CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — A man drove past where the buses that carried the Miami Hurricanes back to their campus on Friday afternoon, windows rolled down on his vehicle and he was smiling as he honked his horn over and over and over again.
It was Miami coach Mario Cristobal.
Yes, he allowed himself a few moments of joy.
Cristobal and the Hurricanes are back home, where they'll stay for the remainder of the season. They'll be the visiting team — as the lower seed — in the College Football Playoff championship game against Indiana, a 56-22 winner over Oregon in the Peach Bowl, at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, meaning they'll be on the sideline opposite the one they usually occupy. The plan is that they will get to use their regular locker room, though.
“We're progressing at an unbelievable rate,” Cristobal said in the parking lot before driving away — and before he signed dozens of autographs and took dozens of selfies with fans who showed up to welcome the team home from their Fiesta Bowl win over Mississippi on Thursday night. "Our guys are fighting through injury. They’re fighting for each other. They’re doing a great job, just keeping focused on being a great team. We’re playing for each other and for the University of Miami.”
Miami (13-2, No. 10 seed in the CFP) is playing a championship game on its home field for the fifth time. The Hurricanes won national titles at the now-demolished Orange Bowl to cap the 1983, 1987 and 1991 seasons — Cristobal played in that 1991 game — then lost a title game at the Orange Bowl to wrap up the 1994 season.
Players arrived shortly after Cristobal and were mobbed in a similar fashion, some stopping for photos and quick chats, others being whisked away relatively quickly. Cristobal said he had a meeting to get to Friday evening; other coaches like offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said they were looking forward to a couple of hours off to rest up.
By Saturday at the football complex, it'll be back to work for the coaches.
“We're beyond excited to be able to come back home and play one more time at Hard Rock,” Cristobal said. “It's the final chapter for the season, right? We'll have an opportunity to determine how that chapter ends.”
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Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, center, holds a trophy after winning the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal yells from the sideline during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
ATLANTA (AP) — Undefeated Indiana's already impressive march through the College Football Playoff gained momentum as its dominant defense created three first-half touchdowns with turnovers, Fernando Mendoza threw five scoring passes and the Hoosiers overwhelmed No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal on Friday night.
No. 1 Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) will face No. 10 Miami on Jan. 19 in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Miami beat Mississippi 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday night.
Indiana will try to give the Big Ten its third straight national title, following Ohio State and Michigan the last two seasons. Few teams from any conference can compare with the Hoosiers' season-long demonstration of balanced strong play.
Led by Mendoza and the defense, Indiana is making a case to be considered among the top teams in history.
Though Miami will be home for the national championship game, Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and Miami native, will enjoy a homecoming following an almost perfect game against Oregon. Mendoza completed 17 of 20 passes and the five touchdowns, including two to Elijah Sarratt and a 36-yarder to Charlie Becker.
Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.
Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) was doomed by the three first-half turnovers while also being short-handed by the absence of two of their top running backs.
The Hoosiers led 35-7 at halftime as the Ducks were held to nine rushing yards on 17 carries. Noah Whittington, who leads Oregon with 829 rushing yards, was held out with an undisclosed injury after Jordon Davison, who had rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns, already was listed as out with a collarbone injury.
Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore. Moore's task against Indiana's stifling defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
Indiana's defense didn't wait long to make an impact. On Oregon's first snap, cornerback D'Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore's pass intended for Malik Benson and returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown. Only 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers and their defense already had made a statement this would be a long night for Moore and the Oregon offense.
Moore's 19-yard scoring pass to tight end Jamari Johnson tied the game. The remainder of the half belonged to Indiana and its big-play defense.
After Mendoza's 8-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. gave the Hoosiers the lead for good at 14-7, Indiana's defense forced a turnover when Moore fumbled and Indiana recovered at the Oregon 3, setting up Black's scoring run.
Moore lost a second fumble later in the second quarter when hit by Daniel Ndukwe and Mario Landino recovered at the Oregon 21. Mendoza's first scoring pass to Sarratt gave the Hoosiers' the 35-7 lead.
Indiana extended its lead to 42-7 on Mendoza's 13-yard scoring pass to E.J. Williams Jr.
Oregon finally answered. A 70-yard run by Hill set up a 2-yard scoring run by Harris.
Indiana's special teams added a big play in the fourth quarter when Ndukwe's blocked punt set up Mendoza's second scoring pass to Sarratt.
Following their undefeated regular season, the Hoosiers have only gained momentum in the CFP. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was an honorary captain for Indiana and watched the game from the Hoosiers' sideline. Former Oregon and Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart was the Ducks' honorary captain.
Indiana completed a sweep of two games against Oregon this season. Defense played a lead role in each win. The Hoosiers took a 30-20 win at Oregon on Oct. 11 when Moore threw two interceptions and was sacked six times.
The game was a sellout and the red-clad Indiana fans were almost as dominant as the Hoosiers on the field. Indiana appeared to claim at least 80% of the 75,604 fans.
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Indiana defensive lineman Dominique Ratcliff (91) celebrates his sack during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) carries against Oregon during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) is sacked by Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones (46) and defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe (17) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Indiana defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe (17) pressures Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Indiana wide receiver Makai Jackson (2) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
