Who Does Indiana Football Play Today: The 2026 National Championship Matchup Explained

If you are looking for the Hoosiers on your TV guide right this second, you might be a few days early. Or maybe you're just soaking in the pre-game nerves. Indiana football does not play a game today, Friday, January 16, 2026. The Hoosiers are currently in the middle of the most significant "bye week" in the history of the program. After dismantling Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl on January 9, Curt Cignetti’s squad earned a ticket to the big dance.

Who does Indiana football play next?

The No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers are scheduled to play the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

This isn't just another bowl game. It’s for all the marbles. The game is set for Monday, January 19, 2026, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. It’s happening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Basically, the Hurricanes are getting a "home" game for the title, though if you've seen ticket sales lately, Hoosier nation is expected to turn that stadium into Bloomington South.

Honestly, the fact that we’re even asking "who does Indiana football play today" in the context of a National Championship is wild. Two years ago, this program was the door mat of the Big Ten. Now? They’re 15-0.

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Where to watch the Hoosiers

Since there’s no game today, you have time to figure out your viewing situation for Monday night.

• TV Channel: ESPN will have the main broadcast.
• Streaming: The ESPN App and FuboTV are your best bets.
• Radio: Don Fischer will be on the call via the Indiana Hoosier Sports Network.
• Alternate Angles: ESPN usually does the "Field Pass" with Pat McAfee or the "Command Center" feed if you're into the nerdy X's and O's stuff.

Why today is actually important for IU fans

Even though there's no kickoff today, January 16 is the start of the CFP Fan Central in Miami. If you're one of the thousands who hopped on a flight to Florida, the Miami Beach Convention Center is where the action is happening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

It’s a lot of pep rallies and autograph signings. Kinda the calm before the storm.

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The Path to 15-0

Indiana didn't just stumble into this. They’ve been a juggernaut. They beat Ohio State 13-10 in a defensive slugfest for the Big Ten title. Then they went to the Rose Bowl and embarrassed Alabama 38-3.

That Rose Bowl game was a statement. Alabama hadn't lost by 30 points in the 21st century until they met Cignetti's Hoosiers. Then came the Oregon rematch in the Peach Bowl. Indiana had already beaten them in Eugene back in October, but the 56-22 blowout in the semifinal proved the first win wasn't a fluke.

Scoping out the Miami Hurricanes

So, who is this Miami team standing in the way of a perfect 16-0 season?

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They are the ultimate "Cinderella" of the new 12-team playoff format. They came in as the 10-seed. Nobody expected them to be here. They had to travel to College Station and beat Texas A&M, then they upset Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, and finally squeezed past Ole Miss 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl.

The matchup everyone is talking about is Fernando Mendoza vs. Carson Beck.
Mendoza, the IU quarterback and Heisman winner, has been surgical. On the other side, Beck is a veteran who has seen everything. It’s a contrast of styles that makes this Monday's game arguably the most interesting final we’ve seen in years.

Key storylines for the National Championship

• The 16-0 Quest: If Indiana wins, they become only the second team in modern history to go 16-0. The last team to do it? Yale... in 1894. That's a long time ago.
• The Cignetti Factor: Curt Cignetti told everyone he wins, and he wasn't lying. He took a team that went 3-9 a couple of years ago and put them on the brink of a title.
• Home Field Advantage?: The game is in Miami's backyard. However, Indiana fans have been buying up secondary market tickets at a record pace. Expect a lot of Cream and Crimson in the stands.

What you should do right now

Since you aren't watching a game today, you should probably handle the logistics.

1. Check your TV subscription. Make sure your ESPN login actually works. Nothing ruins a Monday like a "wrong password" error five minutes before kickoff.
2. Watch for scams. The Indiana Attorney General actually issued a warning today (Jan 16) about fake tickets. If a deal for a National Championship seat looks too good to be true, it’s because it is.
3. Stock up. If you're hosting a watch party in Indiana, get your supplies today or Saturday. The stores will be a madhouse on Monday afternoon.

The Hoosiers are one win away from history. While today is a day for rest and travel, Monday night is when the "Who does Indiana football play today" question finally gets its most important answer ever.

Stay tuned for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Monday. It's going to be a long weekend of waiting, but for Indiana fans, it's a wait decades in the making.