More often than not, an anonymous poll can be quite revealing. FOX Sports' RJ Young found 25 different coaches from all over the country and across all sorts of divisions at the AFCA Convention early this week. He asked one simple question: Who do they like to win it all between No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami? The results were staggering, as 22 of the 25 coaches who were polled picked IU.
The big key here is Indiana may not have any weaknesses. Any last little reservations people might have had about this team went completely out the window in Indiana's utter evisceration of the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl. The offensive line will maul you. Fernando Mendoza does not throw incompletions. The defense plays together as one. Indiana does not make mistakes on special teams.
We are looking at a seasoned and well-coached team, going up against one of the traditional powers in the sport at their place. Yes, it may be a home game for the Hurricanes, but Hard Rock Stadium is not one of the most raucous home environments in college football. We all saw how Indiana turned Atlanta into Bloomington South last week. Why should we expect anything different Monday night?
The really interesting part here is 88 percent of these anonymous coaches picked Indiana to win!
Indiana should be brimming with confidence heading into national title
Is there a way where Miami can spoil the Hoosiers' unforgettable season? Yes, because there is always a way... Miami has an immensely talented team and is a well-coached one, too. Mario Cristobal has his alma mater's program firing on all cylinders. He is backed up by two incredible coordinators in Shannon Dawson on offense and newcomer Corey Hetherman on the defensive side of the football.
What needs to happen for Miami to pull off the upset is Carson Beck will have to play the game of his college career, while coinciding with one of Mendoza's five expected incompletions on the evening to go for six points the other way. Miami needs more than Beck to step up. Guys like Mark Fletcher Jr., Malachi Toney, Bryce Fitzgerald, Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr., and Akheem Mesidor all must, too.
Look. This is not going to be one of those games where Roman Hemby is going to be eating chicken wings on the sidelines in the second half like former Georgia running back Kendall Milton did when the Dawgs were giving it to TCU in the 2022 title bout. Miami is not some plucky true underdog story. The Hurricanes may be the No. 10 seed, but this is a talented team. Indiana is an unstoppable force...
As long as Indiana remains together, the Hoosiers should win their first national title early next week.