See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Miami vs. Indiana NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS | David Pollack - Mark Richt CONVO

Date: January 15, 2026
Host: David Pollack
Guests: Brent Rollins, Coach Mark Richt, Wesley

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth, lively breakdown of the surprising Miami vs. Indiana national championship matchup—a clash no preseason pundit predicted. David Pollack and regulars Brent Rollins and Wesley dissect each team’s journey, strengths, game keys, and X’s and O’s, providing honest, knowledge-heavy college football analysis. Special guest Coach Mark Richt—former Miami head coach and College Football Hall of Famer—joins to share stories from his time at “The U,” weigh in on the matchup, and reflect on broader changes in college football.

Main Topics & Key Discussions

1. Setting the Stage: Why This Game Is Historic

• [00:46] Pollack: Nobody had Miami or Indiana picked for the title.
• Indiana—the “losingest program in CFB history”—is now in its second playoff, facing a resurgent Miami squad virtually on home turf.

“Maybe one of the best stories in the history of college football when you think about Indiana and the turnaround... being the losingest program... to now going to the playoff, coming to the playoff a second time...” (Pollack, 00:46)

• Miami: Built on physicality, coach Mario Cristobal’s vision, and tough “enormous human beings” up front.

2. TEAM BREAKDOWNS & GAME KEYS

Miami Hurricanes

• Started strong, midseason slump: Carson Beck’s turnovers led to two losses, but he and Malachi Tony have surged late.
• Strengths:
  • Massive, dominant offensive line.
  • Run game (Mark Fletcher) and defense clicking.
  • Healthy secondary: “Getting Scott back healthy at that nickelback spot was a big deal for them.” (Pollack, 01:55)
• Game Plan/Keys:
  • Control the clock, keep Indiana’s offense off the field.
  • Limit penalties and turnovers.
  • Defense: Pass rush needs to get home and finish on QB Mendoza (“Can they get Mendoza on the ground when they get there?... He does such a good job of shrugging people off.” Pollack, 06:50)
  • Tackle in space; Miami has struggled with missed tackles 8 straight games—potential vulnerability.

Indiana Hoosiers

• Offensive Machine:
  • QB Fernando Mendoza: “31 of 36 in the playoff, 8 touchdowns, 5 incompletions”—otherwordly efficiency.
  • Elite in red zone, on third down, no turnovers.
• Receivers:
  • Cooper, Surratt, Becker—dynamic, create yards after catch.
  • Omar Cooper: “Fourth most missed tackles forced. Receiver.” (Rollins, 14:04)
• Key Game Plan:
  • Stick to script, keep run game alive, avoid Miami’s front four dominance.
  • Tackle Miami’s playmakers in zone, force third-and-long, and leverage zone coverage against Beck’s quick throws.

“What Indiana does is they play their own game on their own schedule, on their own time. Everything’s been really easy for them, and they’ve made everything look so easy.” (Pollack, 04:49)

3. Styles Make Fights: Pace, Physicality, & Styles

• [09:47] Rollins: Pace will dictate everything—Miami wants a slow, 55-60 play grind; Indiana is fine, either fast or slow, just gets theirs.
• Both teams want to shrink the game—Miami by “pushing the pile” and controlling time of possession.

“When Frank Big Francis, Maui Noah is 365 or whatever... that pile just falls forward when Fletcher comes downhill.” (Pollack, 10:43)
“It’s a smart way... and defense is, man, like one… you work on so many drills on tackling back... But now you’re fighting off a 350, a 340, and trying to get your piece of a guy to pull him back.” (Pollack, 11:33)

4. Critical Players & Matchups

• Indiana RT is a weakness: Miami will exploit this, seeking pressure on Mendoza.
• Targeting penalty: Indiana’s top corner Xavier Lucas is out first half, big matchup concern vs. Malachi Tony.
• Mendoza’s response to pressure: Even when pressured (see Ohio State), stays effective.
• Tackling battle: Malachi Tony (Miami) and Cooper (Indiana) among most elusive receivers; Miami’s DB/LB tackling may determine game.

“Whoever in Indiana is one of the better tackling teams... if Miami can tackle well, keep pace... they can very much stay in this game and potentially even win it.” (Rollins, 14:22)

5. Picks & Predictions

• [14:39] Pollack’s pick: Indiana to finish the story.
  • Trusts Mendoza to be “one of the all-time goods.”
  • Miami can’t win unless it’s their kind of game; Indiana has more ways to win.

“They got the Heisman Trophy winner. They got the number one picket quarterback in the NFL draft. Like, this dude isn’t just good. Like, he’s one of the all-time goods... I just think job’s not done.” (Pollack, 14:39)

• [15:48] Rollins’ pick: Miami in an upset

  • Cites Indiana’s easy playoff run; thinks they’ll finally be tested and made uncomfortable.
  • Sees Miami shortening the game, increasing variance.

• Both expect a close, physical, classic finish—“All-timer game.”

6. Coaching Stories & Miami Culture: Interview with Mark Richt (20:10–37:21)

Miami QB Room Legend

• [20:38] Richt recounts joining Miami as a QB—recruited alongside Jim Kelly, then followed by Bernie Kosar and Vinny Testaverde:

  “The only problem with my plan was Jim Kelly was living out my plan...” (Richt, 20:38)

The “Rally Round Richt” Moment

• [22:04] Subbing for injured Kelly, beating Florida, receiving cookies from fans—though “all that stuff got stolen off the door in front of the door...” (Richt, 23:12)

Malachi Tony Story

• Richt recalls holding camps in Miami’s communities, planting seeds—Malachi Tony attended as a little kid, now a Miami star “supposed to be in high school right now” but making impact plays in the national title game.
• Lesson: Miami’s culture, community involvement, and “blessing as many little guys as we could.”

Analysis: Miami This Year & Mario Cristobal

• Praises Beck’s leadership and Miami’s physicality, especially offensive/defensive lines.
• Credits Cristobal for learning from last year’s mistakes, leading a more balanced, well-coached team.
• Cristobal as “a different bird... [he] bent over backwards to welcome me... carte blanche to this program... means a lot as a former player and coach.” (Richt, 32:17)

NIL & College Football's New Era

• [38:05] Richt gives a frank, historical perspective:

  “Now [with NIL]... those second teamers that are first rounders at a lot of these schools are like, you know what, I’m going to Indiana... I can not only play now, but I get paid now... That’s why you can see… an Indiana become #1.” (Richt, 38:05)

• Difficulty of building teams, developing maturity in “transfer” and “brand-first” culture.

Notable Quotes

• “Now it’s legal. That’s 100% and it’s so true.” (Richt on NIL, 39:32)

7. Transfer Portal & CFB News (43:58–46:10)

• Oregon’s QB move—Dylan Raiola to Oregon (good fit, can learn behind Dante Moore, “take that bag of money”)
• Miami seeking QB, Ty Simpson’s loyalty to Alabama:

  “I can’t go to Tennessee, I can’t go to Ole Miss, I can’t go to Miami… I just can’t do that.” (Pollack, 44:33—praises Simpson’s integrity)

• Georgia Tech lands RB Justice Haynes
• Buckeyes get a kicker—mild, tongue-in-cheek celebration (46:10)

8. Culture, Heart, and Off-Field Stories

• Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State: “This is a rebirth, not a rebuild.” (Pat Fitzgerald, 48:08)—the challenge for relational coaches in a transactional portal world.

• Team Impact & Indiana’s “heart and soul” kid:

  • Indiana players rallying around Drew (young fan fighting illness, joining the team at the Rose Bowl and now at the championship).
  • Video montage of Hoosiers inviting Drew—“Can’t go without the heart and soul of our team!” (53:41)

9. Noteworthy, Fun, & Memorable Moments

• Malachi Tony’s high school fumble heartbreak, redemption arc in college. (27:18–28:37)
• Coaching character-building in an NIL world.

  “It’s hard to see when forward progress is stopped and where the body is in there… you don’t really know what’s going on. So you’re right, I’m not for it. Honestly, I don’t like it that much. But if I, if they let me do it, I’m gonna do it.” (Pollack on pushing the pile, 12:00)

• Cultural quirks: “I’m thinking about cracking open a beer.” (Signetti, 49:58)
• Coach Cristobal’s open-door policy to Richt and Miami alumni.
• Coach Richt’s deadpan humor about cookies and Miami dorm life.

10. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Miami vs. Indiana matchup setup: 00:46–09:00
• Deep dive: Miami keys & matchups: 01:55–09:10
• Deep dive: Indiana keys & matchups: 04:49–09:10
• Pace/style debate: 09:47–12:21
• Tackling/missed tackles & X-factors: 13:21–14:39
• Game picks: 14:39–16:45
• Coach Mark Richt interview starts: 20:10
• Malachi Tony legacy story: 24:06–27:18
• Richt's take on NIL & roster-building: 38:05–41:02
• Portal news and national notes: 43:58–46:56
• Pat Fitzgerald, "rebirth" Big Ten culture segment: 48:08
• Team IRL/Impact, Indiana “Drew” story: 52:25–54:08

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Expect a physical, close, possibly all-time classic championship.
• Miami must control the ball, avoid mistakes, and tackle. Indiana rarely falters and has elite QB play.
• Both programs embody historic, culture-changing stories—Miami’s community focus and Indiana’s underdog rise, powered by NIL/portal realities.
• Heart, tradition, and resilience shine through off-field: from Coach Richt’s generational ties to Indiana’s connection to sick kids and everyday heroes.
• No matter the outcome, this is a showcase of how much college football—and its culture—has changed, but also endured.

Notable Quotes Recap

• Pollack: “Maybe one of the best stories in the history of college football when you think about Indiana and the turnaround...” (00:46)
• Richt: “The only problem with my plan was Jim Kelly was living out my plan...” (20:38)
• Rollins: “Whoever in Indiana is one of the better tackling teams... if Miami can tackle well… they can very much stay in this game and potentially even win it.” (14:22)
• Richt: “Now it’s legal. That’s 100% and it’s so true.” (39:32)
• Signetti: “I’m thinking about cracking open a beer.” (49:58)
• Fitzgerald (via clip): “This is a rebirth, not a rebuild. So how are we going to do that? We have to grind every minute of every day.” (48:08)

For more, tune in Monday for the national championship recap and potential bonus episodes!