CFP Title Game Positional Breakdown
All the names to know ahead of tonight's College Football Playoff championship tilt between Indiana & Miami
With the national title game kicking off in Miami tonight, much of the star power in this game is in the 2 head coaches and their heralded transfer quarterbacks. While both teams are extremely talented, they may not possess a ton of players that are household names. Part of that is probably due to the transient nature of college football through the transfer portal. Another factor would be these programs have not exactly been in the spotlight of college football - for Miami in perhaps 2 decades and for Indiana, before last year, probably ever. So with that, here’s a position by position look at the names to know before things kick off tonight in South Florida….
QUARTERBACKS
Indiana: It would be hard to imagine writing a better story than Fernando Mendoza’s lone season with the Hoosiers. The Heisman Trophy winner matched his career high with 5 pass TD in the semifinal win over Oregon as he continues to build on school record with a nation leading 41 pass TD. This is just the 5th time in Big Ten history that a QB has thrown for 40+ pass TD with the previous 4 coming from Ohio State QBs, all since 2018. In their 2 playoff games this season, Mendoza has more pass TD (8) than incompletions (5) and has seen his completion percentage for the season tick up to 73.0, 3rd best in the country. The redshirt junior has thrown for 3,349 yards so far this season, good for the 3rd best season in Indiana history and just 224 yards away from tying Nate Sudfeld’s single-season school record from 2015. And now he gets to play for the national championship, in his hometown of Miami, with younger brother Alberto as his backup.
Miami: While not without a few bumps in the road, Carson Beck has had an incredible season in his one and only year in Miami. The Jacksonville native spent the first 5 years of his career at Georgia and won a pair of national championships (2021, 2022) but sat behind Stetson Bennett both seasons. His Bulldogs’ career ended with a loss in last year’s SEC Championship but his bounce back in South Florida this year has been tremendous. HIs 29 pass TD this year are a career high as is his 73.3 completion percentage which is currently 2nd best in the country this year. With 3,581 pass yards so far this season, Beck has 3 straight seasons with 3,000+ pass yards. After relatively quiet performances in the first 2 rounds with wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State, Beck earned Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP with 268 pass yards and 3 total TD (2 pass, 1 rush) against his old SEC rival Ole Miss. During the ‘Canes current 7-game win streak, he’s thrown 15 pass TD with only 2 interceptions after throwing 6 interceptions in Miami’s 2 losses this season. Backup Emory Williams appeared in 5 games this season, completing 13-of-19 passes without a TD.
RUNNING BACKS
Indiana: With Mendoza’s help (284 yards), Indiana has rushed for a school record 3,275 yards. But the ground game has been dominated by the 2-headed monster at running back of Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. After 4 years at Maryland, Hemby broke 1,000 yards (1,060) for the 1st time in his career this season but only topped 100 yards twice - the season opener against Old Dominion (111 yds) and the regular season finale at Purdue (152). Black followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison and in Year 2 has seen his production explode with 961 rush yards and a team-leading 10 rush TD. In fact, Black is 39 yards away from giving Indiana a pair of 1,000 yard rushers in the same for just the 2nd time in school history (2015). Redshirt freshman Khobie Martin rushed for 505 yards on the season, including a pair of 100+ yard performances early in the season (Indiana State, Illinois) but has just 3 games of more than 10 carries.
Miami: In what was thought to be a 3-headed monster in the preseason, Mark Fletcher Jr. has emerged as the lead back to give Miami a 1,000-yard rusher in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 3 different backs rushed for 1,000+ from 2000-02. Fletcher is averaging 131.7 rush YPG in the postseason but his only touchdown in the CFP has come on a pass reception after rushing for 10 scores in the regular season. The junior needs 81 yards to tie the CFP’s single-season record set by Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott in 2014 (476 yds). Miami is 5-0 this season when Fletcher rushes for 100+ yards and is the first Hurricane RB to have 5 games breaking the century mark since 2016. North Dakota State transfer CharMar “Marty” Brown has been a quality #2 behind Fletcher, rushing for 469 yards and 7 scores while adding 2 more receiving touchdowns. Brown has reached the end zone in each of the last 2 games after not getting a carry in the A&M game. Jordan Lyle, who started the opener against Notre Dame and was expected to be a big part of the running game, left the season opener with an ankle injury and has been limited to just 6 games this season and no more than 7 carries or 24 yards in any of his appearances. True freshman Girard Pringle Jr., who rushed for 116 yards against NC State in his 1st career start with Fletcher out, has only had 4 carries in the 3 CFP games for 13 yards.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Indiana: It’s another dynamic duo for the Hoosiers at receiver with Biletnikoff semifinalists Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt. They are 1 of just 9 pairs in college football history where both receivers have at least 60 receptions, 800+ receiving yards and 13+ receiving touchdowns in the same season. Another JMU transfer, Sarratt injured his hamstring early in the Week 10 game at Maryland, missing the next 2 games, but has reached the end zone in all 4 games since returning and his 15 receiving touchdowns are 1 short of the school’s single-season record set by James Hardy in 2007. Cooper is 3rd on that list with his 13 touchdown grabs and had one in each of the 3 games Sarratt missed including the dramatic game-winner at Penn State. Cooper had a monster game in Week 3 against Indiana State where he tied the school record for rec TD in a game (4) while also marking the 9th 200-yard game (207) in program history. Senior E.J. Williams entered the transfer portal after playing only 4 games last year but decided to return and hauled in 36 catches and 6 TD (his first scores since 2020 with Clemson). Charlie Becker has 30 receptions this season but 23 of those have come in the last 6 games where he’s logged 3 games with 100+ rec yards and has a score in each one of the playoff games.
Miami: After losing their top 4 receivers from last year, the ‘Canes reloaded at the WR position this year. The big haul was true freshman Malachi Toney, aka Baby Jesus, who set the school’s single-season receptions record with 99 so far, breaking the record of 85 set by Xavier Restrepo in 2023. With 1 more catch, he’ll become the 8th player in ACC history with 100 catches in a season and has the 8th 1,000 yard receiving season in Miami history (the 1st by a freshman). The ACC Freshman of the Year has 6 receiving touchdowns in the last 6 games and has even thrown for 2 scores this season. BYU transfer Keelan Marion has more catches (56) and rec yards (740) than he did the previous 2 years combined with the Cougars. LSU transfer CJ Daniels has 46 receptions for 495 yards this season with 7 touchdowns after not finding the end zone on 42 catches the previous year with the Tigers.
TIGHT ENDS
Indiana: 6th year senior Riley Nowakowski transferred in from Wisconsin this season and surpassed his previous career totals in just his 1 year in Bloomington. A former LB his first 2 years with the Badgers, Nowakowski has at least 1 catch in 13 of their 15 games and enters the title game with 30 receptions for 370 yards with 2 touchdowns. Holden Staes, who joined the program this year after stops at Tennessee and Notre Dame, has just 7 catches this year but 2 of them for scores.
Miami: The Canes have relied on a pair of tight ends this season even though neither of their numbers really jump off the stat sheet. Sophomore Elija Lofton has 23 catches for 218 yards and 3 scores while Tulane transfer Alex Bauman has 17 receptions for 144 yards and 1 touchdown. However, 7 of Bauman’s 17 catches have come in the last 4 games.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Indiana: Finalists for the Joe Moore Award this season as the nation’s top OL unit, the Hoosiers have had the benefit of mostly good health with 3 of their 5 regulars starting all 15 games and the other 2 starting 11 each. Left tackle Carter Smith has started 40 straight games since the start of the 2023 season and earned the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. Pat Coogan, who started at center for Notre Dame in last year’s title game, was the Rose Bowl Offensive MVP for this year’s Hoosiers. Bray Lynch and Drew Evans are returning starters from last year while Kahlil Benson returned to the Hoosiers after playing for Colorado in 2024. Zen Michalski, who was on last year’s Ohio State national title team, has gotten starts this season at both LG and RT.
Miami: No surprise that a big strength of a Mario Cristobal team is the offensive line and they were 1 of 8 FBS teams to start every game of the regular season with the same OL combination. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa was a consensus 1st team All-American, leading a unit that has allowed an FBS low 73 negative plays on offense despite playing in 15 games so far this season. Left tackle Markel Bell did not allow a sack all year on 524 pass blocking snaps. Center James Brockemeyer and right guard Anez Cooper both earned 2nd team All-ACC honors. Left guard Matt McCoy was the only starter to miss a game this season, in the quarterfinals against Ohio State, with Samson Okunlola filling in.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Indiana: The defensive line is the one unit for the Hoosiers most impacted by injuries this season but their depth has carried them through it. Maryland transfer Kellan Wyatt had 8.0 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 6 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Michigan State. Kent State transfer Stephen Daley stepped up in Wyatt’s absence and led the Big Ten with 19.0 TFL before he was injured in the postgame celebration of the Big Ten Championship. Texas State transfer Dominique Ratcliff has taken over that role in the playoffs and Daniel Ndukwe had 2 sacks in the Peach Bowl. No such injury issues with Mikail Kamara, who led FBS in total pressures in 2024, with 3.5 of his 7 TFL this season coming in the last 4 games. Tyrique Tucker, another JMU transfer, had a breakout season in Year 2 with the Hoosiers by racking up 12.0 TFL and 6.0 sacks. Mario Landino has 5.0 sacks this season and recovered 2 fumbles in the Peach Bowl win over Oregon, the first 2 of his career. Landino split starts at NG with Hosea Wheeler who has 4.0 TFL of his own.
Miami: ACC Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Bain, Jr. leads one of the best defensive lines in the country. The consensus All-American tied the CFP single-game record with 3 sacks in the win over Texas A&M and has 8.5 sacks and 13 TFL on the season. The other half of the DE combo, Akheem Mesidor, joined Bain on the All-ACC 1st team defense. Mesidor leads the team with 15.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks this season while his 33.5 career sacks is tops among all active FBS players. 3 players have started for Miami at the 2 interior spots. Ahmad Moten Sr., who was a 2nd team All-ACC pick, injured his ankle in the quarterfinals against Ohio State but did return for the semis with Ole Miss. Justin Scott, a former 5-star recruit, filled in for Moten when his missed 2 games in the midseason and then stayed in the starting lineup when Moten returned as David Blay Jr. went down with injury. All 3 have been on the field in the playoff. Redshirt freshman Daylen Russell, who played in 5 games this season, entered the transfer portal at the end of the regular season and is headed to Louisville for 2026.
LINEBACKERS
Indiana: The linebacker unit is exceptional and led by 1st team All-American Aiden Fisher who was 1 of 3 Power 4 players this season to have at least 90 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions. The JMU transfer has a TFL in each of the playoff games this year. Rolijah Hardy followed up his breakout 2024 true freshman season by making the All-Big Ten 2nd team as a sophomore. Hardy leads the team in tackles (98) and sacks (8.0) and is 3rd on the team with 15.0 TFL. Isaiah Jones started the 2 games Fisher missed due to injury and 5 more when the team started 3 LBs but played plenty this season as he is 7th on the team in defensive snaps. Jones is 2nd on the team and 5th in the Big Ten with 15.5 TFL and 2nd on the team with 7 sacks.
Miami: The Hurricanes added what would be their leading tackler out of the transfer portal in Mo Toure, who played his first 6 seasons at Rutgers. In fact, Toure played for Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman with the Scarlet Knights when he was Rutgers’ LB coach in 2022-23. At the other linebacker spot is Wesley Bissainthe, a senior who’s played his entire career for the ‘Canes. Bissainthe actually had a huge hit on Fernando Mendoza in last year’s Cal/Miami game late in the 4th quarter of the Hurricanes comeback win in Berkeley. Raul “Popo” Aguirre had 1 start this season in place of Bissainthe and had 42 tackles on the season.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Indiana: Consistency has also been key in the Hoosiers defensive backfield with nearly the same starters in every game. 1st team All-American D’Angelo Ponds is the leader of the unit and the Defensive MVP of both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl. His Pick 6 on the opening play against Oregon was the 2nd defensive TD in Indiana postseason history. Jamari Sharpe manned the other corner spot and leads the team with 4 forced fumbles and paces the Hoosier DBs with 6 TFL. 1st team All-American safety Louis Moore leads the team with 6 interceptions including one in the win at Oregon and another in the Big Ten title game win over Ohio State. At the other safety, Amare Ferrell has started 27 of the 28 games the last 2 seasons and has 4 interceptions in each of the past 2 seasons. Devan Boykin causes havoc with his versatility with 6 TFL and a sack while picking off 2 passes with 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Miami: The portal has been kind to the Miami secondary, with Auburn transfer Keionte Scott playing a huge role at the nickel. A Thorpe Award semifinalist, Scott has 13 TFL with 5 sacks this season while adding 2 interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns. After getting injured in the Syracuse game, he returned for the 1st round win at Texas A&M where he had 10 tackles, 3 TFL and 2 sacks. The next week against Ohio State, he returned a Julian Sayin interception 72 yards in the 2nd quarter for a score to put Miami up 14-0. Wisconsin transfer Xavier Lucas has started most of the season at CB and leads the team with 8 PBU but will sit out the 1st half of the championship game after a targeting penalty in the 2nd half of the Fiesta Bowl. Zechariah Poyser was a freshman All-American at Jacksonville State in 2024 and is 4th on this year’s Miami team with 62 tackles while starting every game. Safety Jakobe Thomas, who was at Tennessee last year after starting his career at Middle Tennessee State, also started every game and is 2nd on the team with 70 tackles while adding 5 interceptions. Washington State transfer Ethan O’Connor made 5 starts at CB this season including all 3 of the CFP games. The ‘Canes have plenty of home grown talent as well with true freshman Bishop Fitzgerald tied for 2nd in the country with 6 interceptions this season with 2 of them coming in the win over A&M, including the game-sealing pick in the back of the end zone. OJ Frederique Jr., a freshman All-American last season, started the first 7 games of this season and then started the quarterfinal against Ohio State.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Indiana: Nico Radicic, the Big Ten Kicker of the Year, connected on all of his FBS leading 84 extra point attempts this season while connecting on 16 of his 17 field goal tries. He’s made all 155 of his career extra point attempts, tied for the 3rd longest streak in Big Ten history. UCF transfer Mitch McCarthy is the lone punter on the roster and at 27 years old, the 4th oldest player in FBS this season. In the return game, both Jonathan Brady and D’Angelo Ponds have returned a punt for a TD this season while Roman Hemby is the main kick returner, averaging 22.6 yards on his 9 returns with a long of 34.
Miami: The kicking game has not been one of Miami’s strengths as FAU transfer Carter Davis is 17-of-23 on the season and just 3-of-7 in the CFP. Davis is 10-of-11 on kicks shorter than 40 yards and has converted all 49 of his extra points. Dylan Joyce has handled the punting with a 44.2 AVG and 21 of his 49 punts have been inside the 20. The Hurricanes have not returned a kick or punt for a touchdown this season but Malachi Toney has been solid on punt returns (14.4 AVG) while Keelan Marion has done well on kickoffs with a 25.3 AVG.
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