#1 Indiana and #10 Miami Battle for the College Football Playoff National Championship The College Football Playoff National Championship Game will be decided tonight at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida as the #1 Indiana Hoosiers and #10 Miami Hurricanes look to be the kings of College Football for the 2025 season with the game televised on ESPN at 7:30 PM. Indiana is 15-0 and makes its first National Championship Game Appearance in Program History and a win tonight would be just the second time that a team has finished a season 16-0 in FBS History joining the Yale Bulldogs in 1894. The Hoosiers are the only team in the 12 Team College Football Playoff Format to win the first game as a top four seed and advance to the National Championship Game. Miami is 13-2 overall and makes its first appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The Hurricanes are looking for its sixth National Title and first since 2001 and become the first team in the BCS/College Football Playoff era to play for a National Title in its home stadium. Miami won the National Title in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2001. The Hurricanes have four unclaimed National Championships in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 2000.
Indiana has been dominating the last two games as the Hoosiers rolled over the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 in the Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and #5 Oregon Ducks 56-22 in the Semifinals at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. Indiana made its third appearance in the Peach Bowl and came away it’s its first Peach Bowl Victory after losing to Tennessee 27-22 in 1987 and Auburn 27-23 in 1990. Indiana had won just three Bowl Games in its History prior to this season. The Hoosiers beat BYU 38-37 in the 1979 Holiday Bowl under coach Lee Corso and Bill Mallory led the Hoosiers to a 34-10 over South Carolina in the 1988 Liberty Bowl and the 1991 Copper Bowl shutting out Baylor 24-0. Miami has been the underdog as the last team to get into the College Football Playoff Field as the Hurricanes 27-24 win over Notre Dame to start the season gave them the edge over the Irish in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Committee when selecting the field. The Hurricanes have embraced the underdog role knocking off #7 Texas A&M 10-3 in College Station and then defending National Champion and #2 Ohio State 24-14 in the Quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. The Hurricanes beat #6 Ole Miss 31-27 in the Semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona to reach the National Championship Game its own stadium.
Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti is 26-2 in his second season in Bloomington and is 60 minutes away from completing one of the biggest turnarounds in all of sports. The Hoosiers had the most losses all-time in FBS Football History until this season with 719. The Hoosiers have won 528 games and have 46 ties and have continued to change the narrative that comes with the history of Indiana Football. The Hoosiers won their third Big Ten Championship and first since 1967. In 1945 Indiana won its first Big Ten Championship with a 9-0-1 record which is the only other season the Hoosiers finished a season without a loss. Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal is 35-18 in his fourth season in charge of the Hurricanes and 97-78 overall coaching at Florida International from 2007-12 and Oregon from 2018-21 before coming back to his hometown and alma mater. The 55-year-old played offensive tackle for the Hurricanes from 1989-1992 and won two national championships and now he looks to become the first coach to win a national championship as a player and a coach. Miami is 685-393-19 all time since 1926 and 22-24 in Bowl Games. The Hurricanes won 9 Big East Championships starting in 1991 and ending in 2003 and 2017 ACC Costal Division Title.
This will be a homecoming for Fernando and Alberto Mendoza along with D’Angelo Ponds and Jamari Sharpe who all hail from Miami. The Mendoza’s played at Christopher Columbus HS, Ponds played at Chaminade-Madonna and Sharpe played at Northwestern HS and now have a chance to complete a perfect season with a National Championship in their hometown in front of family and friends. Amare Farrell, Sean Cuono, Rolijah Hardy and Myles Kendrick all return to their home state to play for National Championship. Farrell is from Lake City, Couno is from Clearwater, Hardy is from Lakeland and Kendrick is from Jacksonville. Miami has 57 players from the State of Florida and 16 from the City of Miami. Wide Receiver Joshisa Trader and Defensive Back Chris Ewald Jr. played at Chaminade-Madonna. Defensive Back Bryce Fitzgerald, Offensive Lineman Ryan Rodriguez and Defensive Lineman Daylen Russell played at Christopher Columbus. Head Coach Mario Cristobal, Offensive Line Coach Alex Mirabal and Fernando Mendoza Sr. played and won a State Championship for Christopher Columbus HS as there are many connections between these two programs.
This will be the third all-time meeting between Indiana and Miami as both teams split the first two meetings and both came in Miami. The Hoosiers won 28-14 on October 24, 1964, and the Hurricanes won 14-7 on October 22, 1966. This one is for all the marbles and whoever wins the game it will be one for the history books. For Miami it’s a return to the glory days of a program who was at the top for a long time and fell to the bottom and worked its way back to the top. For Indiana it’s a chance to silence all the critics once and for all as the Hoosiers look to complete the mission that Hoosier Nation only dream about and now 60 minutes away from making that dream a reality.
Central Indiana Dick’s Sporting Goods and Rally House Stores Will Stay Open Late Tonight if Indiana Wins the National Championship As the anticipation for the College Football Playoff National Championship game between Indiana and Miami builds, national retailers are planning for an IU win. Dick’s Sporting Goods says that if IU defeats Miami tonight select stores in the greater Indianapolis and Bloomington areas will stay open late and immediately begin offering Hoosiers championship merchandise. The company did not specify how late they would stay open, but they did say stores would re-open early, beginning at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20 and continue selling championship merchandise.
Here are the locations set to stay open late and re-open early: Greenwood Park Mall, 1251 U.S. 31 N., Greenwood, College Mall, 2850 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, Hamilton Town Center, 13157 Norell Lane, Noblesville, Clay Terrace, 14350 Clay Terrace Boulevard, Carmel, Castleton Square Mall, 6020 E. 82nd St., Indianapolis, The Shoppes at Anson North, 6039 Perry Worth Road, Whitestown and The Shops at Perry Crossing, 338 City Center Circle, Plainfield. Additionally, fans in Evansville will also have a chance to get Hoosiers championship merchandise as the company says it will also stay open late and re-open early at its East Lloyd Commons location at 6200 E. Lloyd Expressway.
Rally House also announced the following locations will reopen Monday night if IU wins the national championship: Rally House Clearwater Springs 5025 E. 82nd St., Suite 2000 Indianapolis, IN 46250 Rally House Southport Commons 4850 E. Southport Road, Suite J Indianapolis, IN 46237 Rally House Plainfield Commons 2683 E. Main St., Suite 103 Plainfield, IN 46168 Rally House Hamilton Town Center 14002 Hoard Drive, Suite 800 Noblesville, IN 46060 Rally House Eastland Plaza 2544 E. 3rd St. Bloomington, IN 47401 Rally House Evansville Pavilion 6501 E. Lloyd Expressway Evansville, IN 47715
#23 Indiana University Wrestling takes down Maryland at Wilkinson Hall No. 23 Indiana secured a victory in their Big Ten home-opener against Maryland on Sunday as Indiana won decisively 26-12. The Hoosiers took six of the ten bouts Sunday afternoon. Indiana is now 6-2 and 1-1 in Big Ten competition. Indiana took a decisive opening win with Jacob Moran’s (125) victory over Presden Sanchez in a tech fall, 20-4 (5:39). Indiana and Maryland then traded wins up to intermission. Bryce Lowery (157) capped the front-half of competition by pinning (7:00) Michael Pizzuto in the final seconds of the third period. No. 20 Tyler Lillard (165) did not allow AJ Rodrigues much room as Lillard won in a major decision, 19-5. Orlando Cruz (174) maintained control of the mat in his win over Seth Digby by decision, 8-3. No. 14 Sam Goin didn’t allow any attacks to get close in a 13-2 major decision victory. Maryland concluded the match with two victories at 197 and heavyweight. Maryland’s No. 15 Branson John defeated No. 13 Gabe Sollars in the only ranked matchup of the day. The win gives Indiana its first victory in Big Ten play of the season. Jacob Moran‘s (125) victory moves his overall record to 10-1. Bryce Lowery (157) secured his first win by pin of the season.
No. 20 Tyler Lillard (165) notched his ninth win of 2026. Indiana will hit the road next for a dual at No. 1 Penn State on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
#10 Indiana University Women’s Water Polo knocks off #8 UC Irvine No. 10 Indiana completed its opening weekend with another Top 10 win in an 8-7 victory over No. 8 UC Irvine at Polopalooza on Sunday morning at the Fresno State Aquatic Center in Fresno, California. Senior goalie Jasmine Higgs recorded four saves in the first quarter alone as Indiana (2-0) and UC Irvine played to a 1-1 tie. Sophomore Nancy Baylor-Sefchick connected on a pass from sophomore Olivia Harris.
Senior Nicole Tyner connected on a goal off the sprint win by senior Grace Klingler to go up 2-1 early in the second. A 5-meter penalty goal by the Anteaters with 1:30 to go was the difference at the breaks as they led 3-2. Indiana had a pair of goals early and late in the third quarter, but UC Irvine used the middle portion to go up by two, 6-4, headed to the fourth. Early in the stanza, senior Louisa Downes hit the back of the net as sophomore Olivia Harris followed up with a goal of her own to tie the game at 6-all with 4:46 to go. The two teams traded scores with the game at 7-7 with 3:30 to go on a freshman Kylie Williams goal, freshman Kaitlin Elias broke the tie with 30 seconds remaining on a shot from the left side. UC Irvine had one final chance with 11 seconds to go but their attempt went off the cross bar.
Indiana completed opening weekend with a 2-0 record and two wins over CWPA Top 10 ranked teams (No. 7 Fresno State, No. 8 UC Irvine). The Hoosiers also beat UC Irvine for the first time since 2004. Higgs finished with 15 saves in the win and also had an assist. Seven different Hoosiers scored goals with freshman Kaitlin Elias leading the way with two goals – the first two of her IU career. Williams finished with a team-high four steals, a goal and field block. Harris, Downes and freshman Audrina Kang finished with a team-high two assists each. The Hoosiers are back in action at the Bruno Invite hosted by Brown on Jan. 24-26 in Providence, R.I.
Indy Ignite Women’s Volleyball Beats the Columbus Fury in a Five Set Thriller to Improve to 2-0 The Indy Ignite added another win under their belt after defeating the Columbus Fury at the Fishers Event Center. After a five-set battle, the Ignite won by scores of 25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25 and 22-20 to advance to 2-0 in the Major League Volleyball season. It marked the third time that the Ignite and Fury went to five sets dating to last season, officials said, and the Ignite are a 3-0 on those marathon matches. “I hope you guys enjoyed the show,” Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci said at the post-match news conference. “The main point for us is we are playing tough; we are playing mentally tough. We’re really working through some stuff right now, as is every team, but we’re trying not to let it bother us. I think the girls are embodying that really well. We got some catches in key moments, and we were able to take them. Things can go either way, that was a great game – by Columbus as well. I’m just proud that we’re sticking in the points and sticking in the game.”
Setter Mia Tuaniga finished with 61 kills and 10 digs, outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh had 23 kills and eight digs, outside hitter Anna DeBeer had 21 kills, opposite hitter Azhani Tealer had 12 kills, libero Elena Scott had 16 digs and middle blocker Lydia Martyn had 10 kills. “It didn’t feel on the court like anyone was even worried about the score,” Member-Meneh added. “It was just next play, next play, next play. We’re not going to take anything off, we’re going to keep swinging, we’re going to make sure our lineups are correct, we’re going to keep digging…We didn’t shy away from the situation and we just kept putting our foot on the pedal.” The Ignite’s next game is Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. ET when they play at Orlando. The game will stream live on WTHR+.
Franklin, Indiana Native Emerson Axsom wins the Chilli Bowl Nationals For the first time since 2007, a native Hoosier has won a “Golden Driller” trophy. Franklin native Emerson Axsom won Saturday night’s A-Main of the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals after surviving a late-race restart and holding off the hard-charging Kevin Thomas Jr. and Logan Seavey. Axsom started second in the A-Main behind two-time defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, three-time defending Chili Bowl A-Main winner and 2024 Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Larson. It was just the fourth time in Axsom’s career that he made the Chili Bowl A-Main, and he wasted no time getting around Larson, setting sights on victory. “I feel like I’m dreaming. This is the best day of my life,” said Axsom in Victory Lane after the race. “I knew Kyle (Larson) was gonna be good and I didn’t want to let him get out front because I feel like, as a driver, I’m better if I can control the race. I found the top and as soon as (Larson) moved up, man, I was throwing a bomb, and I was gonna race him as hard I could. I didn’t care if it was lap five or not.”
The race began with a thrilling battle for the lead between Axsom and Larson. Larson lost the lead to Axsom on the fifth lap and appeared to be biding his time as he followed the Hoosier driver around the 1/5th-mile dirt oval inside the Tulsa Expo Center. However, on the 16th lap, Larson’s race came to a screeching halt. As the leaders rounded Turns 1 and 2, they began passing lapped traffic. The leaders split the lapped car of C.J. Leary as Larson exited the second turn and on to the short backstretch. Larson suddenly found himself with nowhere to go but into the back tires of Leary, flipping his No. 1K over and onto its side. The flip heavily damaged Larson’s front axel, forcing the three-time and defending main event winner to retire from the race. As the race restarted, Axsom kept the lead and eventually pulled out to a one-second advantage just before halfway. However, with 28 laps to go, that advantage was nullified when the caution flag flew after Jett Barnes hit the wall while running the top. While the Franklin native kept the top spot on the restart, Logan Seavey and Justin Grant stayed on his bumper as each driver sought to take over the lead. Each time Seavey and Grant began fighting, it allowed Axsom to once again pull away.
However, the cautions kept flying. Any lead Axsom gained quickly became void. A restart with six laps to go set up a thrilling battle between Axsom and Seavey. Axsom, who appeared to have the faster car, kept trying to pull away, but Seavey was having none of it. With just two laps to go, Seavey pulled alongside Axsom down the backstretch, heading into Turn 3. The two drivers made slight contact heading into the turn, which allowed third place Justin Grant to suddenly catch the leaders. As Grant took to the high line into Turn 3, Axsom and Seavey made contact again, sending Seavey’s car up into Grant’s, which sent Grant’s car onto the cushion, into the wall and upside down to bring out a caution just before the leaders took the white flag. That set up a two-lap shootout between Axsom and Seavey. Axsom got a great restart and threw a block on Seavey exiting Turn 2. That gave him just enough of an advantage to hold on to the lead until the checkered flag flew.
“I can’t believe I’m 21-years-old and I just won the Chili Bowl!” Axsom said in Victory Lane after the race. Axsom became the first Hoosier to win the Chili Bowl’s A-Main since Tony Stewart won his second in 2007. Alabama’s Kevin Thomas Jr. was credited with second place while North Carolina’s Hank Davis finished third after passing Logan Seavey, who finished fourth, on the final lap. Other Hoosier drivers in the field included Lebanon’s Spencer Bayston, who finished ninth, Greenfield’s C.J. Leary, who finished 13th, and Princeton’s Kyle Cummins, who finished 19th. NASCAR Cup driver Christopher Bell finished eighth while Kyle Larson was credited with 23rd.
Local Figure Skaters Showcase Their Talents Inspired by Olympians Headed to Italy Next Month The countdown is on to the Olympics next month where figure skating will be on the world stage. On Saturday, local figure skaters were at Holliday Park showcasing their abilities while taking inspiration from Olympians headed to Italy. Two figure skaters from Lincoln Center Skate Club in Columbus showcased their routine, which they learned through hours of practice every week. “It’s fun just showing what you can do,” figure skater Giuliana Mackos said.
Their motivation is fueled by pros like Team USA member Alysa Liu, who will perform at the Winter Olympics. Michelle Study-Campbell, the Indiana Council of Figure Skating Clubs treasurer, was in St. Louis when the figure skaters on Team USA were announced. “To know that there’s figure skating around the United States in every single state and right here in our own backyard in Indianapolis — so much fun,” Study-Campbell said. She said figure skating is a great way for people to be active, regardless of their goals. Through programs like Learn to Skate USA, she said people of all ages can learn how to get around on the ice.
“I feel like to get to the level you want to be at, you have to put in a lot more hours than people think,” figure skater Rose Cat Campbell said. Six figure skating clubs from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Columbus and Evansville took part in the second-annual Indiana Skate-Up. “I just love being a part of it and I love watching it on TV, too,” figure skater Vivianne Bernas said. “Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn and everyone who’s just fantastic. They’re really inspiring and what keeps me going.” Those Olympians are just weeks away from continuing to inspire generations of figure skaters. If you are interested in learning how to skate, lessons are offered across Indianapolis, including every Saturday and Monday at Holliday Park.