Indiana Leads Miami Amid Officiating Outcry In CFP Title Game

The College Football Playoff National Championship game brought a storm of excitement and controversy to Hard Rock Stadium on January 20, 2026, as Indiana took a commanding 10-0 lead over No. 10 Miami at halftime. Yet, it wasn’t just the scoreboard that had fans and analysts buzzing—it was the fiery halftime comments from Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti that stole the spotlight, shining a harsh light on the game’s officiating and the physical toll on Indiana’s star quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.

Indiana’s first half was marked by sharp execution and an aggressive defensive stand, but the mood shifted dramatically in the final minutes before the break. Cignetti, never one to mince words, delivered a pointed critique during his halftime interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, zeroing in on what he saw as egregious missed calls by the officials. “There was three personal fouls on the quarterback not called on one drive that need to be called because they’re obvious, personal fouls,” Cignetti told Rowe. “I’m all for letting them play, but when you cross the line, you’ve got to call it. They were black-and-white calls.”

The most glaring incident came with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. On a third-and-4 play, Miami defensive back Jakobe Thomas delivered a thunderous hit to Mendoza after a fake handoff. The collision left Mendoza with a bloodied lip and sent shockwaves through the Indiana sideline. Despite the visible aftermath, no flag was thrown, leaving Cignetti and his coaching staff incensed. “He came in – on the first view, I didn’t see that part of it,” ESPN rules analyst Bill LeMonnier said after reviewing the play. “I thought it was just a late hit. But this one here, he came in crown of the helmet, right into his head.”

LeMonnier wasn’t alone in his assessment. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit expressed surprise at the lack of a penalty: “I’m surprised we didn’t see a flag come down. But I think carrying out the fake, quarterback is in play. Maybe they held the flag because of that.” However, upon further review, both analysts agreed that the play had the hallmarks of targeting—a penalty that, if called, would have resulted in Thomas’s ejection from the game. “He’s not a defenseless player,” LeMonnier clarified, “but at the same time, that hit was totally unnecessary and could have easily been a foul.”

Mendoza, showing grit and resilience, remained in the game despite his injuries. He finished the first half completing 12 of 17 passes for 116 yards, orchestrating Indiana’s offense with poise under pressure. After receiving medical attention on the sidelines to clean up his bloodied lip, Mendoza returned to the huddle, determined to keep Indiana’s title hopes alive. “Fernando’s a tough kid,” Cignetti remarked off-camera, according to sideline reports. “He’s not going to let a little blood stop him.”

The Hoosiers struck first on the scoreboard, capitalizing on the momentum from that contentious drive. Kicker Nicolas Radicic nailed a 34-yard field goal, giving Indiana a 3-0 lead and setting the tone for a methodical, ball-control attack. Later in the second quarter, Indiana pieced together a marathon 14-play, 85-yard drive that chewed up 6 minutes and 44 seconds of clock. The possession culminated in a one-yard touchdown plunge by tight end Riley Nowakowski, who lined up at fullback and powered through Miami’s defensive front. Nowakowski’s score was the only touchdown of the half, pushing Indiana’s lead to 10-0 and sending their fans into a frenzy.

On the other side of the ball, Indiana’s defense delivered a near-flawless performance, bottling up Miami’s offense and refusing to yield any points. The Hurricanes managed just 69 yards of total offense through two quarters, with their running game sputtering against a relentless Hoosier front seven. Miami’s best scoring chance came just before halftime, when kicker Carter Davis lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt. The kick had the distance but clanged off the right goalpost, leaving Miami empty-handed and deepening their first-half frustrations.

Despite the adversity, Miami’s defense showed flashes of resilience, but the inability to capitalize on Indiana’s offensive stalls left them facing an uphill battle. The Hurricanes’ defensive aggression, particularly in their approach to Mendoza, became a hot topic not only on the broadcast but also in the stands and across social media. Fans and analysts alike debated whether the officials’ reluctance to throw flags was letting the game get out of hand, or simply allowing for a more physical championship atmosphere.

Cignetti, meanwhile, made it clear during his halftime remarks that he expected better protection for his quarterback in the second half. “We’ve got a two-score lead,” he said. “The defense hasn’t let them in the end zone or on the scoreboard. We get the ball first. Sure would be nice to go down there and score a touchdown.” His words echoed the sentiments of a coach who, while proud of his team’s effort, was determined not to let officiating overshadow the hard work and grit his players had displayed on college football’s biggest stage.

As the teams prepared to take the field for the second half, the tension was palpable. Would the officials tighten up their calls after Cignetti’s public criticism? Could Miami find a way to break through Indiana’s defensive wall and claw their way back into the contest? And would Mendoza, already a Heisman Trophy winner and the heart of Indiana’s offense, continue to withstand the physical onslaught and guide his team toward a national title?

For now, Indiana sits just thirty minutes away from a potential championship, but the outcome is far from certain. The Hoosiers will look to build on their halftime momentum, while Miami aims to regroup and mount a comeback. One thing’s for sure: with emotions running high and the stakes even higher, the second half promises more fireworks—both on the scoreboard and in the ongoing debate over how this game is being officiated.

Stay tuned as the action resumes, with Indiana holding a 10-0 advantage and all eyes on whether the officiating—and the intensity—will shift in the game’s final chapters.