Monday evening’s Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship Recreation between No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami shapes up as a grueling, bodily battle between two groups which have embraced that identification all season. The unbeaten Hoosiers are attempting to turn out to be faculty soccer’s first 16-0 nationwide champion, however they need to get previous a resurgent Hurricanes group taking part in on its residence discipline.
Miami’s path has been something however straightforward. The Hurricanes knocked off No. 7 Texas A&M on the highway, eradicated No. 2 Ohio State within the Cotton Bowl and outlasted No. 6 Ole Miss within the Fiesta Bowl to succeed in the title sport. Powered by an enormous offensive line, Miami has created operating lanes for Mark Fletcher Jr. whereas quarterback Carson Beck distributes the ball to elite playmakers similar to Malachi Toney, giving the Hurricanes a balanced, environment friendly assault.
First-year defensive coordinator Corey Heatherman has elevated Miami’s protection into one of many nation’s finest, bringing to life fourth-year coach Mario Cristobal’s imaginative and prescient of a giant, punishing roster. Nonetheless, the query stays whether or not that physicality is sufficient to take a look at Indiana.
The Hoosiers have overwhelmed everybody of their path, blasting No. 9 Alabama 38-3 within the Rose Bowl and dismantling No. 5 Oregon 56-22 within the Peach Bowl. With Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza on the controls and no apparent weaknesses on the roster, Indiana enters as a more-than-touchdown favourite.
Second-year coach Curt Cignetti has orchestrated probably the most exceptional turnarounds in faculty soccer historical past, placing Indiana on the point of its first nationwide championship.
The place to observe Miami vs. Indiana
Date: Monday, Jan. 19 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Exhausting Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV: ESPN | Dwell stream: Fubo (Strive without spending a dime)
Miami vs. Indiana picks for CFP Nationwide Championship
Tom Fornelli: At what level does everyone begin listening to what Indiana’s been telling all of them season? It has blown out Alabama and Oregon in consecutive playoff video games and comes into the championship in a lot better form than the Miami Hurricanes do health-wise. I do not count on we see a blowout alongside the strains of what the Rose and Peach Bowls offered, however I do count on the end result might be clear earlier than the fourth quarter begins. Choose: Indiana – 8.5 | Indiana 31, Miami 13
Shehan Jeyarajah: Indiana has been an ideal soccer group in 2025, and it’ll in the end finish with an elusive first nationwide championship. It will not come straightforward. Miami’s top-rated line of defense will power errors, together with at the very least one turnover from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Nonetheless, Mendoza’s legend might be cemented with a fourth-quarter landing to ice the sport and ship the Hoosiers an unlikely title. Choose: Indiana – 8.5 | Indiana 27, Miami 17
David Cobb: Miami’s offensive line is sturdy sufficient to forestall Indiana’s defensive entrance from utterly taking on, a necessity if the Hurricanes hope to remain inside placing distance. On the opposite aspect, Miami has sufficient punch up entrance — led by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akeem Mesidor — to make the Hoosiers uncomfortable at instances. In the end, Indiana appears to be like like a group of future and will win outright. However Miami is able to turning this right into a battle. Choose: Miami +8.5 | Indiana 27, Miami 20
Chris Hummer: Miami is taking part in a nationwide championship sport at residence. What a narrative. What a possibility. What a second. The Hurricanes cannot lose it, proper? Nicely … right here comes Indiana. It feels ridiculous to sort that with a 15-0 Indiana. It is Indiana! Historical past tells us this is not doable, however Curt Cignetti has created a monster in Bloomington. They’re probably the most well-coached, most disciplined and finest group within the nation. Plus, they’ve a Heisman Trophy-winning QB and, in the event you discuss to coaches across the sport, have a roster that athletically matches up with anybody. As loopy because it feels to write down, I am choosing Indiana to win a nationwide championship. How may I not? Possibly Miami finds a bit extra magic at residence. However this has been the season of Indiana. So long as Indiana’s o-line can maintain up on the sides, it wins this sport. Choose: Miami +8.5 | Indiana 24, Miami 21
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