On Monday, Jan. 19, the college football season came to an end with the Indiana University Hoosiers taking the throne after defeating Miami 27-21.
Here is a look at some of the biggest games from this year’s playoffs:
No. 9 Alabama comes back to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma
In the first round of the playoffs, cross-state SEC foes No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma faced off in Norman. At one point, Alabama found itself in a 17-point deficit during the first half, but in a shocking turn of events, the Crimson Tide found a way late in the game.
With turnovers from both teams in the first quarter, Oklahoma was able to open up the scoring with a first-quarter drive that ended in a John Mateer scramble touchdown run for eight yards to take the 7-0 lead. Looking to add on more, the Sooners took a chance at a 51-yard field goal and knocked it through, taking the 10-0 lead.
Oklahoma kept the scoring momentum going in the second quarter and quickly added more damage. At the 10:50 mark, Mateer passed to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III, extending the lead 17-0. The Crimson Tide, led by quarterback Ty Simpson, responded with a long drive, marching the length of the field. Ty Simpson threw a third-down pass to wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks, who ran through defenders for a 10-yard touchdown. Alabama added another field goal to get the score within seven. Then, cornerback Zabien Brown jumped an Oklahoma receiver’s route inside Sooner territory for a pick-six to even the score at 17 headed into halftime.
Alabama, fueled by adrenaline, finished the game with the same second-half energy. Simpson found Brooks again for a 30-yard touchdown to take a 24-17 lead. Ending the third, Alabama kicker Conor Talty put up a field goal to take a 10-point lead. Oklahoma managed one more touchdown in the fourth quarter to get up to 24 points. Alabama responded with a touchdown to win round one of the playoffs on the road, 34-24.
No. 10 Miami slips by No. 7 Texas A&M in low-scoring game
In a low-scoring 10-3 game, Miami came out on top in the first round against Texas A&M. With no score in the first two quarters of the game from kicking struggles in extreme winds at College Station, Miami came out and struck first in the third quarter with a field goal, taking the 3-0 lead. In the fourth, A&M tied up the score with a field goal of its own, but Miami displayed a glimpse of its competitive character that would eventually lead the team to the National Championship. With a pass from Miami quarterback Carson Beck to wide receiver Malachi Toney for an 11-yard touchdown, Miami earned the hard-fought 10-3 win.
No. 2 Ohio State falls to No. 10 Miami
In one of the more shocking games in the playoffs, Ohio State met its demise against Miami in the 2025 Cotton Bowl.
Miami opened up the scoring after a quiet first quarter as quarterback Carson Beck found running back Mark Fletcher Jr. for a two-yard touchdown, taking the 7-0 lead. Miami didn’t stop there. While Ohio State drove into the red zone, Keionte Scott ended the drive with a 70-yard pick-six to put the Hurricanes up 14 points. Hoping to get some points on the board to end the half, the Buckeyes went for a field goal to end the half scoreless.
In the third quarter, after making their way downfield, Ohio State was finally able to punch in a touchdown as running back Bo Jackson scampered into the end zone to close the score to 14-7. Miami responded with a field goal, extending the lead to 10. Heading into the fourth quarter, Ohio State battled back with a touchdown from wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, making the score 17-14. Miami, not at all flustered, led a game-sealing drive ending in a touchdown with 55 seconds remaining. The final was 24-14 as the 10th-seeded Hurricanes upset the defending national champions Buckeyes.
No. 1 Indiana wins the national championship against No. 10 Miami
In the national championship, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers traveled to Miami to represent the Midwest to face off against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes representing the South on their home turf in Hard Rock Stadium. Indiana, anchored by their quarterback and 2025 Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, came out on top with the 27-21 win. This made history for head coach Curt Cignetti as he led the Hoosiers to their first football national championship in school history.
In a defensive first quarter, Indiana put in a 34-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. In the second, Indiana found the end zone. Wide receiver Charlie Becker tiptoed his way down the sideline initially, but upon review, he stepped out just shy of the goal line. This set up the Hoosiers with 1st & goal, and two plays later, tight end Riley Nowkowski pushed his way into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 10.
After the first half shutout from Indiana, Miami searched for anything to make a comeback. Continuing its strong defensive effort, Miami stifled the first Hoosier drive. On the offense, Mark Fletcher Jr. ran free for a 57-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 10-7. After three-and-outs from both sides, Indiana’s special teams made a game-changing play with a punt block that was picked up in the end zone by Isaiah Jones to extend the lead to 17-7.
Sitting at 3rd & goal to start the fourth quarter, Miami punched in the score on the first play of the fourth as Fletcher Jr. walked into the end zone. This cut the margin to 17-14. Mendoza added his first touchdown of the game with an unforgettable run. Sitting at 4th & 5, Mendoza ran the ball himself up the middle on a designed quarterback draw, spinning around Miami defenders and eventually jumping forward sideways to get the ball into the end zone. This play cemented Mendoza’s name in the history books and made the score 24-14. The Hurricanes were not out, and they fought back on the next drive. With six minutes left to go, they slipped into the end zone, closing the score to 24-21. Indiana was able to knock in one more field goal nearing the end of the game to win 27-21. This victory secured an unforgettable national championship for the Big Ten-winning Hoosiers in a perfect 17-0 season.
