Heisman winner and Miami native Fernando Mendoza leads Indiana against the Hurricanes in the national championship game. Why didn't UM recruit him?

The Hoosiers (15-0) and Hurricanes (13-2) play on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for the College Football Playoff championship, a matchup no one would have predicted. While Indiana is the No. 1 seed and has been dominant all season, Miami snuck into the playoffs as the No. 10 seed and has been on another level since.

The two-week window has seen over 10,000 players enter their names into the portal across all levels of college football, which is a decision that works out for some but not all. To some fans, this may seem like a last-minute decision,

On Monday night, Mario Cristobal – a second generation Cuban American, the son and grandson of Cuban exiles, and one-time resident of 6713 SW 25th Street – will lead the University of Miami onto the Hard Rock Stadium field for the College Football Playoff national championship,

The Power 4 conference that didn’t get its champion into the College Football Playoff ended up with another team playing for the national title.

Miami leads the FBS with 47 sacks, and Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor are a formidable pass-rushing duo. Indiana football has options to mitigate them.

Miami football head coach Mario Cristobal recalled playing with Fernando Mendoza's father in high school in Miami.