Monday, January 19. 7:30 p.m.. Hard Rock Stadium. Light beams from the roof. It all comes down to this.
From the start of the season, both the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana University Hoosiers have been preparing rigorously for the 2026 College Football National Championship.
I have a deep connection with the Miami Hurricanes. Ever since I first walked into Carol Soffer Practice Facility on March 5 to take photos of the team, I have been heavily invested. Every snap of my camera brought me even closer.
From the beginning, this team felt different. It did not feel like the mediocre teams of the Hurricanes’ past. It did not resemble their bad defense from last year. There is no better way to describe the team than changed. Although local media heavily criticized them, I always believed in their success.
August 31. The season opener against No. 5 University of Notre Dame. The 27-24 win earned here ended up being the deciding factor in the Canes’ entry into the playoffs. I was absolutely mesmerized by the experience of shooting this amazing team. As the season went on, apart from two bumps in the road (losses to the University of Louisville and Southern Methodist University), this season felt like no other. I know I keep saying how special this team was, and it may be repetitive, but I really mean it. Something about this team kept drawing me in as a loyal fan.
Then came the selection show. Miami was ranked No. 11 for many weeks — the first spot out of the playoffs. In a controversial decision, the Canes jumped the aforementioned Notre Dame in the rankings and were in the playoffs as the lowest-ranked at-large bid. They were set to take on No. 7 Texas A&M University.
The game was quite boring, but in the end, the Canes secured a win with a touchdown from freshman gadget receiver Malachi Toney. Next was the formidable No. 2 Ohio State University Buckeyes — a game most thought would be a blowout.
New Year’s Eve — the night of the big game. Watching the Canes’ safety Keionte Scott catch an interception for a touchdown and then running back Charmar Brown rush in for a big touchdown was a surreal feeling. This just added to the list of reasons for my belief in the team.
Then came the semifinal round against the University of Mississippi. A challenging game against one of the best offenses in college football meant the elite Miami unit needed a strong defensive game. With many mistakes and some late drama, the Canes again won in a classic game in College Football Playoff history. The Canes were then set to play No.1 15-0 Indiana University for the national championship at Hard Rock Stadium.
While Indiana blew out pretty much every team they competed against in the playoffs, something about this Canes team felt so unique. I was confident they had a chance. It was a slow start, with Indiana having a 10-0 edge going into halftime.
At this point, as I watched from the stands, it looked alarming. Indiana came out with the ball, but the Canes’ defense hit back, and their superstar running back Mark Fletcher Jr. ran for a huge 56-yard touchdown. At every point when it seemed like the Canes were going to be down for the count, they responded and kept it close.
The game’s fate all came down to one drive. A six-point deficit with two minutes left. This is what every team trains for. Yet, the Canes ended sadly, as quarterback Carson Beck threw an interception to the defense. Despite the Canes losing, I was still satisfied with the game. It accumulated all my memories supporting the team throughout the season.
With most of the team’s electric offense returning next season, with an arguably better quarterback, I am extremely excited to walk back into the Carol Soffer Practice Facility and work with this team once again. This season told us something many fans were curious about: The U is back.
