The Hurricanes dug out of a 10-0 halftime hole, pulled within three late, and still had the ball with a chance to tie or win the national championship. But, the final drive ended in a mistake you cannot take back. Miami lost the CFP national championship game to the Indiana Hoosiers, 27-21.
Here's three people to blame for the loss.
Thank you Canes Family for your incredible support during this season.
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) January 20, 2026
FINAL: Indiana 27, Miami 21 pic.twitter.com/NyR5q60f9q
OC Shannon Dawson put Miami in a hole
Miami had 69 total yards in the first half and went 0-for-6 on third down. Carson Beck had 49 passing yards at the break. That is not going to cut it in the national title game, especially when you're facing an Indiana.
Miami had 23:36 time of possession, was 3-for-11 on third downs, and had 15 first downs overall.
The frustrating part is Miami found something in the second half. Mark Fletcher Jr. averaged 6.6 yards per carry, went for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, and ripped the 57-yard touchdown that got Miami back into the game. That run should have been the signal to keep pounding. Instead, Miami spent too much of the night playing catch up and ended up running out of time.
QB Carson Beck wasn't able to deliver when Miami still had a chance
Beck was 19-of-32 for 232 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But, unfortunately, to win this game, the Hurricanes needed Beck to be better.
Down 27-21, Miami moved into scoring territory, then Beck threw an interception that was picked off by Jamari Sharpe at the Indiana 6 with 44 seconds left. That was the ballgame.
Beck did help fuel the fourth-quarter push, including the 22-yard touchdown throw to Malachi Toney that cut it to 24-21. But, Beck is paid to handle the pressure, and he came up at least one play short for the Hurricanes this year.
Miami's punt team blew the game for the Hurricanes
Miami lost because they handed Indiana a touchdown in the middle of the game on a play that simply cannot happen.
With Miami backed up, Dylan Joyce's punt was blocked by Mikail Kamara, and Isaiah Jones recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.
Miami had finally broke through with Fletcher's 57-yard touchdown to make it 10-7. A one-score game, momentum turning, Indiana feeling the pressure. Then Miami's punt unit gave it right back, and suddenly it was 17-7 without Indiana's offense needing to do anything special. Miami eventually made it a one-score game again, but that free touchdown ended up being the difference.