If you’re looking for college football on right now, you might notice the scoreboard is a little quiet today, Tuesday, January 13, 2026. That’s because we are currently in the eye of the storm. We just finished a weekend where the FCS National Championship saw Montana State edge out Illinois State in a 35-34 overtime thriller in Nashville, and we are exactly six days away from the biggest game in Indiana University history.
Honestly, the "right now" of college football isn't about a live clock; it’s about the absolute frenzy in the transfer portal and the scouting reports for the CFP National Championship.
The matchup is set: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami.
It’s happening Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium. If you’d told a Hoosier fan two years ago they’d be 15-0 and favored by 7.5 points in a national title game, they would have checked you for a fever. But here we are. Curt Cignetti has basically turned Bloomington into the center of the football universe.
What’s Happening in College Football Right Now (The Portal Chaos)
While the Indiana and Miami rosters are locked in meetings, the rest of the country is effectively playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs. The winter transfer portal window is halfway through its 15-day condensed run.
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Over 4,700 players have hit the portal already. Just yesterday, the quarterback market exploded. Dylan Raiola, the former five-star, officially committed to Oregon. At the same time, Lane Kiffin pulled off a massive heist by landing Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt at LSU, beat out Miami and Tennessee in the process.
You’ve also got offensive tackle Jordan Seaton sitting out there with a reported asking price of nearly $3 million in NIL money. It’s wild. Programs are basically rebuilds-on-the-fly every January now.
Key Dates for the National Championship Week
- Monday, Jan 19, 7:30 PM ET: The Big One. No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Watch Parties: If you're in Bloomington, Indiana Athletics just announced they’re opening Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for a massive watch party. Digital tickets are free but you've gotta grab them early.
- The Media Carrousel: Expect Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit to be all over your screen this week as they preview the Mendoza vs. Mendoza subplot (more on that in a second).
The Storylines You Actually Need to Know
The biggest thing people are talking about right now? The quarterbacks. Miami has Carson Beck, the former Georgia standout who has looked like a man possessed during this playoff run. He just led a game-winning drive against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, capped off by a three-yard scramble that sent the U to the final.
Then you have Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
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Here is the weird part: his brother, Alberto Mendoza, is also on the Indiana roster. And their father, Fernando Sr., is a huge part of the narrative. It’s a Miami family, in a Miami stadium, playing for a team from the Midwest against the Miami Hurricanes. You couldn't script the irony any better.
Indiana's path here hasn't just been "lucky." They absolutely dismantled Alabama in the Rose Bowl (38-3) and then hung 56 points on Oregon in the Peach Bowl. They aren't just winning; they are erasing people.
The FCS Recap: What You Missed Yesterday
If you missed the FCS title game on January 5, you missed arguably the best game of the year. Montana State won its first title since 1984. It came down to two blocked kicks.
Think about that. One point. 35-34.
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Justin Lamson, the Bobcats' QB, took home MVP honors. It was the first time an FCS championship game ended in overtime, proving that the "lower" divisions are often where the most pure football lives.
Why This National Championship Feels Different
Usually, by mid-January, we’re looking at two SEC powerhouses or a predictable Big Ten vs. SEC matchup. This year, the SEC got cleared out in the quarterfinals.
- Ole Miss fell to Miami.
- Georgia lost a heartbreaker to Ole Miss earlier.
- Alabama got embarrassed by Indiana.
We are looking at an ACC-Big Ten final where the Big Ten representative is a school known for basketball. If Indiana wins, they finish 16-0. The only other team to ever do that in major college football history was Yale in 1894.
Strategy and Betting Lean
Indiana is the 7.5-point favorite. Most experts, including the crew at ESPN Insights, point to the Hoosiers' defense. They are deep, they are fast, and they don't make mistakes. Miami, however, is playing in their home backyard at Hard Rock Stadium. Even though they are technically the "visiting" team on the scoreboard, the crowd noise is going to be 90% Hurricanes.
Actionable Steps for Fans This Week
If you're following the action, don't just wait for Monday night. The "college football on right now" vibe is all about the lead-up.
- Check the Portal: Follow the 247Sports transfer tracker. The window closes on January 16. If your team needs a QB or a left tackle, the news will break in the next 72 hours.
- Secure Tickets: If you're heading to Miami Gardens, prices on the secondary market are hovering around $850 for upper-level seats.
- Bloomington Locals: Get those digital tickets for the Assembly Hall watch party today. They are limiting it to 10,000 rally towels, and they will go fast.
- Betting Lines: Keep an eye on the total (O/U). Both these teams have high-octane offenses, but championship games often start slow and "slug-fest-y" in the first half.
The season ends in six days. Enjoy the quiet of Tuesday, because by Friday, the hype for Indiana’s quest for 16-0 is going to be deafening.