Mario Cristobal has obvious Miami coach to fire after National Championship loss

If the first two facets of the CFP Championship Game were basically even, it was that third facet, special teams, that kept the Miami Hurricanes from winning their sixth national championship and putting a bow on a spectacular run through the college football playoff.

Miami did nearly everything right in the second half to nearly rally from a 10-0 halftime deficit, but it was a blocked punt that proved to be the difference in a 27-21 loss to Indiana at Hard Rock Stadium.

Blocked punt proves to be the difference in CFP Final

What makes this play so frustrating is that Indiana was in punt safe. The Hoosiers were only rushing the ends and were playing for a return, expecting a chance to get good field position with the Hurricanes punting deep in their end. But Miami punter Dylan Joyce rolled to right as he normally does and that's where the pressure was, allowing Makail Kamara to block the kick with an outstretched arm. Isaiah Jones recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give Indiana a 17-7 lead. 

The Hurricanes' special teams' coordinator, Danny Kalter, and his unit had a rough evening at Hard Rock Stadium. Joyce, who uses a rugby style, rolling into the pressure was a bad decision and in the first half, Carter Davis missed a 50-yard field goal when the ball hit the outside of the goal post. 

It has been the best playoff for the Miami special teams. Davis missed three field goals against Texas A&M in the first round and missed a 51-yarder against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.

Special teams is the most unsung unit in football. They rarely get credit for good play and the spotlight shines the brightest on them when mistakes are made in a close game. Miami has received commitments in the transfer portal from two specialists to replace Carter — former Florida State kicker Jake Weinberg and former Northwestern kicker, Jack Olsen.

But for now, all Mario Cristobal will think about is what could've been and how Kalter's unit failed him in the biggest game of the season. When the pain of Monday night wears off, there will be discussions and tough decisions to be made.