Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. leads all players nationally with 395 rushing yards in December and January. Fletcher is averaging 131.67 rushing yards per game and has gone over 100 yards twice in the three Miami College Football Playoff games. So, what will he be able to get done against the No. 1 Hoosiers?
Indiana is second nationally allowing 75 rushing YPG. The Hoosiers have allowed 58 rushing YPG in their CFP wins over Alabama and Oregon. Part of that is that Indiana took big leads and Alabama and Oregon were forced to pass.
Indiana has held all but two opponents under 100 rushing yards in 2025. Old Dominion had 23 carries for 218 against Indiana in a 27-14 loss in the season opener and Penn State ran 33 times for 117 yards and another two scores in a 27-24 defeat in the waning moments.
The Hoosiers are allowing 2.87 yards per carry in 2025. Old Dominion was the only team that averaged over 4.0 YPC versus Indiana in 2025 and only four Indiana opponents exceeded 3.0 YPC. Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus examined the Miami rushing offense versus the Indiana run defense.
Mark Fletcher Jr. will hope to have a big game for Miami vs. Indiana
Chadwick stated, "Miami’s downhill run scheme against one of the most fundamentally sound run defenses in college football." Miami leans on its massive offensive line in the run game. Miami is a power running team that primarily runs inside the tackles.
Miami is 12th in run blocking grade per Chadwick. The Hurricanes run the man (duo) concept 28 percent of the time, the fourth-highest rate in Power Four per Chadwick. Miami double-teams the interior and allows Fletcher to read the opposing middle linebacker.
Per Chadwick, if the LB is inside, Fletcher can cut to the outside. If the LB stays outside, Fletcher will run up the middle behind his blocks. Fletcher is sixth nationally with a 92.0 PFF rushing grade in 2025, per Chadwick. The 426 rushing yards by Fletcher on duo runs lead all Power Four RBs per Chadwick.
A lot of the National Championship Game will feature strength against strength as to be expected from two teams competing for the title. Per Chadwick, Indiana is third nationally with a 94.4 PFF run defense grade and with a 90.9 tackling grade.
Indiana is seventh nationally allowing 2.6 YPC against the duo concept and fourth in explosive run rate allowed per Chadwick. Rolijah Hardy, fourth nationally among LBs with a 91.2 PFF run defense grade, will be a player to watch for Indiana.
Miami ran 37 times for 153 yards and one TD against an Ohio State defense that finished the 2025 season seventh nationally, allowing 89.36 yards per game. The Hurricanes had the second-highest rushing total against Ohio State in 2025. If Miami has success running on Indiana, it greatly increases its chance of a National Championship.