It all comes down to this. The Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes will compete in Monday night’s prime-time college football national championship game. NFL talent will litter the field, ranging from Indiana quarterback and presumptive first overall 2026 draft pick Fernando Mendoza to three likely first rounders for Miami — right tackle Francis Mauigoa plus edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. You can bet the New Orleans Saints will be watching. Here’s how to watch and who to scout.
When is CFP national championship game? Indiana vs Miami start time
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ET
- Date: Monday, Jan. 19
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
The national championship game will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN.
Indiana Hoosiers draft prospects to watch
When the Indiana Hoosiers have the ball, keep a close eye on wide receiver Elijah Sarratt. The projected second-round pick has caught 62 passes for 802 yards and a nation-leading 15 touchdowns this year, and he could be an ideal compliment for Chris Olave given his larger frame (listed at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds). His fellow wideout Omar Cooper Jr. is also seen as a top-100 prospect with 64 receptions for 866 yards and 13 touchdowns. Left tackle Carter Smith made a statement by pushing the talented Alabama and Oregon defensive lines leading up to this championship game.
As for the Hoosiers defense? Undersized cornerback D’Angelo Ponds reminds you of Asante Samuel Jr. as a slightly-built but intensely physical defensive back. He hasn’t allowed a touchdown catch in coverage all season while missing just two tackles. He’s a likely top-100 pick and would fit like a glove in Staley’s secondary. Edge rusher Mikail Kamara is another one to watch. While he’s had a down year in sacks (just two of them) he’s been as disruptive as ever with 57 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus. He’s projected to be drafted early on Day 3.
Miami Hurricanes draft prospects to watch
The Miami Hurricanes defenses include top-100 prospects like edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor as well as nickel cornerback Keionte Scott; while Bain is the only one seen as a top-10 pick, his unique body type and notoriously short arms may give the Saints pause if he’s on the board. Scott would be a natural replacement at cornerback if slot specialist Alontae Taylor leaves in free agency. Mesidor broke out this season with a team-leading 10.5 sacks, totaling 15.5 tackles for loss in 14 games. He’s beginning to pop up in mock drafts as a late first-round pick.
But when the Hurricanes have the ball, the blue-chip player to watch is right tackle Francis Mauigoa, a consensus first round prospect who some experts predict could go as high as second overall. While his raw numbers won’t blow you away, former LSU wide receiver CJ Daniels is feisty and has shown good hands, going 11-of-15 on contested catches this year. He’s a mid-round prospect who could help the Saints, too. Don’t be shocked if the Saints like quarterback Carson Beck as a potential backup for Tyler Shough. The former Georgia Bulldog is probably a Day 3 pick but has the size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) and experience Kellen Moore valued when he drafted Shough. If Jake Haener isn’t brought back they could use another backup whether or not Spencer Rattler is on the team next year.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: CFB national championship game: How to watch Indiana vs. Miami