The Bill and Doug Show: Indiana Wins the National Championship – Big Ten Goes Three-for-Three

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis
Date: January 20, 2026
Episode Title: Indiana beats Miami 27-21 in National Championship Game; Big Ten wins third straight Natty

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates and dissects the extraordinary story of the Indiana Hoosiers' improbable 27–21 victory over Miami to win the 2025 National Championship in college football. For the third consecutive year, a Big Ten team has hoisted the trophy, following previous titles by Michigan and Ohio State. Doug and Bill, seasoned Buckeye beat veterans, marvel at Indiana's turnaround from the sport's all-time losingest program to wire-to-wire champions, explore the game's tactical battles, debate the wider meanings for college football's present and future, and, as always, throw loving jabs at the SEC.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Historic Nature of Indiana's Championship Run

• Transformation & Underdog Narrative
  • Indiana defied their historical irrelevance, transforming overnight not only into a winner but into the nation's most dominant team.
  • "When I bought this sword... I anticipated that I may run this sword through Southern football on behalf of Ohio State... never did I anticipate that I would take the soul of Southern football on behalf of Kurt Signetti and the Indiana Hoosiers. [...] Indiana is both Villanova and Georgetown. They are both the underdog and the monstrous favorite." – Bill, [04:07]
• Not an Underdog in 2025
  • While an underdog historically, once the season started Indiana was #1 or #2 most of the year and favored over Miami.
  • "There is some element of Indiana being doubted... until they saw it, frankly, like, I kind of felt that way sometimes. But underdog also feels like you're taking something away from me. Yeah, they're not that." – Doug, [06:51]

2. Kurt Signetti’s Method: The “Cult” of Indiana Football

• Staff & Roster Transplants
  • The Hoosiers' ascendance stemmed from Kurt Signetti’s leadership and the wholesale transfer of players/staff from JMU.
  • "Indiana football is a cult. [...] This collection of people who started something at one school and kind of brought it wholesale to another school, and then got it over the top... that's maybe the most remarkable thing." – Bill, [09:05]
• Parallels to Saban but Distinct
  • Unlike Saban, Signetti’s revolution is less about singular genius, more about collective belief and continuity.

3. Validating the Run: Indiana’s Gauntlet of Quality Opponents

• Schedule Strength
  • Indiana ran an undefeated 16–0 season, beating (and at times demolishing) top teams: at Oregon (twice), at Texas, at Iowa, at Penn State, Ohio State (#1 then), Alabama, Miami.
  • "It's not like they got the benefit of an easy schedule. They had to go to Austin... to Kinnick... beat number one [Ohio State]... then beat Oregon again, drubbed them in the playoff. They beat Alabama along the way." – Doug, [14:16]
  • Legacy rests not just on their own stars, but on the stars they beat (e.g., Dante Moore, Ruben Bain, etc.). – Bill, [15:41]

4. Parity and the Big Ten’s Ascendance

• Three Consecutive Big Ten Champs
  • Michigan, Ohio State, and now Indiana—each following a similar blueprint: retaining upperclassmen, using the portal, melding age with talent.
  • SEC’s aura is “mid” and “dead”—the South can "cram it." – Bill, [59:39]
• What It Means for the Sport
  • Potential future: Preseason polls and title predictions become far less predictable and blue-blood-captive.
  • "I would love a preseason AP poll where 11 different teams got first place votes." – Bill, [45:21]
  • The importance of age/experience: "Get older, die trying." – Doug, [65:53]

Deep Dive: The National Championship Game

Key Tactical Themes

• First Half Dominance, Second Half Survival
  • Indiana outplayed Miami early but Miami adjusted, especially after getting star CB Xavier Lucas back from suspension.
  • "When Miami got Xavier Lucas back... they played more man, and Fernando Mendoza had to hold the ball longer." – Doug, [20:51]
• The Crucial Punt Block
  • A game-turning moment: Miami’s punter too slow on the windup, leading to a block by JMU transfer Mikhail Kamara for Indiana.
  • "[...] It just sort of felt like maybe Miami playing with fire a little bit [...] That was also the drive where Malachi Tony caught the punt backwards on the five yard line? It's like, just let it bounce, man." – Doug, [24:33]

Defining Sequence: 4th and 4 Draw

• The Play That Sealed History
  • Indiana, up by three, faced 4th and 4; went for it instead of a FG. Called a unique-formation QB draw (tweaked just for Miami), Heisman-winner Mendoza spun through a hit, reached out for the pylon in a signature play.
  • "It is the decision to do it. That's the boss. It is, 'We change the way we block this, we put this in for Miami.' [...] And then it is the Heisman Trophy winner... It is a spectacular play by the guy who won the biggest award in sport." – Bill, [28:57]
  • "[...] That is a championship moment that... I don't know how many other teams do that." – Bill, [29:53]
• Conservative Call Next Time
  • Next similar situation, Indiana turtled, took a penalty, kicked the field goal—almost let Miami have a chance for comeback.
  • "Kurt Signetti maybe like lose himself for a brief moment in a pretty, pretty critical juncture of the national championship." – Doug, [33:15]

Miami’s Flaws Exposed

• Mis-managed, Sloppy at Key Times
  • Missed tackles, ill-timed penalties, special teams blunders, and poor clock management undid their upset bid.
  • "Miami, good team with flaws. And the flaws all kind of showed up in this game in a pretty costly way." – Doug, [27:26]

The Mendoza Heisman Legacy

• Physical Limitations, But High Execution
  • Host critique: Miami QB Carson Beck is "mid." Mendoza exceeded expectation in the biggest moments, overcoming protection breakdowns.
  • "Are you sure I would believe in any other coach-schemer-QB trio to create that situation, take advantage... and go win the game like that?" – Bill, [29:53]

The Big Picture: What This Means for College Football

Age & Experience Win in the Modern Game

• Indiana, like Michigan and Ohio State before them, leaned on super seniors and transfers.
• "From until further notice, being old is the way in college football for sure." – Doug, [65:53]

Parity and New Contenders

• Hosts call for a new, multipolar preseason top 10 in 2026; old blue-blood dominance is at historic lows.
• "The door's open now to have more of an open mind for just how the season can play out." – Doug, [48:21]

SEC in Decline

• The Big Ten’s run and Indiana’s win are cast as a deathblow to SEC exceptionalism.
• "The debate is dead. The north rules college football. The Big Ten rules college football. [...] The South can cram it. The SEC can cram it." – Bill, [59:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Indiana’s Transformation:
  "Indiana is both Villanova and Georgetown. They are both the underdog and the monstrous favorite." – Bill Landis [04:07]
• On the Signetti Era:
  "Indiana football is a cult, because there are the people that were with Kurt Signetti, that he brought them along and they believed in him and went with him. It’s not just him, but this special collection of people." – Bill Landis [09:05]
• On the Importance of Age:
  "Get older, die trying. Brought to you by John Legend and John Mellencamp." – Bill Landis [66:21]
• On SEC Fatigue:
  "The South can cram it so hard. The SEC can cram it. The south can cram it." – Bill Landis [59:39]
• On 4th & 4 Call:
  "That is a championship moment that... I don't know how many other teams do that." – Bill Landis [29:53]
• On the National Title Game Quality:
  "It was one of the better championship games of the playoff era. Most of the playoff championships have been blowouts. Right. I think it's great." – Doug Lesmerises [43:46]

Key Timestamps

• Historic Nature & Narrative Setting: [02:26]–[10:55]
• Indiana's Schedule, National Impact: [12:08]–[18:20]
• Discussion About The Game (X's & O's Start): [19:32]
• Miami’s Defensive Adjustment & Punt Block: [20:51]–[24:22]
• 4th & 4 Draw, Game-Defining Decision: [28:10]–[33:15]
• Big Ten/SEC Dynamic, "Mid" Talk: [56:20]
• Future of the Big Ten (Oregon, Next Champion?): [57:12]
• Lessons from Indiana’s Model, Age & Experience: [65:53]
• Reflections, Call to Fans: [68:05]–[69:38]

Final Thoughts

Doug and Bill close with appreciation for their audience, a charge to Big Ten and "northern" football fans to relish in the conference's dominance, and an open challenge to college football's status quo. They preview more conversations ahead as the sport enters a new era—one where anyone, maybe even Indiana, can win it all, and age, unity, and savvy now matter more than ever.

For More

• Subscribe to their Substack for in-depth off-season coverage: billanddugosu.substack.com
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