2026-01-20 08:26

If you are not really IN this type of sport, College Football, you will likely not understand the magnitude of this seasons National Championship won by the Indiana Hoosiers.

I did state several stats already in the previews, the perfect season, which did not happen since ages, the conference championship also not there since ages, the Heisman trophy to their QB, never happened before, but that does all seems nice to have compared to the fact that Indiana has in 139 years won only .427 of all their games and has the image of being a loser-team in football and THAT team, that university did hire a new coach last year and on his 2nd season he won the National Championship against any powerhouse of the FBS.

Indiana will honor Curt Cignetti, the HC, and Fernando Mendoza, the QB, with whatever is possible to honor them, because this might be an accomplishment the state will have to wait for another 139 years.

Boy, I don’t want to be in the shoes of any of the new hired HCs of the past 2 seasons. Imagine the expectations NOW. If that guy can do that with Indiana, why can’t you do that with our team? Ha. The college football world got nicer and darker on the same day. Nicer, because that win was really something I guess almost nobody will not like. The perfect Cinderella story in sport, wait for the movie to come. And darker, because the cruel logic will be, that every coach not turning a program around in 2 seasons will be on the block. The axe might not fall, but for sure someone is sitting next to the block and sharpens the axe. And pure logic does dictate, that most coaches will not turn programs around THAT way, and the majority even in any way, because only 1 of the many FBS teams can win usually the National Championship and roughly 50-70 coaches are replaced in a 2 season period. That is the cruel part.

Anyway, let’s recap the great game.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Tue, January 20th 2026
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T
#10 Miami vs #1 Indiana
The game started slow, with both teams having their defenses playing on a high level, while their offense did search for the answer, for the crack.
Miami had to punt, Indiana had to punt, and again Miami.
Then did Indiana find some cracks and had a quite long drive, capped with a field goal to take the lead, 3:0.
Miami, Indiana, Miami, all with punt drives afterwards.
Until Indiana did the ball back and marched over the field, featuring some crucial big plays to keep the offense moving, crowned with a touchdown run at the end, 10:0 Indiana.
Miami got the ball back and finally got a good drive going, even playing a 4th and 1, only to get stopped in Indiana half, forced to try a 50-yard field goal. They missed the score at halftime was 10:0 Indiana.
After the break did Indiana get the ball 1st and accomplished nothing, handing it to Miami after a punt and the Canes needed only 2 plays to score a touchdown, thanks to their best HB on the field bursting for a 57-yard-run into the endzone. 10:7 Indiana.
Then came a lot of nothing, until the special teams did have their big stage.
Miami had the ball and was forced to punt, again. Indiana did bullrush and one defender did get to the punter, blocked the punt, another did see the ball bouncing into the endzone of Miami and secured it for a touchdown! Great play for a 17:7 Indiana lead.
Now the game went into overdrive. Miami took the ball and got a long drive going, which did lead into the 4th quarter. Their 1st long drive was capped with a TD, featuring some big plays. Indiana in lead, 17:14.
Now Indiana with the ball, moving, having also big plays, playing 4th and 5 and got 19 yards, until 4th and 4 on the Miami 12. They decide to go for it, again, and the Heisman QB looks, sees a gap, rushes for the 1st down, gets contact, shakes and spins it off, gets more yards and jumps the ball stretched out into the endzone for a touchdown. Not as impressive as John Elways Superbowl TD, but close and man, I guess Indiana felt in that moment invincible. Now leading, 24:14.
But Miami was not done and did find more and more gaps and open spaces for gain, went over the field, and scored a touchdown with roughly 6:30 left to play. 24:21.
And Indiana? Still motivated, seemingly unstoppable, went all over the field, ate away the clock, until they were stuck at 4th and 4 on the Miami 12.
This time the coach did decide to kick and the kicker did hit it. Indiana leading 27:21.
Miami in need for a touchdown with 1:40 left to play. And the team did gain yardage, went to midfield, got to the Indy 40, and then did the Miami QB see something, and did throw a deep ball to a receiver in double coverage and was intercepted.
Game over, Indiana had won.
The Hoosiers had a bid of trouble securing the clock eating plays, because they were so close the endzone, but even that did work great for them and they won their Championship as best team of the country.
Jacks BOWL Score: 26-20

That wraps up the season, I hope you enjoyed the blog.
Thanks for your reading.

'Til next time
Jack6 on BLOCK OF GRANITE

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