The college football season comes to a close tonight as the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers go head-to-head in the CFB national championship. This highly anticipated matchup features loads of NFL talent from the two best programs in college football, including two quarterbacks who could hear their names called in the top 100. Fernando Mendoza is all but a guarantee to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and Miami QB Carson Beck is starting to get more and more attention.
But this matchup goes much deeper than just the two quarterbacks, and both teams have NFL talent from top to bottom. Miami is one of the most physical teams in the nation, and the Hurricanes are known for their ability to win in the trenches on both offense and defense. On the other hand, Indiana is one of the most well-coached teams I have ever seen, and despite not matching up with size, they win with finesse and discipline.
Both teams have proven they can win in impressive fashion, and seeing how they match up will be fascinating for scouts. The roots of these teams are completely different, but despite their differences in coaching and playstyle, there are a slew of top-100 prospects on either side of the field. Today, before kickoff, I wanted to take a look at the most important matchups between NFL prospects that could impact the outcome of tonight’s most important CFB game of the year.
Carson Beck vs Fernando Mendoza
While these guys will not be lining up across from each other, it would be a disservice not mention the two QBs in this game. Mendoza and Beck are my top two QBs in the draft this year, and watching them both play in the biggest games of their career will be important for scouts. Mendoza is likely to be the number one overall pick in the draft, and Beck is a top 50 player on my board. Both teams will be counting on their guy to step up and help them win the championship.
Carter Smith vs. Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr.
Carter Smith is just one of many examples of an unsung hero on Indiana’s immensely talented roster, but today he will face the biggest test of his career. Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. are the best DE tandem in the nation, and the two of them have wreaked havoc upon some of the best tackles in the nation. Much of the concern with Carter Smith is a lack of power in the run game, and seeing how he performs against two potential first-round picks could be telling.
D’Angelo Ponds vs. Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels
Maybe my favorite player in the nation to root for right now is Indiana corner D’Angelo Ponds, who may very well be the most underrated player in the draft. Many scouts and fans counted Ponds out before even watching film, when they saw he was just 5’9″ and 170lbs. While he may not be my favorite prospect in the draft, I sure as hell will not be betting against him, and today he has a chance to prove doubters wrong again. Malachi Toney may be the best freshman in the nation, and CJ Daniels has had a great season on the outside and will likely be an early day three pick. Seeing if Ponds can step up to the challenge (again) will be big for his stock and for today’s game.
Keionte Scott vs. Omar Cooper Jr
Scott is a top 20 player on my big board in this year’s draft, and his impact has shown up all over the field this season. His pick-six against Ohio State was a massive play in that game, and he helped the Tide get out to a massive early lead. Today, he will match up with Omar Cooper Jr., who is another reciever that I absolutely love and think could be a top 50 player in this year’s draft. When Indiana has the ball, the winner of this matchup could play a major role in the outcome of the game.
