Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Miami-Indiana CFP National Championship INSTANT REACTION
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: David Pollack
Guest: Brett Rollins (On3, PFF analyst)

Episode Overview

This instant reaction episode dives into the stunning College Football Playoff National Championship game between Miami and Indiana. David Pollack, joined by analyst Brett Rollins, breaks down Indiana's improbable rise—from college football's “losingest” program to undefeated national champions. The episode features detailed scheme analysis, key moments, standout performances (particularly Fernando Mendoza), and a playful but insightful "way-too-early" look at next year’s top teams.
Tone: Passionate, experienced, energetic, and packed with inside football knowledge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indiana’s Unbelievable Title Run

• Indiana, historically a bottom-tier program, completes a perfect 16-0 season to capture their first national championship.
• Pollack marvels at the turnaround engineered by Coach Signetti and the mentality shift across the program.
  • Quote: “Indiana's that good, man. They're national champions, like unfreaking believable. Like, it’s ridiculous.” (01:19)

2. Game Flow – Physicality, Grit, and Tactical Chess Match

• Indiana jumped to a 10-0 lead using aggressive RPOs, exploiting Miami’s off-coverage.
• Miami responded with halftime defensive adjustments, amping up their pass rush (Bane, Mesidor, Moton) and bringing the physicality.
• Both teams traded blows in a tight, back-and-forth second half highlighted by gutsy calls, big defensive plays, and standout individual efforts.
• Miami’s mistake-prone night (untimely penalties, block punt for a TD) proved costly—“when you lose by six and you gave away seven points…” (16:02)
  • “Indiana just continued to counterpunch... It took a lot of guts to win.” (04:09)

3. Signature Plays & Coaching Decisions

• Signetti’s Aggression:
  • Twice went for it on 4th down in the red zone—one a back-shoulder throw to Becker (hasn’t dropped a pass all year), the other a gutsy QB draw for a Mendoza TD.
  • “You’re up three… you probably kick it… No, no... we're going up ten. Like, go for it.” (04:54)
  • “To have the onions to call that for Signetti and to have Mendoza at your QB spot… that's not a normal dude.” (05:38)
• Miami’s Missed Opportunities:
  • Critiqued for kicking a long field goal instead of going for it on 4th down, leading to a miss and lost momentum. (15:07)
  • Crystal Ball’s “smart” clock management noted, but overall, his red zone calls are dissected.

4. Fernando Mendoza’s Heroics & Impact

• The clear MVP: played through “blood running out of his mouth” and delivered in the toughest spots.
• Repeatedly called “not a normal dude,” “best player in college football… it's not close.” (28:57)
• Noted for toughness, leadership, and making winning plays at key moments—a “character and guts” guy who elevates everyone.
  • Quote: “He’s going to put it on the line for his teammates… when your best player is that, you win championships.” (06:44)
• Brett Rollins adds, “He is the indelible image of this season. He is him.” (44:13)

5. Indiana’s Defensive Toughness and Special Teams Edge

• Defensive front held Miami’s massive O-line in check: “They could not pound Indiana up front.” (13:24)
• Multiple crucial stops on short yardage; bear front strategy compared to blueprint from Ohio State.
• Blocked punt (their 8th in two years) swung the game—“an absolute killer.” (12:49)
• Complimentary football—specials repeatedly pinned Miami inside their own 20. (16:36)

6. Miami’s Efforts, Key Playmakers, & Pain Points

• Miami’s D-line was relentless; Moton’s interior domination highlighted.
• Receivers and secondary scrutinized—Indiana picked on Miami DB #24 all game (“He got beat like he stole something.” (28:17)).
• Offensively, Miami could not ground-and-pound, but creative red zone play-calling from OC Dawson kept them alive.
• Carson Beck’s up-and-down night; frustrated, but made special throws on the move to keep Miami close.

7. Standout Individuals and Matchup Exploitation

• D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana, CB): Small in stature, elite in coverage and tackling—“If he was three inches taller, he’s a top 10 pick.” (25:59)
• Charlie Becker (Indiana, WR): Emerged as a star after injuries to others—called “the dude” and likely the highest-drafted of their WR trio. (28:35)
• Indiana’s veteran ballcarriers highlighted for their maturity and physical style.

8. Game Management & Penalties

• Coaches’ clock/errors late first half and sequence management debated.
• Both squads’ penalty discipline generally strong, but Indiana’s rare false start created “oh no” moments late.
• “Refs let them play all postseason,” with Pollack riffing on modern receiver/DB hand-fighting and how physical the game’s become. (27:27)

9. Legacy, Cultural Takeaways, and What Makes a Champion

• Pollack’s philosophy summarized: “When your best players are your best humans, contagious effort follows—makes coaching easy.” (06:44, 37:44)
• Indiana’s turnaround – “not a bigger turnaround… I’ve ever seen.” (07:17)

10. Way-Too-Early 2026 Top Five (Postgame Thought Experiment)

(Starting at 32:34)

• Pollack’s Top Five:

  1. Texas (“I feel way more confident about Arch Manning than last year… spending plenty of money, plenty of green.” (33:14))
  2. Ohio State (“Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, Bo Jackson… will reload.” (36:21))
  3. Notre Dame (“CJ Carr showed a lot… schedule sets up well.” (38:42))
  4. Oregon (“Love the Ducks… Dante Moore coming back… transfer portal wins.” (35:03))
  5. Georgia or Miami (debated spot – Miami’s QB transfer potential, Texas on the fringe)

• Rollins’ Adjustments:

  • Puts Oregon #1 (“mainly because they have returning quarterback and growth in young weapons”), Indiana solidly in top five for respect.
  • Miami, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech as top ten risers due to NIL and portal activity.
  • Emphasizes “have to have your QB guy”—Mendoza’s rare.

• QB Salary Arms Race:

  • Discussion of NIL impact—“When you can pay Cam Coleman QB money, you’re in a good spot.” (43:01)
  • Miami’s pursuit of Dairy Mensah at quarterback highlighted as pivotal.
  • “If you don’t have a baller at QB, you don’t have a chance.” (43:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pollack, on Indiana's rise:
  • “Not a bigger turnaround that we've ever seen… unbelievable game.” (07:17)
• On Mendoza's guts:
  • “Blood running out of his mouth and he’s just like, ‘that tastes good, I like that.’” (44:20)
• On coaching edge:
  • “The best play calling by Indiana all game: run on third and medium to slow the pass rushers—they did it in huge situations.” (16:55)
• On Miami’s costly errors:
  • “When you lose by six and you gave away seven points... penalties on third down, third and long, the block punt, obviously for a touchdown.” (16:02)
• Indiana’s special teams prowess:
  • “Their eighth kick blocked in the last two years, which is most in football…” (12:49)
• On defensive physicality:
  • “Ponds is tiny… if D’Angelo Pons was three inches taller, he’s a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft.” (25:59)
• On program-building:
  • “When your best player is your best human being and your best leader, that is contagious… easiest coaching job in the world.” (37:44)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening Reaction & Indiana's Transformation: 01:18 – 07:17
• Key Moments, Scheme Analysis, Coaching Guts: 04:09 – 08:12
• Mendoza's Signature Drives: 05:38 – 09:16
• Defense/Special Teams Dominate: 12:49 – 14:47
• Miami’s Errors and Big Calls: 14:47 – 16:36
• Complimentary Football, Scheme Adjustments: 16:36 – 20:15
• Quarterback Play, Beck vs Mendoza: 24:01 – 28:08
• Individual Standouts (Ponds, Becker, DBs): 25:55 – 29:27
• Big Picture & “Best Players/Leaders” Culture: 06:44, 37:44
• Way-Too-Early Top 5 for 2026: 32:34 – 43:09

Final Reflections

• Indiana’s blueprint: elite leadership, experienced players, “complimentary football,” and relentless physicality—summed up as "just enough of that in the second half that I absolutely love."
• The 2026 championship game is praised for delivering the drama and quality fans hope for: “Exactly what a championship game should be like. What do we want more than anything? A back and forth game that comes down to where teams got to make a play late.” (29:56)
• Both hosts promise ongoing offseason coverage (NFL Draft, transfer portal, interviews with coaches).

Summary for New Listeners:
This episode is an essential, energetic breakdown of a historic national championship that cements Indiana’s place in college football lore. The analysis is sharp, deeply knowledgeable, and often candid, spotlighting not just the big plays but the cultural shift that drove Indiana to glory. If you want to understand what happened—and, more importantly, why it happened, on the field and in the locker room—Pollack and Rollins deliver the definitive postgame reaction.