A Hollywood Ending Awaits the Indiana Hoosiers in National Championship

Just four months ago, the Indiana Hoosiers’ football team was the losingest program in college football history, with 715 defeats across 120 years. They had experienced just a single double-digit win season, in 2024, and won only three bowl games in school history. 

How quickly it can change. 

Under Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers ascended fast, going 11-2 in 2024 to land a berth in the College Football Playoff, where they lost in the first round to Notre Dame. In 2025, Indiana reached a different level entirely, finishing the regular season 12-0 and beating defending national champions Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. 

The No. 1 team in the country and top-ranked school in the College Football Playoff, the Hoosiers have steam rolled through the bracket with a 38-3 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl and a 56-22 demolition of Oregon in the Peach Bowl.  

Now, Indiana enters Monday’s national championship game as 8.5-point favourites over the Miami Hurricanes. Though the Hurricanes’ program is vastly more celebrated than that of Indiana’s, they’ve been on a journey of their own this season. 

With Georgia transfer Carson Beck at quarterback, the Hurricanes started fast with an opening-week win over Notre Dame leading to a 5-0 start at the No. 2 ranking in the country. Two losses in a span of three weeks mid-season, to middling programs in Louisville and SMU, dropped Miami out of both the top 10 and ACC championship contention.  

Yet, it got a break from the committee, controversially awarded a place in the playoff. Miami quickly proved its worth, however, with a 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the first round, followed by a 24-14 upset over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. A 31-27 win in the Fiesta Bowl over Ole Miss launched the U into the national championship game – set to be played in Miami, no less.  

Miami may get the rare luxury of playing for the national championship on its home turf, but make no mistake about any notion of home-field advantage. A storm is coming into Hard Rock Stadium, but it’s no Hurricane – it’s one of the best stories in college football history, aiming for a Hollywood ending befitting of the Hoosiers’ name.  

Click here to see all college football odds at BET99. 

Odds as of January 14, 2026.