On Monday, Jan. 19th 2026, head coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman award recipient Fernando Mendoza led Indiana University to their first ever College Football National Championship in a 27-21 victory over the University of Miami. 

Going into the game, there were varying expectations. “It was definitely nerve racking. There’s a level of stress.” said senior Carson Walden. Others had a lot more confidence, “I thought it was going to be like the Oregon game in the semi finals,” said sophomore Luca Sugawara. Senior Olsen Burr said he “thought it was going to be close. Miami is good, we’ll give them that.”

With the game being neck and neck, there were standout moments that cemented the game in the college football lore. Specifically, Mendoza’s dive into the endzone on 4th-and-5 down the stretch. “That was majestic. Beautiful swan dive into the endzone. They are going to be remaking the Hoosiers movie based on this team and that will be the climax,” said Burr. “One of the best quarterback rushing touchdowns I’ve ever seen. If we could rewind the clock it could be his Heisman moment… It solidified the game, but it also solidified Fernando Mendoza as a great player,” said Walden.

Despite the undeniable success of the team this year, nobody is sure if that success is replicable. “I think one year can make all the difference… but with Curt Cignetti, we’re bound for great things,” said Walden. Burr has less faith, “I don’t think we’re going to go back to back. I think we’re going to do good. This was just a magical recipe of players that made this beautiful dish.” 

IU’s win and turnaround has set a new precedent in a sport that was once dominated by only a few schools. Some think that IU’s unique win will set new precedents in the college football community. “It shows the football community that your rank in high school doesn’t really matter that much… If you have a good coach it doesn’t really matter,” said Sugawara. Walden, on the other hand, thinks that IU’s win could have negative effects, “I think more teams will think they are IU and will try to flip around their organization in a year with false pretenses of what is capable.”

This victory is the light that many Indiana fans have waited their entire lives for and even if the success can not be replicated, this year’s national championship game is one that will be remembered for a long time to come.