The final day of the college football season is upon us. The two participants in Monday night’s College Football Playoff finale might not have been predicted by, well, anybody at the start of the campaign, but they should provide compelling theater.
Anybody who is still under the impression that Indiana is the plucky underdog in these playoffs hasn’t been paying attention. The Hoosiers earned their top seed and have played like it in dominant victories against Alabama and Oregon, not exactly no-name schools in the playoff era. Now the final obstacle to the program’s first ever football national championship is Miami, once a powerhouse of the sport that had been wandering in the wilderness for nearly a quarter of a century.
This didn’t appear to be the year the Hurricanes would climb back to the top, as they were the last at-large team included in the field. But here they are with an opportunity to claim the title in familiar surroundings at Hard Rock Stadium, the predetermined site of this year’s CFP finale.
Here’s everything you need to know as you take in the action.
CFP title game: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Why watch: Whether playing on its home field will have any appreciable positive impact for Miami remains to be seen. The Hurricanes will likely have a significant part of the crowd behind them, though there will be no shortage of Hoosiers’ followers in attendance as well. Miami’s biggest concern is the high level of execution Indiana has demonstrated in the postseason. Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza has been a big part of that, of course, but he’s had plenty of help. RBs Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby are providing ample ground support, and his top trio of WRs Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper and Charlie Becker have been catching everything thrown their way. Mendoza’s protection has also been excellent, but Miami DEs Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor might prove more difficult to keep out of the backfield.
The Hurricanes’ playoff wins haven’t been as decisive, but QB Carson Beck has made the key plays when needed. WR Malachi Toney often provides the lightning while RB Mark Fletcher brings the thunder for Miami. But Beck will need an error-free performance against the Hoosiers’ defense, which has done its part by generating takeaways. No matter where Miami goes with the ball, expect to see Hoosiers LBs Rolijah Hardy and Aiden Fisher somewhere in the vicinity at the end of the play. Even the kicking game has been a largely smooth operation for the Hoosiers. PK Nico Radicic has missed just one field-goal try in 17 attempts.
Why it could disappoint: As we’ve seen, Indiana is quite capable of wire-to-wire domination. But the Hoosiers have been in their share of close contests as well. If Miami can borrow a page from Ohio State and keep the high-powered Hoosiers’ offense off the field, a less flashy but highly intense affair could unfold.