(Photo: The Westview Wire)
College Football Playoff- National Championship
(10) Miami Hurricanes at (1) Indiana Hoosiers
Miami (13-2):
What a story they’ve crafted so far, and what impresses me most is who they’ve defeated along the way. Early in the season, they were slicing through opponents, and after the first game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, I said they could be a team to watch if they stayed consistent. After losing Cam Ward to the NFL, I knew the offense wouldn’t be as electric as the previous year, but what I see now is a perfect blend of methodical play mixed with explosive opportunities. This team wants to pound the football with the running game and establish Mark Fletcher before turning to the duo of C.J. Daniels and Malachi Toney in the passing game. In their first playoff game against Texas A&M, they set the tone early, contained one of the country’s best quarterbacks in Marcel Reed, and engaged in a defensive street fight that I loved every second of. I knew I had to pay closer attention after they drop-kicked the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, showing they were more than capable, and survived a challenge from an Ole Miss team that could light up the scoreboard in a hurry. The Hurricanes have displayed remarkable mental toughness, and this might be the most impressive playoff path I’ve seen—they defeated two SEC teams (Texas A&M and Ole Miss) and a Big Ten team that happened to be the defending champions (Ohio State). As I always say, records go out the window in the playoffs; it’s about who plays best when it matters most. Tonight, they’ll look to finish the job at home against the top seed in the College Football Playoff.
Indiana (15-0):
What more needs to be said? They’ve passed every test with flying colors. On October 11th in Eugene, they weren’t given much of a chance against the Oregon Ducks, considering the strong home-field advantage at Autzen Stadium. Yet the Hoosiers went in, won convincingly, and cruised until they collided with the Ohio State Buckeyes for the Big Ten Championship on December 6th. Again, they weren’t given much of a chance against the defending champs, yet they executed their physical style of football that had worn down teams all season. What a year in Bloomington! To quote T.J. Hopkins: “Do it again,” and that’s exactly what they did. They pushed the Alabama Crimson Tide around, made the Rose Bowl irrelevant, and dominated Oregon in the semifinals. What makes this team so good is their adaptability—they find a way to attack any defense, whether through the run or pass. They capitalize on every opportunity, turn minor openings into game-changing moments, and most importantly, they avoid turnovers. Add in only six penalties across two playoff games, and you see a true formula for success. Are you not entertained? Tonight, they aim to bring home a national championship.
Miami X-Factor: Keelan Marion
Mark Fletcher, C.J. Daniels, Malachi Toney, and Carson Beck are the stars of this offense, but Keelan Marion is just as vital. When the first two reads are covered, Carson turns to Keelan for crucial completions and chain-moving conversions. Primarily a slot receiver, Keelan can create mismatches against Indiana’s disciplined defense. He doesn’t need eight catches to impact the game—two or three explosive touches could be enough.
Indiana X-Factor: Mikail Kamara
Kamara, brought from James Madison by Curt Cignetti, has become a defensive standout. He can wreck drives if left unaccounted for, combining speed and power off the edge. He wins battles without blitz help and forces quarterbacks to speed up their decision-making. Mikail can create negative plays consistently, allowing Indiana to play a disciplined defense without relying heavily on blitzes. Against a Miami offense that thrives on chunk plays, his disruption is everything.
Final Thoughts:
Tonight, we crown a champion. This is the third consecutive National Championship featuring a Big Ten team (Michigan and Ohio State). Miami wasn’t expected to reach the playoffs, let alone host a game, but here they are. Indiana has had an incredible season and could cap it with a title tonight. The matchup presents contrasting styles: Miami wants to attack downfield and win with chunk plays, while Indiana looks to control the clock with long, mistake-free drives. Miami’s front four must pressure Fernando Mendoza without forcing plays, create explosive opportunities, and neutralize Kamara. Takeaways will be critical. Indiana, meanwhile, must stick to its identity, control the pace, prevent explosive plays, and dominate third down and red-zone situations. Championship football is all about situational execution: force field goals when possible and maximize scoring opportunities. It just seems like I was getting ready for week one and it all ends tonight in Miami!
