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Indiana Caps Unprecedented 16‑0 Run with 27‑21 Title Over Miami

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Historic Perfect Season Ends With First National Championship Indiana finished 16‑0, the first college football team to do so since Yale in 1894, and captured its inaugural national title by beating Miami 27‑21 in the College Football Playoff final [1][2][3][4][5]. The victory gave the Hoosiers their first No. 1 ranking and placed Indiana alongside UCLA as the only schools with perfect seasons in both football and basketball [1]. The win was highlighted by a late surge that turned a 14‑point deficit into a six‑point victory [2][5]. Head coach Curt Cignetti, in his second season, orchestrated the turnaround that transformed a historically basketball‑focused program into a football powerhouse [2][3].

Mendoza’s Fourth‑Down Touchdown Defines the Game Quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered the decisive play on fourth‑and‑4, leaping for a 12‑yard touchdown that gave Indiana a 24‑14 lead [1][4][5]. Earlier in the drive, a fourth‑and‑5 conversion to receiver Charlie Becker moved the ball 19 yards and set up the scoring opportunity [2][3][5]. Mendoza finished with 186 passing yards, added a rushing TD, and was later named the Heisman Trophy winner [2][5]. His performance, executed in his hometown, underscored the narrative of a doubted player rising to the occasion [1][2].

Cignetti’s Aggressive Fourth‑Down Strategy Powers Late Surge The coach called two critical fourth‑down plays in the fourth quarter, sacrificing two timeouts to keep drives alive [1][2][3][4]. The first yielded the Becker reception; the second set up Mendoza’s touchdown run [3][4]. These bold calls contrasted with conventional play‑calling and were credited as the decisive factor in the final minutes [1][2]. Miami’s final chance ended when safety Jamari Sharpe intercepted Carson Beck, sealing Indiana’s win [1][2][5].

Turnaround Fueled by Transfers, NIL Money, and Coaching Vision Cignetti assembled the roster largely through the transfer portal, bringing 13 players from James Madison and adding Mendoza from California, all supported by NIL incentives [3][2]. The influx of experienced talent combined with a culture of belief and brotherhood transformed a program long dismissed as an afterthought [1][3]. Indiana’s shift from a basketball‑centric identity to a dual‑sport champion reflects the rapid impact of modern recruiting tools and strategic leadership [2][3]. The success has already attracted NFL attention, with Raiders officials scouting Mendoza as a potential No. 1 draft pick [5].

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