Indiana vs. Miami live updates, score: Follow CFP national championship game

Indiana is going for its first national championship in school history while Miami is trying to snap a streak without a championship that dates back to 2001.

If the Hoosiers win, not only will they cap one of the best seasons in modern college football history, they’ll extend a Big Ten title streak to three seasons after Michigan’s win in 2023 and Ohio State’s victory a season ago. Miami, meanwhile, would complete an improbable run to the title after the Hurricanes were the final team in the 12-team field.

Here’s how to watch the national championship game and here’s everything you need to know. (Scroll down for live updates.)

CFP title game: No. 1 Indiana (15-0) vs. No. 10 Miami (13-2)

With Indiana coming in as a significant favorite, Miami’s best shot may be leaning on a defensive line that has been a dominant playoff force. The Hurricanes have been able to beat up opposing offensive lines so far, but this Indiana offensive line is better than any line that Miami has faced in its three playoff games. And leading the charge on offense is the Hoosiers’ Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza, who has been his usual outstanding self in these playoffs.

Miami’s chances of an upset also hinge largely on Malachi Toney breaking a big play or two. Can QB Carson Beck get the ball to his star freshman receiver while also avoiding any big mistakes? And can the Miami run game gain enough ground on a tough Indiana front seven? Those are the questions that will likely decide the national championship on Monday.

Live8 updatesMon, January 19, 2026 at 4:10 PM PST

Yahoo Sports Staff

Four years after leaving Oregon, Cristobal is one win away from returning championship glory to Miami, four quarters from delivering his hometown and alma mater the title.

But no matter what happens here Monday, he’s already delivered one thing: He’s restored respect to The U.

“I’ve had 20 years of sitting from afar watching Miami get ridiculed and stomped on. It pissed me off,” Cristobal told Yahoo Sports. “I got to the f***ing point where I couldn’t stand the s*** going on here and the amount of s*** being thrown at it. My brother told me, ‘If you don’t f***ing do it, who the f*** is going to do it?!’”

Mario Cristobal has the Hurricanes playing for the national title in his fourth season at Miami.

Mon, January 19, 2026 at 4:03 PM PST

Nick Bromberg

Indiana opened as a 7.5-point favorite but the line soon jumped to 8.5 points.

It’s back to 7.5 points even though over 75% of the bets and money against the spread at BetMGM are on Indiana to cover.

The total has held steady at 47.5 points. Approximately 20% of bets are on the under, however those bets make up just over 50% of the money on the over/under.

Mon, January 19, 2026 at 4:02 PM PST

Yahoo Sports Staff

Naturally for some administrators whose programs had long been more successful than Indiana, minds are wandering to an inevitable question: If they had been smart enough to lure Cignetti out of James Madison, would their team be playing Miami on Monday for the national championship instead of the Hoosiers?

“Biggest f-up ever,” said one athletic director who was evaluating coaching candidates a few years ago and ultimately did not hire Cignetti.

Indiana vs. Miami live updates, score: Follow CFP national championship game

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