CFP National Championship: Miami and Indiana reach title game after offseason moves

No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami meet in the CFP National Championship after several key offseason staff, transfer and roster decisions helped both programs reach the game. The championship is scheduled for Monday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Indiana and Miami will meet in the College Football Playoff National Championship after seasons that exceeded preseason expectations. Both programs were not ranked higher than 10 in the AP Top 25 heading into 2025, yet offseason staff hires, transfers and returning veterans are reported as catalysts for their runs. The title game is set for Monday in Miami Gardens, Florida. This piece outlines the specific moves credited with getting each team to the championship. Notable offseason moves: - Indiana added quarterback transfers, including Kurtis Rourke, and a transfer widely described as Mendoza, who threw for 3,349 yards and a reported 41 touchdowns in the season cited by the article. - Indiana kept a core coaching group and many players together after prior time at James Madison, while adding running back Roman Hemby and offensive-line transfers such as Kahlil Benson and center Pat Coogan, who the article notes won Rose Bowl MVP. - Miami replaced its defensive coordinator with Corey Hetherman, a move linked in the article to a jump from No. 67 to No. 4 in defensive FEI and to leading the ACC in total and scoring defense. - Miami benefited from recruiting and development of freshman playmaker Toney, who is reported as a primary offensive contributor and delivered several 100-yard games and key performances in major wins. - Veteran contributions also mattered for Miami: sixth-year defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor returned and, alongside Rueben Bain Jr., is credited with high tackles-for-loss and sack totals that the article highlights as crucial in playoff wins. Summary: The article reports that targeted transfers, coaching hires and veteran returns played central roles in Indiana's and Miami's unexpected runs to the CFP title game. The championship matchup is scheduled for Monday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Undetermined at this time.