FIW staff picks the CFP title game: Will Indiana or Miami win?
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The 2025 college football officially comes to an end this evening, as the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers will play for the College Football Playoff championship.
It’s a game of what-if’s for Notre Dame, as they were the last team to beat the Hoosiers and barely lost to the Hurricanes to open the season. The Irish finished as a better team than it started, but unfortunately, that point is moot.
While it might have been a frustrating ride, the season is now about to close and the staff here of Tim Healey, Dave Miller and Michael Chen picks if Miami or Indiana is hoisting up the CFP trophy later this evening.
Tim Healey
This one has been a tough one. Miami has gotten hot at the right time and used physicality in the trenches to win against Texas A&M and Ohio State — two schools that can play with physicality themselves.
Miami is also playing at home, and the Hurricanes have a skilled veteran QB and athletic skill players.
Meanwhile, Indiana has proved it more than belongs here with routs of Alabama and Oregon. The Hoosiers are for real, not just a Cinderella team on a heater. They should be able to compete with Miami in the trenches — thanks in large part to former Notre Dame center Pat Coogan. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza didn't win the Heisman Trophy for nothing.
Miami will challenge Indiana, but I think the Hoosiers finish a magical run on top.
Indiana 34, Miami 31.
Dave Miller
It very much seems like this one is pointing all towards Indiana. They’ve seen the most stunning program turnaround ever, back-to-back CFP appearances, 26 wins, a Big Ten title, the Heisman Trophy winner and tons of national recognition. It’s something that we have never seen.
What we have seen before is Miami struggling unexpectedly, which they haven’t done in the playoff. The Hurricanes are hot, there’s no other way to put it. They feel like they can beat anyone right now, and that very well could be the case.
However, I don’t think that going to happen, Indiana is a different monster this year. The Hoosiers continue to break program records and win its first national championship.
Indiana 28, Miami 20
Michael Chen
At the end of the day, this game is going to be won in the trenches, an area where both teams have been one of the best nationally this fall. Indiana is the favorite, and rightfully so, they’ve won each of their CFP games convincingly, and beat Ohio State to win the Big Ten. Miami, as we all know, was one of the last teams to get in, but has made the most of its opportunity. They also beat the Buckeyes, by a margin larger than what the Hoosiers did.
I’m all for magical seasons, but I think the underdog comes out victorious in this one. Miami is playing at home, and has gotten hot at the right time. Hurricanes in a close one.
Miami 24, Indiana 20
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: The staff picks who wins the College Football Playoff title
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