Paul Finebaum has never been all-in on Indiana football, but he is now.
The ESPN and SEC Network college football commentator has been more than a little skeptical of the Hoosiers’ success over the past two years, but he is impressed as they head toward the College Football Playoff championship game.
“They have a chance to be among the very best, and a week from today we may declare them that,” Finebaum said, comparing them to dominating SEC teams from recent past (LSU, 2019; Alabama, 2020).
Finebaum also said the Southeastern Conference has lost the title of undisputed king of the sport to the Big Ten.
“There’s no escaping what has happened, and it’s been one of the most dismal bowl seasons ever for the SEC,” he said. “The big games, they lost, and that’s why they’re sitting home today.”
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An IU win over Miami on Monday would give the Big Ten a third consecutive national championship, after Ohio State won last season and Michigan the season before.
In other bowl games, the Big Ten went 6-4 and the SEC 1-5, though transfer portal issues can affect rosters more so than in CFP games.
Big Ten in the College Football Playoff
First round
Quarterfinals
- Oregon 23, Texas Tech 0
- Indiana 38, Alabama 3
- Miami 24, Ohio State 14
Semifinals
SEC in the College Football Playoff
First round
- Alabama 34, Oklahoma 24
- Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10
- Miami 10, Texas A&M 3
Quarterfinals
- Indiana 38, Alabama 3
- Ole Miss 39, Georgia 34
Semifinals
The College Football Playoff national championship game is 7:30 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
The College Football Playoff national championship game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
- TV: ESPN, with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analysis), and Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath (sideline reporting)
- ESPN2 will have a “Field Pass” broadcast led by Pat McAfee. Other ways to watch include ESPNU’s “Skycast,” ESPN News’ “Command Center.”
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