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The National Collegiate Football Playoffs were held on the 19th (20th Japan time) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, where Indiana University (No. 1 in the AP rankings, No. 1 seed) defeated the University of Miami (No. 10 in the AP rankings, No. 10 seed) 27-21, winning the team’s first national championship since its founding in 1887.
With a passing attack centered around ace QB Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy as the nation’s best player, they dominated the game in the first half by keeping the Miami defense from focusing on their targets. Eight minutes into the second quarter, with a three-point lead, they penetrated 1 yard in front of the goal and scored a TD run with a clever trick that placed TE Nowakowski in the fullback position. On defense, the DBs thoroughly marked the passes of the opposing QB Beck. The opponent’s five attack series ended with four punts and a failed FG, and the first half ended with a score of 10-0.
In the second half, things took a turn for the worse, as the University of Miami attacked with a revised game plan. Mendoza was sacked by the QB in a row, and the opponents gradually gained pace. The lead was cut to three points, but at the end of the third quarter, Jones blocked a punt and grabbed it for a TD. He held his own with big plays.
It was Mendoza’s desperate play that decided the match. In the fourth quarter, with the lead again at three points, Mendoza ran from 12 yards in front of the opponent’s goal in what appeared to be a pass play. He evaded the defenders with a switch like a running back, and even when he was hit with a strong tackle, he rotated his body and moved forward. At the end, he jumped first and dove into the end zone for a TD run. “I had no choice but to fly.” After that, DB Sharp intercepted the ball while being chased by the University of Miami. The fierce battle came to an end.
It was a special fight for Mendoza. Originally from Florida. Ever since he was young, he has been a fan of the University of Miami, a team known as a powerhouse. My parents’ house is about 2 or 3 kilometers from Hard Rock Stadium. He dreamed of attending the University of Miami, but he was not scouted. Despite being covered in injuries, he gave everything he had against his favorite team.
The intense pressure left her with a lacerated lip and severe abrasions on her upper right arm. Still, he reflected on his determination, saying, “I would die for the sake of the team.”
It was a remarkable feat by the former “weakest team in history.” In its 130-year history, Indiana University has suffered 713 losses, the most in Division I history. The turning point in that history was in 2014, when Cignetti head coach (HC) was invited. The head coach, who learned from the famous coach Saban at the legendary University of Alabama, called in players who knew his philosophy from his previous school and rebuilt the team by training them according to the players. The 16-game winning streak is the best result since Yale University in 1894. The coach, who led the team to the top in his second season in office, proudly said, “Did you ever think something like this was possible? Probably not. But if you persist and keep trying, nothing is impossible.”
A success story straight out of a movie. US President Trump was also present at the stadium to witness the outcome. He expected the University of Miami to win since he maintains a private residence, Mar-a-Lago, in the same state, but after the game he commented, “Congratulations to Indiana University.” “It was a great game. Two great, great teams with a lot of talented players,” he said, praising both teams.
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