The Miami Hurricanes need no additional motivation for tonight's CFP Championship Game against Indiana. But it never hurts to have a little, especially if it could mean even more championship opportunities for Hurricanes teams in the future.
One of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2027 class, Monshun Sales, is hinting that Miami and Indiana are currently the top two teams in his recruitment and leading into tonight's game the blue-chip player from Indianapolis made sure to send a shout-out to both teams.
Top 2 🤔… Good luck to my @IndianaFootball and @CanesFootball brothers and staff playing for that 🏆 Who taking the W 👀 pic.twitter.com/yq4TLF8Zs5
— Monshun “Showtime” Sales (@__1problem) January 19, 2026
Miami can hit Indiana where it hurts tonight
The Hurricanes can end one of college football's most fascinating and unlikely stories by knocking off the Hoosiers and ending their quest for a first national championship and to become the first college football team to go 16-0.
But Miami can also damage Indiana's standings with one of the top prospects in the country, who happens to also play high school football in Indianapolis. While the state of Indiana isn't necessarily known as a breeding ground for top high school talent, it does have some players from time to time and Indiana has rarely had a shot at a talent like Sales.
Both teams have been built through a certain identity. Mario Cristobal has built the Hurricanes with strong recruiting in the trenches and, by working to land as much top in-state talent as possible, then using the transfer portal to build outward from there. Curt Cignetti has built Indiana primarily through the portal and with older players. He is trying to build more foundational talent as the price of large transfer classes will continue to rise.
For Miami, a player like Sales presents an opportunity to win another major recruiting battle and continue the Hurricanes' ascension as a top program returning to glory. And for Indiana, it presents an opportunity to start the process of building from within.
If the Hurricanes can complete the mission, it's hard to see where Indiana goes, but Miami's future under Cristobal becomes even more clear. The Hurricanes return to their place among the blue bloods of college football.