Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
As a debate about his arm length and pro projection raged on in some far-flung corners of the internet, Bain continued in the CFP doing what he had done for most of the season: dominating all comers. The Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year has notched four sacks in his last three games while helping propel the Hurricanes to the title game, further entrenching himself as college football’s most forceful entity off the edge. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, he’ll surely force some teams to reckon with their positional thresholds − and some still might end up preferring his rangier peers. But there’s little doubt that Bain’s physicality makes him a matchup that offensive linemen dread, and that should remain the case in the NFL.
3. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)
The former five-star recruit has enjoyed a steady ascent over his three years with the Hurricanes, remaining a stout presence at right tackle along the way. Mauigoa has long exhibited a penchant for dispatching defenders in the run game, but he’s taken his pass protection to new heights this season. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, he might be seen by some as a guard due to questions about his arm length and recovery ability. But as a potential linchpin for a line, he should have no trouble cracking the early-to-middle first round.
4. Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)
Bain’s brilliance might typically blot out all other contributors on a formidable defensive line. Mesidor, however, has emerged as a serious riser this season. The Ottawa native and former West Virginia transfer has racked up 10½ sacks, with his production unlocked by his tenacity and savvy as a pass rusher. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Senior Bowl invitee will turn 25 in April and could be an early liability in the run game, but he shapes up as an instant impact presence in creating pressure off the edge.
5. Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year has been the picture of reliability up front for the Hoosiers, seldom ceding pressure and setting the tone for a line that has surrendered just 22 sacks in 15 games. Smith himself hasn’t been responsible for a single sack on 372 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound blocker might be headed for a move inside due to his frame, but his overall toughness in all phases of blocking should earn him plenty of fans among coaches and front offices in the pre-draft process.
6. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Some teams simply might not be able to look past Ponds’ 5-foot-9, 173-pound frame. For those that don’t see it as a sticking point, however, a supremely talented nickel corner could be within reach. As one of several players who followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, Ponds has maintained his level of excellence in coverage even as his competition became considerably more imposing. Advanced instincts and ball skills keep him in the mix for any throws made underneath. While his size will always leave him vulnerable in matchups with bulkier wideouts, there’s a clear path for Ponds to excel if he’s positioned properly within a defense.
7. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Many probably know him as the receiver responsible for this season’s most impressive catch with his incredible toe-tapping end-zone grab against Penn State. That play was just a window into what Cooper can offer a passing attack. The 6-foot, 201-pound target should become a fast favorite of the quarterback in any offense, thanks in part to his knack for racking up yards after the catch. He’s also adept at pulling off a contortionist act when he has to haul in difficult throws near the sideline. Cooper likely won’t have a significant role in the downfield game, but he’ll elevate the floor of whatever team he joins by handling lots of underappreciated tasks.
8. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Choosing between Cooper and Sarratt might just be a matter of taste. Sarratt just barely trails Cooper in catches (62) and receiving yards (802) but has the advantage on touchdowns (15). He’s not a towering target, but the 6-foot-2, 209-pound catcher is adept at walling off defenders to come down with contested catches. That skill set should make him an attractive asset to teams searching for someone to own the middle of the field, though his role might need to be reworked − perhaps operating as a big slot is in his future − to account for some athletic limitations.
9. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (Fla.)
When one hears of a player with Scott’s level of consistent disruption, they might envision an edge rusher or a linebacker. Scott creates all of his havoc as a nickel corner. The 6-foot, 192-pound cover man had to take the junior college route out of high school before stops at Auburn and Houston, and his hardscrabble path is reflected by his hyperaggressive play. He’s cut from the Amik Robertson or Upton Stout cloth as a hyperaggressive playmaker, but his larger build should allow him to remain a force in the run game at the next level. Scott will need to land with a team that can carve out a role that caters to his strengths, as he can be prone to breakdowns in coverage, particularly if forced outside. In the right scheme, however, he could generate a good number of splash plays.
10. Carson Beck, QB, Miami (Fla.)
There’s an inherent strangeness to Beck ending up here. It’s no doubt odd that a player who began the 2024 season as the prohibitive favorite to go No. 1 overall would be so far back in the pecking order. Yet it’s also confounding that a passer whose stock seemed so damaged after his unraveling at Georgia could resuscitate his pro outlook by turning things around with the Hurricanes. Fading into the background a bit has served Beck well, as he and Miami’s offense have thrived when he has embraced operating as a quick-triggered distributor. But limitations with his arm strength and mobility leave him ill-equipped to find solutions when his initial plan goes awry, and his lapses in judgment in airmailing turnover-worthy throws is concerning for a signal-caller who likely will have to find his way as a backup for at least a few years to start his career. Yet in a paper-thin quarterback class, he’s among the more enticing second-tier options.