Indiana president Pamela Whitten isn't shocked the Hoosiers are playing for a national championship. She told ESPN this was the explicit goal when hiring coach Curt Cignetti. The program, once the most losing in major college football, has gone 26-2 over two seasons. Whitten said the administration decided to prioritize football after realizing it drives 75-80% of college sports revenue.

Cignetti transformed Indiana from a perennial loser into a College Football Playoff contender in just two years. The Hoosiers now boast three wins over top-five opponents this season, a stunning reversal from their 1-72 record against elite teams historically. This rapid turnaround, aided by the transfer portal and NIL, marks one of the sport's most remarkable stories.

For Whitten and athletic director Scott Dolson, the national title game against Miami is the culmination of a deliberate plan. The president said Dolson was 'unleashed' when they committed to football. With a win, Cignetti would become the first coach to win a national title in his first two seasons at a new school since Auburn's Gene Chizik in 2010.