After a long season, the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship has arrived.
The final match of the CFP saw a battle between two teams that took different paths to the championship. Indiana, which entered this season the all-time losingest team in the sport at the Division I level, looks to pull off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in history with a thrilling finish. After an 11-2 first season under coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers cracked the college football circuit in their sophomore campaign. They enter the title game as the No. 1 seed with a 15-0 record and an average margin of victory of 34.5 points in their first two playoff games.
Miami is hoping to bring one of the most storied programs in the sport back to the top of the mountain. “The U” won five national titles in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, featuring future NFL stars such as Ray Lewis and Reggie Wayne. In contrast to Indiana’s dominance, Hurricanes graduate Mario Cristobal brought his alma mater back to the championship game with a series of impressive performances. Miami was one of the last teams selected for the bracket, and in each of its three playoff games it either scored or blocked a game-changing touchdown in the final minute.
Although the Hoosiers are 7.5-point favorites on DraftKings, the Hurricanes will have at least one advantage — they’ll be playing in familiar territory, as the tournament will be held at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Stadium.
With an entry price of over $3,000, it’s clear that the demand from both fan bases to watch the title clash is very high. Here are the best sights and sounds from South Florida ahead of the 2026 title game.