Indiana Claims First College Football National Championship in Historic 16-0 Season
The Indiana Hoosiers have secured their first-ever college football national championship, capping off an undefeated 16-0 season. The thrilling victory came on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game, where No. 1 Indiana edged out No. 10 Miami with a final score of 27-21.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza delivered the game’s decisive moment with an incredible touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Mendoza’s daring fourth-down quarterback draw broke the stalemate, providing the Hoosiers with the winning points.
Head coach Curt Cignetti’s strategic decision played a crucial role in the victory. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Cignetti opted to use Indiana’s second timeout and forgo a field goal attempt that would have put the team up by six points. Instead, the aggressive call paid off as Mendoza’s touchdown sealed the win.
Indiana’s perfect 16-0 record marks a historic achievement — the first team to reach 16 wins in a single season at the top level of college football in more than 125 years. The last team to accomplish this feat was Yale, who went 16-0 back in 1894, when college football was in its infancy.
This landmark championship not only signifies Indiana’s arrival on the national stage but also cements their place in college football history. Fans and analysts alike will remember the 2024 Hoosiers as one of the great teams in the sport’s storied tradition.
https://www.salisburypost.com/2026/01/20/college-football-hoosiers-win-first-title/
