Le Journal

To have come so close and yet finish so far — nothing is more heartbreaking in competitive sports. On Monday night, the Miami football program could scarcely finish with a more devastating outcome than to fall short in the CFP National Championship game, 27-21, after putting up such an excellent fight against college football’s most dominant team in recent history, the Fernando Mendoza-led Indiana Hoosiers. Miami simply could not execute against an Indiana defense that buckled down towards the end of the fourth after Malachi Toney put head coach Mario Cristobal and his men to within three against the Hoosiers. Indiana football then sealed the deal with a field goal with around a minute and a half left in the ballgame. It is tempting to think that Miami, with a few tweaks, could return to this level and perhaps break through next year. But the Hurricanes head coach is dispelling the notion that getting this far in the CFP is easy, saying that nothing is given and they have to earn their way back. “That’s the biggest misconception in sports — ‘well, they almost got there, they’ll be back next year.’ That’s a bunch of bull. You’ve got to improve from a roster standpoint, a regimen standpoint, discipline, everything, and move forward,” Cristobal said, per Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports. Miami football looks to get over the hump next season Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images It is both a refreshing and frustrating thing that there is always a new season in sports. On the one hand, a program’s hopes are renewed. On the other hand, they have to do it all again — sometimes failing to do so considering how emotionally and physically taxing getting to the mountaintop is. As for Cristobal, they will be looking for a new quarterback to replace Carson Beck, who is pro-bound (at last) this year. The post Miami football’s Mario Cristobal shreds ‘biggest misconception in sports’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Indiana whooped it up on the field as it was handed its first-ever national championship trophy after beating Miami, 27-21, at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday. It was a fitting image for the Hoosiers, who completed their undefeated season. Fernando Mendoza came up big anew for Indiana, scoring on a gutsy 12-yard rush with 9:18 left in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the game-changing play. For the third straight year, a team from the Big Ten ruled college football, and commissioner Tony Petitti felt very proud. “I feel like we’re just getting started,” said Petitti, as quoted by Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti on three straight titles for his league: “I feel like we’re just getting started.” pic.twitter.com/mKtacSpTzy — Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 20, 2026 Ohio State and Michigan won the CFP title game in the previous two years. The Big Ten has the second-most national championships with four, trailing the SEC’s six. Indiana is more known for its basketball, enduring decades of losing seasons on the gridiron. But ever since Curt Cignetti arrived in 2024, the program has witnessed a massive turnaround. In his first season, the Hoosiers won a then-school record 11 games, earning their first-ever berth in the CFP. Cignetti was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. He won it again the following season, guiding Indiana to a 16-0 campaign and a landmark trophy. “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” said Cignetti in a report from the Associated Press. Cignetti has also acknowledged Petitti’s leadership in shaping the Big Ten’s competitive environment. With the Hoosiers’ historic triumph, other teams must be inspired to follow the blueprint and keep the national title in the Big Ten. The post Big Ten commissioner drops 7-word declaration after Indiana’s national championship win appeared first on ClutchPoints.