College Football HQ

College GameDay reveals surprising national championship game predictions

With just one game left in the college football season, the guys on ESPN's College GameDay sit down one last time to reveal their predictions for an historic national championship game.
James Parks|
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In this story:

Miami (FL) HurricanesIndiana Hoosiers

Everything comes down to this moment as college football finally closes the book on the 2025 season and crowns a national champion.

In one corner... don’t call it a Cinderella story, but Indiana has a chance to complete what might be the greatest run for a program ever.

In their way is Miami, a college football blue blood aiming for its sixth national championship and playing for the trophy in its own home stadium.

Never regarded as a football power, Indiana has the second-most losses in college football history, but Curt Cignetti needed just two seasons to go on a 26-2 run and put the program in position for not only its first national title, but what would be the first 16-0 run for any team in 132 years.

The only other time a college football program won all 16 games of any season was Yale, which completed the feat way, way back in 1894.

College GameDay reveals national championship predictions

College GameDay makes national championship game predictions
MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Desmond Howard

Howard feels like Miami is being disrespected as an underdog given their record 13-win season, and is taking the Hurricanes over the Hoosiers.

Nick Saban

The former Alabama head coach congratulated the Hurricanes for their competitive spirit and their physical play on both lines of scrimmage, taking Miami to upset Indiana, as well.

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of Notre Dame was the guest picker after having his team bounced from the playoff by this Hurricanes team, and he also took Miami over the Hoosiers.

Pat McAfee

McAfee is still siding with the Hoosiers behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

College Football HQ predicts: Indiana vs. Miami national title game picks

What the analytics say: ESPN computer predicts national championship game

College GameDay locations this season

CFP Peach Bowl: Atlanta, Ga... Indiana def. Oregon, 56-22

CFP Fiesta Bowl: Glendale, Ariz... Miami def. Ole Miss, 31-27

CFP Rose Bowl: Pasadena, Calif... Indiana def. Alabama, 38-3

CFP First Round: College Station, Tex... Miami def. Texas A&M, 10-3

CFP First Round: Norman, Okla... Alabama def. Oklahoma, 34-24

Championship Week: Atlanta Ga. for the SEC Championship Game... Georgia def. Alabama, 28-7

Week 14: Ann Arbor, Mich... Ohio State def. Michigan, 27-9

Week 13: Eugene, Ore... Oregon def. USC, 42-27

Week 12: Pittsburgh, Pa... Notre Dame def. Pittsburgh, 37-15

Week 11: Lubbock, Tex... Texas Tech def. BYU, 29-7

Week 10: Salt Lake City, Utah... Utah def. Cincinnati, 45-14

Week 9: Nashville, Tenn... Vanderbilt def. Missouri, 17-10

Week 8: Athens, Ga... Georgia def. Ole Miss, 43-35

Week 7: Eugene, Ore... Indiana def. Oregon, 30-20

Week 6: Tuscaloosa, Ala... Alabama def. Vanderbilt, 30-14

Week 5: State College, Pa... Oregon def. Penn State, 30-24

Week 4: Miami, Fla... Miami def. Florida, 26-7

Week 3: Knoxville, Tenn... Georgia def. Tennessee, 44-41

Week 2: Norman, Okla... Oklahoma def. Michigan, 24-12

Week 1: Columbus, Ohio... Ohio State def. Texas, 14-7

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James Parks
JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He has covered football for a decade, previously managing several team sites and publishing national content for 247Sports.com for five years. His work has also been published on CBSSports.com. He founded College Football HQ in 2020, and the site joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022 and the On SI network in 2024.

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