The season may be over, but moments like the one in Miami linger because they tell us something deeper about the game.
Fresh off the National Championship, I connected with the Big Ten Network’s Howard Griffith on the latest Y-Option podcast, presented by 76 - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.
Howard spent the week in Miami, inside the emotion of the instant classic of Miami vs Indiana. He shared what stood out from the Hoosiers, and it wasn’t just how physical the game was, it was how complete Indiana looked. This was football built from the inside out, defined by line play, mental conditioning, and a team prepared to absorb pressure without flinching.
As a 2-time Super Bowl Champion, Howard has lived championship moments at every level, and he recognized something familiar (see John Elway) when Indiana’s quarterback put everything on the line in the biggest moment of the game. Those plays don’t just move the chains, they unify a sideline and reveal belief.
What followed the final whistle felt different too. It was the culmination of a two-year build by IU marked by road wins, discipline, and an ability to handle the invisible weight of being undefeated without talking about it.
That’s the part that can’t be copied easily. Indiana didn’t win because of recruiting rankings or shortcuts. They won because everyone, from Curt Cignetti to the locker room as this team was aligned in message, intent, and daily habits.
Indiana isn’t going anywhere in the Big Ten Conference. Neither is the standard they revealed on Monday night. And that may put even more teams in college football on the clock.
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Much love and stay steady,
Yogi
