Indiana-Miami draws 30.1 million viewers, goes down as second most-watched CFP national championship
The natty featured a Hollywood script, as the Hoosiers completed their storybook, undefeated season against the resurgent Hurricanes.
Indiana's perfect season is built for the silver screen. The Hoosiers officially became the biggest long-shot national champions since at least 2001. They put the bow on their storybook run with a 27-21 win over Miami, the school that their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza wanted to play for when he grew up a walk away from its campus.
Mendoza put his body on the line to score an epic fourth-quarter touchdown, and Indiana sealed its first-ever title with an interception that ended the Hurricanes' potential game-winning drive.
If a movie is made chronicling Indiana's turnaround from Big Ten laughing stock to college football royalty, it could be a box-office hit — that is, if the viewership numbers from Monday night's title game are any indication.
Because the thriller at Hard Rock Stadium drew 30.1 million viewers and is the second most-watched College Football Playoff national championship, according to ESPN PR.
The 2026 #NationalChampionship ft. @CanesFootball & @IndianaFootball delivered:
???? 30.1M viewers, 33.2M peak
???? 2nd most-watched #CFBPlayoff title game
???? 2nd best cable telecast ever
???? Most-viewed non‑NFL sports event since '16 World Series Gm 7
???? https://t.co/IFdlYlrxmcpic.twitter.com/rLM3Yt9iIp— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 22, 2026
The CFP debuted during the 2014 season. It grew from four to 12 teams last season, which culminated with Ohio State defeating Notre Dame for its title in 10 years. That matchup attracted an average of 22.1 million viewers, per ESPN PR. At the time, viewership numbers were down compared to the season prior when Michigan and Washington brought in approximately 25 million viewers.
College football's biggest game delivered this time around, and not just due to Indiana's Hollywood script. Miami had a compelling journey, too.
After missing out on the CFP during the 2024 campaign, the 'Canes recorded another 10-win season, snuck into the field and made a run of their own.
As the 10 seed, they took down seventh-seeded Texas A&M, second-seeded Ohio State and sixth-seeded Ole Miss. And they gave the top-seeded Hoosiers a fight in a game that saw 24 of its 48 total points scored in the fourth quarter.
ESPN's MegaCast audience peaked at 33.2 million viewers.
The game is now considered the most-viewed non-NFL sports telecast since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, which featured the Chicago Cubs ending their 108-year title drought.
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