The College Football Playoff national championship is finally set, and it could be a matchup for the ages.
The No. 1 and undefeated Indiana Hoosiers face off against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. Both teams deserve to be here, but there can only be one champion. No matter who wins, the national championship game is must-see TV this year.
Whether you’re hoping for Miami to pull off an upset or Indiana to stay undefeated, here’s what you need to know to watch Indiana and Miami in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
When is the college football playoff national championship game?
The Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes play on Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, with several supporting broadcasts on ESPN’s family of networks, which I broke down below.
What channel is the college football national championship game on?
ESPN is the broadcast home of the College Football Playoff (CFB). ESPN subscribers can also watch on the ESPN mobile app.
ESPN also runs a slate of national championship alternative feeds across other ESPN channels as part of its CFB championship MegaCast simulcast event. Below is all that information, at a glance.
How to watch ESPN MegaCast for CFP National Championship: Indiana vs. Miami 2026
| ESPN channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| ESPN | Main game broadcast |
| ESPN2 | Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show |
| ESPNU | Film room |
| ESPNews | SkyCast (4K) |
| ACC Network | Field Pass with ACC Huddle |
| ESPN Radio | National radio broadcast |
| ESPN Deportes | Spanish-language telecast |
| ESPN app | All-22 feed, team Hometown Radio broadcasts, High Skycast, Command Center |
| ESPN+ | Halftime bands |
Data effective as of post date.
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How can I watch the College Football national championship game for free?
Want to watch the college football national championship game for free? If you’re already paying for a standard cable TV plan, you’ll be able to watch ESPN and tune into the national championship game. Otherwise, you’ll have to sign up for a streaming service to watch or stream Indiana vs. Miami legally.
Services including YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV have ESPN and are available on nearly every streaming device. If you want to stream the college football national championship for free, many of these services also offer free trial periods.
Ready to watch or stream the CFP national championship game? Check out our Best Streaming Services for Sports guide for a full breakdown of each service.
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2026 college football national championship preview: Indiana vs. Miami
The 2025–2026 college football season wraps up with a doozy of a matchup between two teams with elite defenses, but different offensive strengths. Here are my biggest questions about Indiana vs. Miami as we get ready for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Indiana vs. Miami, by the numbers
| Stat | Indiana | Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Overall record | 15–0 | 13–2 |
| Passing yards per game | 242.7 (52nd) | 254.6 (36th) |
| Rushing yards per game | 218.3 (12th) | 154.6 (72nd) |
| Points scored per game | 42.6 (2nd) | 31.6 (30th) |
| Passing defense | 185.9 (23rd) | 206.1 (45th) |
| Rushing defense | 75 (2nd) | 86.5 (6th) |
| Points allowed per game | 11.07 (2nd) | 14.00 (5th) |
Can Indiana complete the perfect season?
It all comes down to this.
To this point, the Indiana Hoosiers have been perfect. Like, Remember the Titans perfect. And with just one more win, the Hoosiers will be in elite company among teams that went undefeated en route to a national title.
In two rounds of the College Football Playoff so far, Indiana has beaten teams by an average of 34.5 points and looked absolutely unstoppable. Quarterback Alberto Mendoza has thrown eight touchdown passes in the last two games.
At this point, we know the Hoosiers are gonna score, and we know they’ll defense will be relentless. The question is, can they sustain it for one more game? Even great teams have middling to bad performances every once in a while, this would be a bad time for it to happen to Indiana.
New additions to our unis. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Zlby96eRqN
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) January 13, 2026
Can Miami complete its Cinderella run?
Miami’s run to the national championship game has been wildly impressive. The Hurricanes had to play a first-round game, where they beat Texas A&M in a slugfest. Then they knocked off Ohio State, last year’s national champion.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck capped a back-and-forth fourth quarter with the game-winning rushing touchdown with just 18 seconds left to beat Ole Miss and advance to the title game.
Consider the Hurricanes proven.
And to top it off: Miami gets to play for a national championship on its home field.
GAME WEEK! 🙌
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) January 13, 2026
🏆: 2026 National Championship
🗓️: Monday, January 19th
🆚: Indiana
📍: @HardRockStadium
⏰: 7:30 PM ET
📺: ESPN
📻: @1043wqam #GoCanes | @CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/yJZGcQyrlU
How to watch the College Football Playoff National Championship FAQ
What time and channel is the college football national championship game?
The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship game time will be at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 19.
Where is the national championship game 2026?
The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game will be at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fl. The stadium is home to the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes.
What channel is the national championship on?
The network that will carry the college football championship game is ESPN. This year's college football national championship will air exclusively on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Where is the Indiana–Miami game?
This year's national championship game will be held in Miami, FL.
Who won the 2025 college football championship?
Ohio State won last year's college football national championship.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV. com writers, Eric Chiu and Alex Vejar, analyzed this season’s college football postseason schedule to confirm the College Football Playoff National Championship’s kickoff time and broadcasting details. They then selected their top TV provider recommendations for watching the game, focusing on channel availability, cost-effectiveness, and comprehensive championship coverage.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Eric Chiu is a CableTV.com internet editor who covers internet tech, entertainment, and sports news. He’s written about consumer technology for nearly a decade for outlets including CNN Underscored, Wirecutter, Newsweek Media Group and TopTenReviews/Future. In his free time, he enjoys playing any instrument he can find, rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, and hunting for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
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