The stage is set in South Florida. The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, riding an undefeated 15-0 season fueled by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, face No. 10 Miami in the Hurricanes’ own backyard for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Hoosiers seek their first national title in program history, while Miami aims to add a sixth championship to a trophy case that hasn’t seen any action since 2001. From how to watch Miami vs. Indiana to the halftime entertainment, here’s everything you need to know before kickoff on Monday night.
How To Watch Miami vs. Indiana in the National Championship Game
ESPN holds exclusive broadcast rights to the title game, with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET and kickoff scheduled for 7:50 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The network offers a range of options from its MegaCast suite, with the details of each listed below.
- Main Telecast: ESPN
- Field Pass With The Pat McAfee Show: ESPN2
- Film Room: ESPNU
- SkyCast: ESPNews
- Field Pass With ACC Huddle: ACC Network
- Spanish Language Broadcast: ESPN Deportes
Furthermore, you can stream the following options via ESPN Unlimited:
- High SkyCast
- Command Center
- Miami Hometown Radio
- Indiana Hometown Radio
- All-22 With ESPN Radio
How To Listen to Miami in the National Championship Game
Joe Zagacki leads the Miami radio call alongside analyst Don Bailey Jr. and Josh Darrow on the Miami Hurricanes Radio Network, flagship station WQAM. The trio has been the soundtrack to Miami’s remarkable playoff run, from that gritty 10-3 first-round win at Texas A&M through Carson Beck’s scrambling heroics in the Fiesta Bowl.
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The Hurricanes’ local broadcast is available on SiriusXM (channels 80, 81, and 84), and through ESPN Unlimited’s Hometown Radio sync. For ‘Canes faithful watching from home, it’s the closest thing to being in the stands at Hard Rock.
How To Listen to Indiana in the National Championship Game
Don Fischer, the legendary voice of Indiana athletics, will call the action for the Hoosiers on the Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network. Fischer, whose career behind the mic spans five decades, will be joined by analyst Buck Suhr and John Herrick.
The Indiana broadcast is available on SiriusXM (channels 80 and 84) and through ESPN Unlimited’s Hometown Radio feature, which syncs the local call with ESPN’s Command Center video presentation. It’s a particularly fitting option for Hoosier fans who want Fischer’s voice guiding them through what could be a historic evening.
Who are the Miami vs. Indiana Announcers for the National Championship Game?
ESPN’s traditional No. 1 duo returns to call the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Chris Fowler will be joined by Kirk Herbstreit, marking their 12th consecutive CFP National Championship together and their 30th season as a commentating duo.
Holly Rowe will cover Indiana’s sideline while Molly McGrath handles Miami, the fifth consecutive championship game for the reporting pair. Former Big Ten referee Bill Lemonnier serves as rules analyst.
On ESPN Radio, Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy call the action, joined by Ian Fitzsimmons and Quint Kessenich. The Pat McAfee Show’s Field Pass returns on ESPN2, with McAfee roaming the Hard Rock Stadium sidelines.
Who Is Singing the National Anthem at the National Championship Game?
Jamal Roberts, the 2025 American Idol winner, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to kickoff.
Roberts, who hails from Meridian, Mississippi, captured the nation’s attention throughout his Idol run and was recently nominated for his first Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song for the live version of his song “Still.”
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Award-winning music director Adam Blackstone will lead the arrangement. Before Roberts takes center stage, the Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale, from one of the oldest historically Black universities in Florida, will perform “America the Beautiful.”
A Joint Armed Forces Color Guard and a U.S. Coast Guard flyover from nearby Opa-locka complete the pregame ceremony.
Who Is Performing at Half Time of the National Championship Game?
The CFP National Championship follows its tradition of featuring the participating teams’ marching bands rather than a celebrity halftime act. The Frost Band of the Hour (Miami) and the Indiana University Marching Hundred will take the field together, with their full performances available to stream on ESPN+.
