Indiana Hoosiers Win First National Championship in Thrilling Playoffs
The 2025 college football season wrapped up with a wild national championship game. Indiana University Hoosiers pulled off a win against the Miami Hurricanes.
This season was packed with comebacks, upsets, and moments fans won’t forget anytime soon. From the first playoff snap to the final whistle, it was just grit, drama, and plenty of jaw-dropping plays.
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First Round Drama: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
The first round brought a tense showdown between the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners. The game in Norman, Oklahoma, was a true emotional rollercoaster.
Early Dominance by Oklahoma
Oklahoma came out swinging, jumping on Alabama’s early mistakes. Quarterback John Mateer put the Sooners up 17-0 by the second quarter with a rushing touchdown and a sharp pass to Isaiah Sategna III.
Alabama’s Remarkable Comeback
Still, Alabama wasn’t about to roll over. Ty Simpson started connecting with Lotzeir Brooks, and a big pick-six by Zabien Brown tied things up at 17 by halftime.
Alabama kept rolling after the break and finished with a 34-24 win. It was the kind of comeback that gets talked about for years.
Miami’s Gritty Win Over Texas A&M
Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes battled Texas A&M in a game where the wind just wouldn’t quit. Kicking was a nightmare, and points were hard to come by.
Key Moments
- Miami finally broke the ice in the third quarter with a field goal.
- Texas A&M answered with one of their own in the fourth.
- Carson Beck hit Malachi Toney for an 11-yard touchdown, and Miami held on for a 10-3 win.
Shocking Upset: Miami vs. Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl
No one really expected Miami to take down the defending champs, Ohio State, in the Cotton Bowl. But that’s exactly what happened.
Miami’s Early Lead
Carson Beck found Mark Fletcher Jr. for a score, then Keionte Scott stunned everyone with a 70-yard pick-six. Suddenly, Miami was up 14-0 and Ohio State was reeling.
Ohio State just couldn’t get anything going in the first half. The scoreboard said it all—zero points at halftime.
Ohio State’s Efforts to Rally
They did make it interesting late, closing the gap to 17-14 in the fourth quarter. But Miami punched in a clinching touchdown with under a minute left, sealing a 24-14 win and sending the Buckeyes home.
The National Championship: Indiana vs. Miami
The season’s last game had the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers meeting the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Indiana, with Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza at the helm, was chasing their first-ever national title.
Indiana’s Strong Start
Indiana struck first with a field goal in the opening quarter. Riley Nowkowski crashed in for a one-yard touchdown, making it 10-0 by the second.
Not long after, Isaiah Jones scooped up a blocked punt for a touchdown. Indiana was up 17-7 in the third quarter, and the stadium was buzzing.
Miami’s Fightback
Mark Fletcher Jr. tried to drag Miami back, scoring twice to make it 17-14. But Mendoza’s gutsy 4th & 5 quarterback draw for a touchdown gave Indiana breathing room at 24-14.
Miami kept pushing and found the end zone again, but Indiana’s last field goal iced it. Final score: 27-21. That one’s going to stick with fans for a while.
Conclusion
The 2025 college football playoffs really showed how wild this sport can get. Alabama pulled off a comeback against Oklahoma that nobody saw coming.
Then Miami stunned Ohio State. And somehow, Indiana walked away with the national championship.
If you want to relive the chaos, here’s the full highlights of the playoffs—worth a look, honestly.
