Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Indiana’s CFP run ends with historic title

The story of a lifetime: Indiana's unthinkable path to college football greatness provided a blueprint to saving the sport. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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Sports

Tue Jan 20 2026

 
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts with the trophy after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The story of a lifetime: Indiana's unthinkable path to college football greatness provided a blueprint to saving the sport.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes into the end zone for a touchdown against Miami during the College Football Playoff national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Jan. 19, 2026.
 

Inside the play call that carried Indiana to its first national title

Indiana took home the college football national title with one play call by Curt Cignetti and one run by Fernando Mendoza,

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks with head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills after a 27-15 Steelers win during a preseason game at Acrisure Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
 

NFL's coaching carousel devolving into absurd shell game

Apparently, winning in the NFL isn't enough. Apparently, winning consistently in the NFL, and doing it with class, isn't enough.

Indiana running back Roman Hemby celebrates after his team defeated Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Jan. 19, 2026.
 

Indiana leads final NCAA Re-Rank 1-136 after winning national title

Indiana wins the college football national championship and leads the final NCAA 1-136. Where do the rest of the teams fall?

Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) races after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
 

'Holy smokes!' Hoosiers vividly describe Fernando Mendoza's TD run

'It's just going to be on repeat in my head for the rest of my life.' Fernando Mendoza's touchdown run, as told by his Indiana teammates.

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) holds his right knee as he goes down with an injury during the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on Jan. 19, 2026.
 

Warriors star suffers season-ending torn ACL injury, per report

Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL in a season-ending injury in the Warriors' 135-112 victory against the Heat, ESPN reported.

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates with his teammates after rushing for a touchdown Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
 

Don't cheapen Indiana football's national championship with Curt Cignetti

Curt Cignetti brought to life Indiana's corpse of a program. In two years, he turned a doormat into royalty. Incredible, truly.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
 

Fernando Mendoza national title win for Indiana ripples through hometown

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza historic CFP win inspires his hometown of Miami, spotlighting the next generation of high school football players.

Andy Pettitte won five World Series titles with the Yankees.
 

Baseball Hall of Fame on slippery slope? Red flags this year

Beyond Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones, trends to watch in the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame voting announcement.

USA TODAY Sports has crafted a hardcover children's book previewing the Milan and Cortina Winter Games. It is called "Chasing Gold: A Kid's Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics."
 

The perfect gift: USA TODAY's kid's guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics

"Chasing Gold: A Kid's Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics" from USA TODAY will transform screen time into story time with this colorful hardcover book.

 

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