Le Journal

Hard Rock Stadium is set to host a massive crowd as Hurricanes and Hoosiers fans descend on Miami, hinting at a record-setting spectacle before kickoff at the 2026 CFP National Championship. Hard Rock Stadium is stirring to life early Monday as Miami and Indiana prepare to collide for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. After months of buildup, the atmosphere around one of the sport’s biggest nights is already buzzing with anticipation well before kickoff. The Hurricanes will be playing for a national title on their home turf—a rarity in the CFP era—while the undefeated Hoosiers bring one of college football’s most fervent traveling fan bases to South Florida. Ticket sales suggest this won’t be a one‑sided crowd, hinting at a packed house full of both cheers and chants. With kickoff scheduled for the early evening, local streets and stadium gates are already humming as fans stake their claim to what could be one of the most electric atmospheres in recent title game history. Attendance figures are expected to reflect that energy as thousands of seats fill ahead of the 7:30 PM ET start. Fans attending the 2026 CFP National Championship Hard Rock Stadium is expected to be near capacity for Monday night’s showdown between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers. With official capacity around 65,000 seats, sources indicate that the stadium will host roughly 64,500 fans, making it one of the largest gatherings in college football this season. The mix of local supporters and traveling Hoosiers fans promises a vibrant, electric atmosphere from kickoff onward. The game marks a rare CFP national title clash featuring a host team, giving Miami fans a home-field edge. College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy in 2015 (Source: Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Streets around the stadium have been buzzing since early morning, with tailgates already filling parking lots and nearby beaches seeing an unusual early surge of banners and team colors. The energy outside Hard Rock mirrors the stakes inside, where tens of thousands of seats are filled with fans eager to witness college football history in the making. Attendance this year is also a reflection of the broader appeal of the College Football Playoff. Indiana’s undefeated season has drawn national attention, with thousands of fans flying in from the Midwest. Meanwhile, Miami’s passionate base has ensured that the stadium feels alive from the moment gates open, with chants, drumlines, and coordinated cheers setting the tone for a championship spectacle. The combination of intense rivalry, high stakes, and nearly full capacity makes this year’s CFP National Championship a true spectacle of sport and fan devotion.

In a dramatic finish, Caleb Williams’ Chicago Bears fell at home to the Los Angeles Rams, bringing their run in the 2026 NFL Playoffs to an end. The Chicago Bears’ outstanding season reached its final chapter last night at Soldier Field. In a showdown with a movie-worthy finish, the Los Angeles Rams asserted their pedigree and proved to be just a step ahead of the talent of Caleb Williams and the rest of his teammates. The game’s outcome could have gone a different way, but safety Kamren Curl had other plans, picking off a pass from Williams intended for DJ Moore. When addressing the moment, the quarterback didn’t shy away from responsibility, and his frustration was evident in the postgame aftermath. “I got to go back and watch it, haven’t seen it and don’t really know, but in the moment, I saw the front-side safety down, front-sided concept,” the QB said. “Ended up getting hemmed up a little bit and so moved on and had D.J. going over top over all of it. Just a miscommunication between him and I. Tried to flatten him off under the safety and he kept it vertical, from what I saw in the moment.” While the loss is painful given the expectations that had been built, Caleb Williams took responsibility but also made it clear that the foundation has been laid to build something special in the Windy City. Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears. “It’s tough. In these moments you feel that you let your team down,” he also added. “It’s a good lesson learned for us, first time being in this situation for me and for us as a team. I’m excited for what’s to come, but obviously going to go back and watch this and figure out how I can be better.” A dramatic finish sealed the fate of the Bears At a moment when the Bears had cut the deficit to just one point against the Rams, head coach Ben Johnson chose to kick the extra point to tie the game, rather than risk a two-point conversion that could have put Chicago ahead with only seconds remaining. Once the loss was official, the question from the media was inevitable: why did Johnson choose to kick it. On that decision, the Bears’ head coach pointed to his past experiences as the basis for the call. “Thought about it,” he said in his postgame press conference. “Probably what played a little bit of a factor was our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very clean. Our inside the five plan hadn’t worked out quite like we’d hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances there in overtime.”

As a former quarterback, Alex Smith is known for offering thoughtful insight in his analyst role, and this time he didn’t hesitate to weigh in on Jarrett Stidham and how he could benefit the Denver Broncos with Bo Nix out. Alex Smith was blunt during a recent segment on NFL on ESPN, offering a clear warning that starting Jarrett Stidham at quarterback might not be a bad idea for the Denver Broncos after all. Smith pointed to Sean Payton’s track record with backup quarterbacks, calling it an encouraging sign for Denver with Bo Nix unavailable. “He has a history of success with backup QBs,” Smith said, highlighting how well the Broncos’ head coach has performed in those situations. He also cited past results under Payton: “Jameis Winston went 5–2 with Sean Payton. Teddy Bridgewater went 5–1.” Smith added that the Broncos are unlikely to drastically change their approach without Nix. “You think the game plan isn’t gonna change, right? That game we saw [vs. the Bills], they were throwing haymakers at each other. You better believe whatever they play next week is gonna be the same,” Smith said. Smith believes the Broncos can reach the Super Bowl Smith didn’t stop at praising Payton’s résumé with backups or discussing how Denver might operate without Nix. When asked whether he believes the Broncos can reach the Super Bowl with Stidham under center, Smith answered, “Absolutely.” "He has a history of success with backup QBs. … Jameis Winston went 5-2 with Sean Payton. Teddy Bridgewater went 5-1."Alex Smith "absolutely" believes the Broncos can win the Super Bowl with Jarrett Stidham at QB 👀 pic.twitter.com/waXhn9qfog— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 18, 2026 Smith also recalled Payton’s demeanor during the press conference announcing Nix’s absence, suggesting the head coach was already prepared for the challenge. “Did you almost see it in his press conference? Heartbroken for Bo Nix, but there was almost a sparkle on Sean Payton’s face. He literally said, ‘Watch out!’ That’s him,” Smith said. Looking further back, history has shown backup quarterbacks can still be part of championship runs. Tom Brady once won a ring after replacing Drew Bledsoe, and Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl after taking over for Tony Banks during the season.

One of the most iconic players in Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox history has now confirmed his definitive MLB retirement timeline, something he had never addressed publicly before, with only rumors circulating until now. There are not many active players in MLB today with four or more World Series rings, but Mookie Betts is one of them. He won one with the Boston Red Sox and three with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he recently confirmed the year he plans to retire. In a conversation on What Drives You with John Cena, Betts made it clear that his decision to retire in 2032 is not based solely on age, but on family. “I’ll be 40, my little girl will be 14, my son will be 10. My parents were always there and I want to do that same thing for my kids,” Betts said. Betts had never previously spoken publicly about retirement, much less put an exact date on it. Until now, any discussion about his future had largely been limited to speculation, especially following criticism of his 2025 season and occasional rumors about a reduced role with the Dodgers. Betts’ 2025 season was not his best Despite winning his fourth World Series ring in 2025, that season was labeled by some analysts and MLB writers as disappointing. Mark Timmons of LA Dodger Talk called it the worst season of Betts’ career, pointing to his offensive numbers. Mookie Betts confirms he plans to retire when his Dodgers contract ends in 2032:“I’ll be 40, my little girl will be 14, my son will be 10. My parents were always there and I want do that same thing for my kids.”🎥: What Drives You with John Cena pic.twitter.com/bJOTe54LuE— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) January 18, 2026 “Yes, last season was the worst of Mookie’s career. He hit .258 with a .732 OPS to go with 20 HR. That is pretty poor for a right fielder (which is what I thought he was), but it’s much better for a Gold Glove shortstop!” Timmons wrote. What Timmons is pointing out is that Betts’ offensive production dipped, although he still cleared the 150-hit mark. He totaled 130 hits in 2024 and 123 in 2023, suggesting growth in that category over time. While 20 home runs may not stand out, from 2020 through 2025 Betts has averaged 25.33 homers per season.

Two key details of the New York Yankees’ proposed contract for Cody Bellinger have recently come to light, developments that would clearly limit the Mets and other teams pursuing the slugger. The New York Yankees’ ongoing saga with Cody Bellinger continues to produce new developments almost daily, and this time two specific details tied to the roughly $160 million deal have become central to the discussion. The focus is on two opt-out clauses that would give the slugger the ability to leave the contract early, a wrinkle that would not be good news for the New York Mets. The information was revealed in an article by Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. “The Athletic has since learned, via a league source who has been briefed on the ongoing talks, that the Yankees would be willing to include opt-outs after Year 2 and Year 3 of the five-year deal,” Kuty reported. At the same time, Kuty noted what has already become well known in the Bellinger-Yankees drama: the slugger is seeking a seven-year contract, and a separate report surfaced earlier indicating that Scott Boras is still holding out hope for an offer at that level, or higher, from another MLB owner. Could the Mets back off because of the opt-outs? It remains unclear what, if anything, the Mets have formally offered Bellinger. What is known is that New York’s other team appears more interested in a shorter-term deal. “Reporting has dropped today that the Mets are in Bellinger’s market on a short-term deal,” Tyler Ward wrote on X (@wardyNYM). Cody Bellinger smiles during a Yankees game. Another report further outlined how the Mets are currently evaluating Bellinger’s market. While they are not the only team involved, Ward’s reporting makes it clear the Mets are not targeting a contract loaded with multiple opt-out clauses like the one the Yankees are willing to include. One additional factor working in the Mets’ favor is the widely reported stance that the Yankees made the final decision of not engaging in a bidding war. According to Bob Klapisch, the five-year offer currently on the table is viewed by the Yankees as more than sufficient. That leaves Bellinger with two realistic paths: a moderately long-term deal or a very short-term contract.