Four plays defined Miami's 27-21 National Championship Game loss to Indiana on Monday Night. Indiana blocked a third-quarter punt for a touchdown, converted two fourth downs on a critical fourth-down TD drive and Carson Beck threw an interception on the final drive with Miami down six points. Yup, that's what did it.
3 people to blame for Miami's heartbreaking CFP title game loss to Indiana
The Miami offense was stagnant in the first half before Mark Fletcher Jr. ran 57 yards for a TD in the third quarter to get the Hurricanes within 10-7. Later in the third quarter, Malachi Toney made the decision to catch a punt at the four-yard line, which he returned three yards to the Miami seven.
Miami went three and out on the ensuing series. Mikail Kamara blocked the Dylan Joyce punt and it was recovered in the end zone by Isaiah Jones to extend the Indiana lead to 17-7. Miami answered with a 10-play, 81-yard drive that Fletcher capped with a three-yard TD run to cut the deficit to 17-14.
The next drive for Indiana might have been the most decisive of the game. Faced with fourth down and five yards to go from the Miami 37-yard line, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza had a 19-yard completion to Charlie Becker to the Hurricanes' 18.
Miami football suffered a heartbreaking loss to Indiana with the CFP title on the line
Four plays later, Indiana had fourth down and four yards to go from the Miami 12-yard line. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti initially sent the field goal unit on the field. After reconsidering, Mendoza ran 12 yards for a TD to extend the Indiana lead to 24-14.
Miami again cut the deficit to 24-21 with an eight-play, 91-yard drive that culminated with a 22-yard Malachi Toney TD run. Indiana went 11 plays, 57 yards in 4:55 and chose to kick a field goal with 1:42 remaining to extend the lead to 27-21.
The stop was critical to keep it a one-score game. Miami took over at its own 25. Four plays later, Miami drove to the Indiana 41-yard line with 47 seconds remaining. Beck thought he had Keelan Marion down the right sideline for a TD.
Jamari Sharpe ran in front of Marion to intercept the pass and seal the National Championship for Indiana. Amazingly, Sharpe is the nephew of former Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe, who was called for pass interference against Ohio State that cost Miami the 2002 National Championship.