The stage is set for a historic clash in the College Football Playoff national championship on January 19. The Indiana Hoosiers, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, will face the Miami Hurricanes with a perfect 16-0 season on the line—a feat last achieved at the highest level by Yale in 1894.
Mendoza's Yale Connection and the Pursuit of Perfection
The storyline is rich with historical symmetry. Fernando Mendoza, who originally planned to attend Yale, now has a chance to equal a record held by the Bulldogs for 129 years. During his recruitment visit to Yale five years ago, the program highlighted its Heisman history, featuring winners Larry Kelly (1936) and Clint Frank (1937). Mendoza has now added his name to that elite list.
Indiana can become the first major college football team since the 1894 Yale Bulldogs to finish a season 16-0 if they defeat Miami. While other teams like North Dakota State (FCS, 2019) and Ferris State (Division II, this season) have achieved 16-0 records, none have done so at the sport's premier level in the modern era.
Key Stats: A Battle of Near-Equals
The championship game features two remarkably balanced teams. Indiana has lost only one fumble all season, tied with UConn for the national best. Miami has lost three, ranking them seventh best.
An odd statistical coincidence highlights Indiana's dominance: they have outscored opponents by 237 points in the first half (second nationally) and by 236 points in the second half (first nationally).
The defensive battle in the trenches will be fierce. Miami leads the nation with 47 quarterback sacks, while Indiana is tied for second with 45. Time of possession is virtually identical, with Miami averaging 33:42 and Indiana averaging 33:17 per game.
Historic Challenges and Individual Brilliance
Miami has a chance to make history by becoming the first team to finish a season 8-0 against AP-ranked opponents. The Hurricanes have already beaten seven ranked teams this season, including Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Mississippi.
Only three teams have ever finished with at least eight wins over AP-ranked teams in a season: Alabama in 2016 (9-1) and 2015 (8-1), and LSU in 2011 (8-1). Miami could also become the third team to beat six top-10 teams in a season, joining LSU (2019) and Ohio State (last season).
On the individual front, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza has been spectacular. In just 15 games for the Hoosiers, he has thrown for 41 touchdowns this season, already placing him sixth on the school's career passing TD list. Mendoza's completion percentage of 73.0% is the best in Indiana history for quarterbacks with over 300 attempts.
For Miami, 17-year-old receiver Malachi Toney is one catch away from becoming the first Hurricane to record 100 receptions in a season, shattering the previous school record of 85.
Program Histories on Collision Course
The historical disparity between the two programs is vast. Miami has been ranked in 551 AP polls compared to Indiana's 95. The Hurricanes have spent 213 weeks in the top five, while the Hoosiers have managed only 18.
Yet, Indiana enters the game as the AP's No. 1 team—their first and only appearance at the top spot. Miami, despite 68 different stints at No. 1, hasn't held the top ranking since the end of the 2002 regular season.
The winner will almost certainly claim the No. 1 spot in the final AP Top 25 poll. Miami, which started the season ranked 10th, aims to become the first team since Florida State in 2013 to win the national title after beginning the year ranked 10th or lower.
As Fernando Mendoza prepares to face his hometown team with history on the line, the college football world awaits to see if a 129-year-old record will finally be matched or if Miami's own historic run against top opponents will culminate in a championship.
