Indiana shall be trying to cap one of the vital outstanding turnarounds in faculty sports activities historical past because the No. 1 seed Hoosiers tackle No. 10 seed Miami on Monday within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship. A win would make IU the first-ever 16-0 faculty soccer staff and vault second-year coach Curt Cignetti to legendary standing for his work in bringing the beforehand irrelevant Hoosiers to life.
With Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a fierce protection main the best way, Indiana pummeled Alabama and Oregon in its first two CFP video games, successful by 35 and 34, to succeed in this level. Taking down a bodily imposing Miami staff might be a extra vital problem.
Whereas the Hurricanes enter as an underdog, they’ve the benefit of enjoying on their dwelling area inside Onerous Rock Stadium. For fourth-year coach Mario Cristobal, a former national-title successful Miami offensive lineman, this represents a novel alternative to return the ‘Canes to the highest of school soccer.
He is already guided Miami previous better-seeded foes Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss throughout a magical CFP run. On condition that the Hurricanes squeaked into the sphere as the ultimate at-large choice, they’ve already surpassed expectations.
Observe dwell updates as Indiana vs. Miami headlines within the CFP Nationwide Championship
Now comes the grand finale of the 2025-26 faculty soccer season. Will or not it’s Indiana or Miami because the final staff standing on Monday evening?
The place to look at Indiana vs. Miami dwell
Date: Monday, Jan. 19 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Onerous Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Strive at no cost)
Indiana vs. Miami: Alternate viewing choices
- Area Cross with Pat McAfee Present — ESPN2, fuboTV (Strive at no cost)
- Movie Room — ESPNU, fuboTV (Strive at no cost)
- Skycast — ESPNEWS, fuboTV (Strive at no cost)
- Area Cross with ACC Huddle — ACC Community, fuboTV (Strive at no cost)
- All-22 with ESPN Radio, Excessive Skycast, Command Middle, hometown radio, halftime band performances and extra out there by way of ESPN’s app
Indiana vs. Miami: Gamers to look at
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: Indiana has been a dominant staff, sure. It is also been a clutch staff. Tight common season wins over Iowa, Oregon and Penn State required a heroic contact from Mendoza, as did the Large Ten Championship Sport victory over Ohio State. In every occasion, the Miami native led clutch, late-game scoring drives to maintain the Hoosiers unbeaten. He is a exactly correct passer, deceptively cellular runner and the unflappable chief for IU.
Carson Beck, QB, Miami: Beck rewrote his faculty soccer legacy by main a pair of late landing drives in Miami’s Fiesta Bowl win over Ole Miss. The Georgia switch capped the efficiency with a go-ahead landing run with 18 seconds remaining. His profession — and his 2025 season — has featured ups and downs. However after a season-ending elbow harm in final yr’s SEC Championship Sport and subsequent public divorce with Georgia, the sixth-year senior is getting into his closing sport on a excessive observe.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana: With 4 landing grabs over the course of Indiana’s three postseason video games, Sarratt is as much as 15 for the season. That tally would probably be even increased if not for hamstring harm that compelled him to overlook two video games. The 6-foot-2 senior is a sturdy goal on the surface who makes use of his physicality to field out corners and rise above them for large performs. He’s among the many contingent of gamers who adopted Indiana coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison after the 2023 season.
Malachi Toney, WR, Miami: Miami’s freshman speedster was only a three-star prospect and the No. 55 total receiver within the Class of 2025, per 247Sports. But it surely was clear from the leap that the Hurricanes recognized a gem from their very own yard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Toney earned first-team All-ACC honors and is ready to surpass 100 receptions within the title sport. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has finished a terrific job of scheming up methods to get Toney the soccer. As soon as he will get it, be careful.
D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana: Ponds opened up Indiana’s CFP semifinal win over Oregon with a choose six on the primary play from scrimmage. The James Madison switch has been a game-changer within the secondary all season, incomes second-team All-American honors from CBS Sports activities. He is solely 5-foot-9, however Ponds’ draft inventory is on the rise amid a robust end to his junior season.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami: Bain is a high-motor edge rusher who ranks No. 3 within the CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rankings. He enters the title sport with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Mix him with Akheem Mesidor and also you get arguably the nastiest 1-2 pass-rushing punch in faculty soccer. The Miami native has been a important constructing block in this system’s basis below Cristobal and shall be a problem for Indiana to comprise.
Indiana vs. Miami prediction, choose
Miami’s offensive line is robust sufficient to maintain Indiana’s defensive entrance from wreaking complete havoc, which goes to be important if the Hurricanes need to maintain it shut. Conversely, Miami has sufficient juice with its defensive entrance — led by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akeem Mesidor — to at the least make the Hoosiers sweat. In the long run, IU seems to be a staff of future and may win the sport outright. With Heisman Trophy successful quarterback Fernando Mendoza main the cost, Indiana seems to be the higher staff. However do not dismiss Miami’s potential to make it a battle. Prediction: Miami +8.5
