Indiana Hoosiers Football vs Miami Hurricanes Football Match Player Stats

The indiana hoosiers football vs miami hurricanes football match player stats tell the story of a championship game that was much closer than the final six-point margin suggests. Indiana defeated Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff National Championship, completing a perfect 16-0 season and winning the first national championship in program history. The official NCAA record confirms Indiana’s 27-21 victory over Miami in the 2025-26 CFP title game.

For anyone studying the box score, the most important detail is that this was not simply a quarterback-versus-quarterback contest. Miami produced the more explosive rushing performance, while Indiana controlled the game with a heavier rushing workload, timely defensive plays, reliable kicking, and enough late offensive execution to protect its lead.

The numbers make that contrast especially clear. Carson Beck completed 19 of 32 passes for 232 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Miami, while Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards with no touchdown passes and no interceptions. Yet Indiana still won because its overall offensive structure and defense were better suited to the critical moments.

The championship was played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. NCAA records list the title game as No. 1 Indiana against No. 10 Miami, with Indiana becoming national champion after the 27-21 victory.

Table of Contents

Indiana hoosiers football vs miami hurricanes football match player stats

The clearest way to understand the game is to examine the player production category by category rather than focusing only on the final score.

Final score and team snapshot

Category	Indiana Hoosiers	Miami Hurricanes
Final score	27	21
Record entering championship	15-0	13-2
Passing yards	186	232
Rushing yards	131	110
Total offensive yards	317	342
Passing completions	16	19
Passing attempts	27	32
Rushing attempts	45	21
Passing touchdowns	0	1
Rushing touchdowns	2	2
Interceptions thrown	0	0
Defensive interceptions	1	0
Field goals	2/2	0/1
Extra points	3/3	3/3

The table immediately reveals an interesting contradiction.

Miami gained more total yardage, 342 to 317, and produced more passing yards. On a basic yardage comparison, that looks like a Miami advantage.

Indiana nevertheless won by six points.

That is why championship-game analysis cannot stop at total yards.

Indiana was more efficient in converting its opportunities into points. The Hoosiers also avoided turnovers, made two field goals, and produced the decisive interception late in the game.

Those smaller details mattered more than the 25-yard difference in total offense.

Fernando Mendoza’s passing performance

Fernando Mendoza finished with:

16 completions
27 attempts
186 passing yards
0 passing touchdowns
0 interceptions
6.9 yards per attempt
90.6 QBR according to the supplied game data

At first glance, 186 passing yards and zero touchdown passes may not look like a championship-winning quarterback stat line.

Context changes the interpretation.

Mendoza did not need to produce a high-volume passing performance because Indiana leaned heavily on its running game. The Hoosiers attempted 45 rushes compared with 27 pass attempts.

That balance reduced the pressure on Mendoza to make difficult throws on every possession.

It also helped Indiana manage the game.

One of the most important observations from the championship was Mendoza’s ability to make throws when the offense absolutely needed them. NCAA’s championship recap highlighted his connection with Charlie Becker on a crucial third-down completion late in the fourth quarter.

That is an important distinction when evaluating quarterback performance.

A quarterback’s value cannot always be measured by passing touchdowns. A completion on third down with the championship at stake can have more practical value than a routine completion early in the second quarter.

Mendoza’s biggest strength was decision-making

Mendoza’s zero interceptions were particularly important.

Miami’s offense finished with no interceptions as well, but Indiana’s defense eventually produced the turnover that mattered most.

Mendoza’s ability to avoid giving Miami an extra possession allowed Indiana to play from a position of control.

His passing line was therefore efficient rather than spectacular.

That difference matters.

Carson Beck’s passing performance

Carson Beck produced the more productive passing day in raw yardage:

19 completions
32 attempts
232 yards
1 touchdown
1 interception
7.3 yards per attempt
86.2 QBR according to the supplied game data

Beck’s 232 yards represented 46 more passing yards than Mendoza’s 186.

He also threw Miami’s only passing touchdown.

However, the interception became one of the defining plays of the championship.

The timing was critical because Indiana’s defense intercepted Beck late while Miami was attempting to make a final push.

This illustrates why raw passing yardage can be misleading in a one-score championship game.

Beck generated more air production, but Indiana ultimately created the turnover that Miami could not afford.

Miami’s passing game became more effective as the game developed

The halftime numbers provide useful context.

NCAA reported that Indiana led 10-0 at halftime, with Mendoza already at 116 passing yards while Beck had only 49.

That tells us something important about the flow of the game.

Miami’s offense improved after halftime, and Beck eventually finished with 232 passing yards. The Hurricanes therefore made meaningful adjustments and generated enough offense to turn the game into a one-score contest.

The problem was that the improvement came with too little margin for error.

Mark Fletcher Jr. was Miami’s rushing star

Mark Fletcher Jr. was arguably Miami’s most impressive individual offensive player.

His rushing line:

17 carries
112 yards
6.6 yards per carry
2 rushing touchdowns
57-yard longest run

Fletcher alone gained more rushing yards than Indiana’s individual leading rusher, Kaelon Black.

His 112 yards also exceeded Miami’s team passing margin relative to Indiana by a significant amount.

Most importantly, Fletcher produced both of Miami’s rushing touchdowns.

That made him the centerpiece of the Hurricanes’ scoring attack.

The 57-yard run shows Miami’s explosive potential

A 57-yard longest run is not merely a statistical footnote.

It demonstrates that Miami had the ability to create explosive plays against Indiana.

The Hurricanes averaged 5.2 yards per rushing attempt as a team, compared with Indiana’s 2.9 yards per attempt.

That is one of the most striking statistical advantages in the entire game.

Yet Miami still lost.

This is a perfect example of why explosive efficiency must be considered alongside possession management, turnovers, field goals and situational execution.

Indiana’s rushing attack won through volume

Indiana’s rushing numbers were not spectacular on a per-carry basis, but the workload was enormous compared with Miami.

The Hoosiers attempted 45 rushes.

Their listed rushing production included:

Kaelon Black: 17 carries, 79 yards
Roman Hemby: 19 carries, 60 yards
Riley Nowakowski: 1 carry, 1 yard, 1 touchdown
Fernando Mendoza: 7 carries, minus 8 yards, 1 touchdown
Team: 1 carry, minus 1 yard

Indiana finished with 131 rushing yards.

The 2.9 yards-per-carry average is modest, but the strategic value of those 45 attempts was substantial.

Indiana repeatedly asked its offensive line and running backs to stay patient.

Instead of depending on explosive plays, the Hoosiers repeatedly returned to the ground game.

That approach helped reduce Miami’s offensive opportunities and allowed Indiana to maintain a championship-oriented game script.

Kaelon Black provided steady production

Kaelon Black led Indiana in rushing yardage with 79 yards on 17 carries.

His 4.6-yard average was significantly better than Indiana’s overall rushing average.

That suggests his individual production was more efficient than the team number indicates.

Roman Hemby received even more carries, with 19 attempts for 60 yards.

Together, Black and Hemby accounted for 39 of Indiana’s 45 rushing attempts.

That workload shows just how committed Indiana was to controlling the game on the ground.

Roman Hemby’s role was about workload as much as efficiency

Hemby’s 19 carries were the most by any Indiana running back.

His 60 yards worked out to 3.2 yards per carry.

That number will not jump off the page, but it should not be evaluated in isolation.

Running backs are sometimes asked to absorb repeated carries for reasons that do not appear in the box score.

Repeated rushing attempts can:

Keep the clock moving
Reduce the opponent’s possession count
Wear down a defensive front
Create manageable down-and-distance situations
Protect a quarterback
Make play-action opportunities available
Help a team defend a late lead

Indiana’s championship strategy reflected that philosophy.

Malachi Toney was Miami’s receiving standout

Malachi Toney was Miami’s leading receiver by a wide margin.

His production:

10 receptions
122 yards
12.2 yards per reception
1 touchdown
41-yard longest reception

Toney accounted for more than half of Miami’s receptions.

He also caught the Hurricanes’ only passing touchdown.

That combination of volume and explosiveness made him the clear focal point of Miami’s passing attack.

When a receiver reaches double-digit receptions in a championship game, it usually indicates that the quarterback repeatedly trusted him to create separation, move the chains or provide a reliable outlet.

Toney did all three.

CJ Daniels added important secondary production

CJ Daniels finished with:

4 receptions
62 yards
15.5 yards per reception

His average was higher than Toney’s, which shows that Miami had more than one way to attack the Indiana secondary.

Daniels provided explosive receiving efficiency without matching Toney’s volume.

That combination made Miami’s passing attack dangerous despite the early struggles.

Indiana’s receiving production was balanced

Indiana did not have a 100-yard receiver.

Instead, its receiving production was distributed across several players:

Omar Cooper Jr.: 5 receptions, 71 yards
Charlie Becker: 4 receptions, 65 yards
Elijah Sarratt: 3 receptions, 28 yards
Riley Nowakowski: 2 receptions, 17 yards
Roman Hemby: 2 receptions, 5 yards

That distribution matters.

Omar Cooper Jr. led the team in catches and receiving yards.

Charlie Becker was close behind and became particularly important in the decisive fourth-quarter sequence.

Charlie Becker’s late-game impact

Becker’s four receptions produced 65 yards.

That means he averaged 16.3 yards per catch, the highest average among Indiana’s listed primary receivers.

More importantly, his biggest contribution came at the most valuable time.

NCAA’s game recap specifically highlighted Mendoza’s late completion to Becker on third down as a key moment that helped Indiana control the closing minutes.

This is the type of contribution that a conventional box score can understate.

A 19-yard completion on a crucial third down can be worth far more strategically than a 19-yard reception during a possession that eventually ends in a punt.

Defensive statistics tell another story

Miami recorded:

67 total tackles
43 solo tackles
3 sacks
6 tackles for loss
4 passes defended

Indiana recorded:

49 total tackles
33 solo tackles
1 sack
1 tackle for loss
7 passes defended

Miami’s defense was statistically more active in several categories.

The Hurricanes generated three sacks compared with Indiana’s one.

They also produced six tackles for loss compared with Indiana’s one.

That indicates Miami was capable of creating disruption at the line of scrimmage.

Yet Indiana’s defense produced the most important individual defensive play.

Jamari Sharpe’s interception changed the championship

Jamari Sharpe recorded:

6 tackles
5 solo tackles
1 interception
1 pass defended

His interception came during Miami’s late attempt to extend or potentially overturn the game.

NCAA’s championship coverage identified Sharpe’s interception with 44 seconds remaining as a decisive moment that effectively secured Indiana’s title.

This is one of the strongest examples of situational value in the entire box score.

Indiana did not need to dominate defensively for four quarters.

It needed to make the critical stop when Miami’s offense had its final opportunity.

Sharpe delivered it.

Louis Moore and D’Angelo Ponds also contributed

Louis Moore led Indiana with seven tackles, including four solo tackles.

D’Angelo Ponds added five tackles, all solo, along with three passes defended.

Those numbers show that Indiana’s secondary was active throughout the game.

The Hoosiers finished with seven passes defended, three more than Miami.

That statistic becomes particularly meaningful when combined with Sharpe’s interception.

Indiana did not completely shut down Miami’s passing game.

Instead, it challenged enough throws and made enough key plays to prevent the Hurricanes from converting their late opportunity into a comeback.

Miami’s defensive leaders

Mohamed Toure led Miami with 11 tackles, including six solo tackles.

Rueben Bain Jr. added eight tackles, five solo tackles, one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Wesley Bissainthe also recorded eight tackles, including five solo tackles and half a tackle for loss.

Bain’s production stands out because his tackles for loss and sack demonstrate direct disruption.

Miami’s defense was not passive.

It repeatedly created pressure and forced Indiana into difficult situations.

The challenge for the Hurricanes was that the defense needed to maintain that pressure while Indiana continued to use the running game and short, efficient offensive sequences.

Special teams were a major part of the six-point margin

One of the easiest areas to overlook when reading football statistics is kicking.

That would be a mistake in this championship.

Indiana kicker Nico Radicic converted:

2 of 2 field goals
3 of 3 extra points
Long field goal: 35 yards
Total points: 9

Miami kicker Carter Davis converted:

0 of 1 field goals
3 of 3 extra points
Total points: 3

That creates a six-point difference in kicking points.

The final score was also decided by six points.

That does not mean the entire championship can be reduced to field goals.

It does mean Indiana’s kicking performance effectively matched the final winning margin.

In a championship decided by one possession, those points are enormous.

Punting comparison

Miami’s Dylan Joyce punted five times for 234 yards.

His average was 46.8 yards, with a long of 54 and two punts inside the 20.

Indiana’s Mitch McCarthy punted five times for 241 yards.

His average was 48.2 yards, with a long of 55 and two punts inside the 20.

Both punters performed well.

The difference was minimal, but Indiana’s slight edge in average and total punting yards contributed to the field-position battle.

Return-game production

Miami had four kick returns for 79 yards.

Keelan Marion handled three of those returns for 65 yards, averaging 21.7 yards per return.

Chris Wheatley-Humphrey added one return for 14 yards.

Miami also received 25 punt-return yards from Malachi Toney on four returns.

Indiana’s punt-return unit had two listed returns, including Mikail Kamara’s 16-yard return.

The supplied statistics also record a 16-yard Indiana punt-return touchdown.

Because return statistics can depend on how a particular official game feed classifies plays, the safest interpretation is to focus on the supplied team totals and the decisive scoring result rather than attempting to reconstruct every return sequence independently.

Why Miami gained more total yards but still lost

This is perhaps the most useful lesson from the indiana hoosiers football vs miami hurricanes football match player stats.

Miami finished with more total offense.

The Hurricanes passed for 232 yards and rushed for 110, producing 342 total yards.

Indiana passed for 186 and rushed for 131, producing 317 total yards.

Miami therefore held a 25-yard advantage.

But football is not a contest where the team with the most yards automatically wins.

Indiana’s advantages came in other areas.

1. Indiana protected the football

Neither team recorded a fumble.

Indiana also avoided interceptions.

Miami threw one interception.

That gave Indiana the turnover advantage.

2. Indiana converted its field-goal opportunities

Indiana went 2-for-2 on field goals.

Miami went 0-for-1.

That was a direct scoring advantage.

3. Indiana controlled the rushing workload

Indiana ran the ball 45 times.

Miami ran it 21 times.

That 24-attempt difference is enormous.

Even though Miami was more efficient per carry, Indiana was able to dictate a slower, more possession-oriented style.

4. Indiana made the decisive defensive play

Sharpe’s interception arrived at the most important possible time.

The difference between a championship and a potential overtime scenario can be one defensive snap.

5. Indiana executed late

The Hoosiers made important conversions and completions during the closing stages.

NCAA’s recap specifically highlighted Mendoza’s late connection with Becker as Indiana protected its lead.

What the first half tells us

Indiana led 10-0 at halftime.

That score is important because it shows how different the game looked before Miami’s offense adjusted.

NCAA reported that Mendoza had 116 passing yards by halftime while Beck had only 49. The Indiana defense had also extended a remarkable scoreless stretch at that point.

The first half therefore belonged to Indiana.

Miami’s later offensive improvement made the final score competitive, but the Hurricanes spent the second half trying to erase a deficit created early.

That is difficult against a team capable of running the ball 45 times.

The championship was a test of complementary football

The best way to summarize Indiana’s performance is complementary football.

The Hoosiers did not win because every statistical category favored them.

They won because the different parts of the team supported one another.

The offense avoided turnovers and produced enough points.

The running game consumed opportunities.

The passing game delivered timely completions.

The kicker converted every field-goal opportunity.

The defense protected the lead when it mattered.

That combination is much more meaningful than any single box-score category.

What the player stats say about Miami

Miami’s statistics should not be interpreted as evidence that the Hurricanes were completely outplayed.

The numbers show a team that was competitive and dangerous.

Fletcher averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

Toney caught 10 passes for 122 yards.

Beck threw for 232 yards and one touchdown.

The defense recorded three sacks.

The Hurricanes also produced 342 total yards.

Those are not the numbers of an offense or defense that simply collapsed.

Instead, Miami’s biggest issue was the inability to turn enough of its production into points while avoiding the decisive turnover.

What the player stats say about Indiana

Indiana’s numbers tell a different story.

The Hoosiers were more conservative offensively.

Mendoza threw no touchdown passes.

The rushing attack averaged only 2.9 yards per attempt.

The defense generated just one sack.

Yet Indiana finished undefeated and won the national championship.

That demonstrates how effective situational football can overcome less impressive raw efficiency.

The Hoosiers consistently did enough in the moments that mattered.

Most important player performances

Mark Fletcher Jr.

Fletcher was Miami’s standout offensive weapon.

His 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns gave Miami a reliable scoring source and demonstrated his ability to create explosive plays.

Malachi Toney

Toney led Miami with 10 catches and 122 yards while also scoring the team’s passing touchdown.

His 41-yard longest reception showed his big-play ability.

Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza’s 186 passing yards were not overwhelming, but his zero-interception performance and late-game decision-making were crucial.

Kaelon Black

Black led Indiana’s rushing attack with 79 yards on 17 carries.

His 4.6-yard average was solid within Indiana’s run-heavy approach.

Charlie Becker

Becker’s 65 receiving yards were valuable, but his late third-down reception was even more important.

Jamari Sharpe

Sharpe’s interception was the defining defensive moment.

It stopped Miami’s final serious attempt to change the outcome.

A deeper look at efficiency versus volume

One of the biggest mistakes when analyzing college football box scores is treating volume and efficiency as interchangeable.

They are not.

Miami rushed 21 times for 110 yards.

Indiana rushed 45 times for 131 yards.

Miami was much more efficient.

Indiana had much more volume.

Those two approaches produce different game environments.

Miami’s rushing efficiency created explosive opportunities.

Indiana’s rushing volume helped control the structure of the game.

Neither approach is inherently superior.

In this matchup, Indiana’s approach was better suited to protecting a lead.

Why the six-point margin matters

Indiana won 27-21.

That is a one-score game.

The six-point margin tells us Miami was never completely out of the contest.

At the same time, the game was not decided by one random bounce.

Indiana’s advantage was built through several small edges:

Two successful field goals
No interceptions thrown
A late defensive interception
More than twice as many rushing attempts
Timely third-down passing
Strong punting
Effective late-game clock management

When those factors are combined, the final score becomes easier to understand.

How to read these stats correctly

If you are using this game as a reference point for player evaluation, avoid ranking players solely by yardage.

A better process is:

Start with volume.
Examine efficiency.
Check touchdowns.
Look at turnovers.
Consider field position.
Identify third-down contributions.
Evaluate fourth-quarter production.
Consider whether the player’s production directly affected winning possessions.

Using that method, several players who might not lead the traditional statistical categories become much more important.

Becker is a good example.

His four receptions were fewer than Toney’s 10, but his late reception came during a championship-defining possession.

Sharpe is another.

He did not lead Indiana in tackles, but his interception may have been the most valuable defensive statistic of the night.

Why the game belongs in Indiana football history

The significance of this matchup goes beyond the player statistics.

Indiana finished the season 16-0 and captured the national championship for the first time in program history. NCAA described the achievement as the completion of one of college football’s remarkable turnaround stories.

That context makes the individual statistics more meaningful.

The Hoosiers were not simply winning another bowl game.

They were completing an undefeated championship season.

The 27-21 result therefore represents the culmination of an entire season of execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between Indiana and Miami?

Indiana defeated Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The victory gave Indiana its first national championship and completed a 16-0 season.

Who was Miami’s leading rusher?

Mark Fletcher Jr. led Miami with 17 carries for 112 yards and two rushing touchdowns. His longest run went for 57 yards.

Who was Indiana’s leading passer?

Fernando Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards. He threw no touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Who led Miami in receiving?

Malachi Toney led Miami with 10 receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 yards per reception.

Who made the key interception?

Indiana defensive back Jamari Sharpe intercepted Carson Beck late in the game. NCAA’s championship coverage identified the play as a decisive moment in Indiana’s victory.

Which team had more total yards?

Miami had more total offense, with 342 yards compared with Indiana’s 317. Indiana nevertheless won because it converted important scoring opportunities, avoided turnovers and made the decisive defensive play.

Conclusion

The indiana hoosiers football vs miami hurricanes football match player stats show why the 27-21 championship result cannot be explained by total yardage alone.

Miami actually produced more offense.

The Hurricanes passed for 232 yards and rushed for 110. Mark Fletcher Jr. delivered 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Malachi Toney produced 122 receiving yards and one touchdown. Carson Beck also finished with more passing yards than Fernando Mendoza.

Indiana’s advantage came from how its players performed in the situations that carried the greatest value.

The Hoosiers ran the ball 45 times, protected the football, converted both field-goal attempts and received nine points from Nico Radicic. Mendoza avoided interceptions, while Charlie Becker delivered an important late third-down reception. On defense, Jamari Sharpe made the interception that effectively ended Miami’s final opportunity.

The statistics therefore reveal a championship built on complementary execution rather than statistical domination.

Miami was explosive.

Indiana was controlled.

Miami produced more total yardage.

Indiana produced the better scoring profile.

Miami generated more sacks.

Indiana made the interception that mattered most.

That contrast is what makes this championship box score so interesting. The Hoosiers did not need to win every statistical category. They needed to win enough of the important ones at the right moments.

The final result was a 27-21 Indiana victory, an undefeated 16-0 season, and the first national championship in Indiana football history.