We here at Mid-Major Madness will have our attention on the full slate of men’s and women’s mid-major basketball games throughout the day this Monday. But if you do find your eyes wandering over to that pigskin game in Miami Gardens, keep these things in mind.
It says it’s Indiana vs. Miami, but here’s how we see it.
We’ll start with Indiana. The Hoosiers are our team. Indiana, being in the football championship game, feels like a mid-major playing in the basketball national title game. We think back fondly to San Diego State in 2023, and Butler (out of the Horizon League at the time) in 2010 and 2011. Shout out, Gordon Hayward. Your shot went down in the Good Timeline.
IU had the most losses as a program in major college football entering this season — the definition of Cinderella.
Plus, Curt Cignetti was the head coach at James Madison and Elon right before heading to Bloomington. We heart you Dukes and Phoenix.
On the other side is Miami. No, not the real Miami. Our UNDEFEATED RedHawks are in action today and again on Tuesday. That’s the Miami we care about.
But if we must, we’ll talk for a minute about those Hurricanes. Head coach Mario Cristobal was the head coach at FIU more than a decade ago. Plus, CharMar Brown won in the FCS natty last year with North Dakota State.
Now we’re talking. The FCS national championship. That’s OUR football championship. The only one mid-majors actually have a chance to win.
Congrats to Montana State for winning its first title in four decades this season. The Bobcats beat Illinois State 35-34 in overtime in a banger of a game two weeks ago. Seriously, watch these highlights.
Back to the CFP. SB Nation fans are with us and stand behind Indiana. Can we get a “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hoosiers”?
FanDuel currently has Indiana as an 8.5-point favorite over Miami.
