Indiana coach Curt Cignetti and Miami coach Mario Cristobal have taken different paths to their current roles, where they’ll lead their respective teams into Monday’s national championship game.

The day before the biggest game of their lives, the two coaches reflected on their paths to where they are today, from Cignetti passing up coal mining for coaching and Cristobal only getting into the sport after getting cut in high school baseball.

Cignetti’s dad, Frank Cignetti, was the head coach at West Virginia from 1976-79 and at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1986-2001.

‘I grew up the son of a coach,’ Cignetti told reporters Jan. 18. ‘I was the oldest of four. Where he’s from, everybody was a steelworker or coal miner, and it seemed like a pretty cool thing to do for a living. When we went to West Virginia in 1970 and I was on the sideline for all the home games, it was Bobby Bowden’s first year as a head coach in West Virginia, I pretty much knew in my heart what I wanted to do. 

‘I don’t know what else I would have done other than coach, to be honest with you.’

Cristobal, on the other hand, landed a scholarship to play offensive line at Miami out of high school, which started his entire career, as he now leads his alma mater. He played for the Hurricanes from 1989-92, when the program was a factory for future NFL legends.

‘I love football,’ Cristobal said. ‘I was a baseball player that wasn’t very good and got cut. By the grace of God, Dennis Lavelle, head football coach of Columbus High School, was walking by the hallway said you should try and play football. Coach Jimmy Johnson scooped up my brother and I and offered us scholarships to University of Miami. 

‘We were able to be part of a historic run and loved every aspect of it. Two parents that couldn’t tell you what a first down was or what a touchdown was, but the ride they enjoyed with us, the journey they went on with us and the way our lives were impacted made me realize I wanted to be part of football and football part of my life for my career.’

Indiana and Miami have taken unconventional paths to the national title game, as well. The No. 1 Hoosiers (15-0) were the losingest program in college football history entering the season and finished with a 3-9 record in 2023 before Cignetti took over the program. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the school’s first Heisman Trophy, and the roster has zero former 5-star recruits.

Indiana has never won a national championship, and a win on Jan. 19 would mark one of the most improbable turnarounds in college football history.

No. 10 Miami (13-2), meanwhile, jumped into a College Football Playoff spot on the final rankings reveal, despite not reaching the ACC Championship game. It went on to upset No. 7 Texas A&M on the road, before beating No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Mississippi to set up the match with the Hoosiers.

Miami’s national championship berth is its first since 2002, when the Hurricanes fell to Ohio State. Miami hasn’t had a top 10 finish in the polls since 2003, but the five-time champions are making their claim back in elite status.

Based on Cignetti and Cristobal’s backgrounds, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The New England Patriots are hosting the Houston Texans on Jan. 18 in a 2025 NFL playoff game that will decide who plays the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game.

The Patriots and Texans will need to battle the elements as each looks to get one step closer to Super Bowl 60. Snow is in the forecast for New England, and a few inches could end up accumulating throughout the day.

Such weather could have a major impact on both offenses. C.J. Stroud and Drake Maye are both young quarterbacks who don’t have extensive history playing in snowy weather.

How will the weather impact the playoff game between the Patriots and Texans? Here’s a look at the forecast and latest weather updates from Foxborough as the NFL’s divisional round continues.

Patriots vs. Texans weather updates

Snow is starting to fall again ahead of the Patriots vs. Texans game, which is set to kick off at 3 p.m. ET, after a brief, pregame lull. Some light flakes could be seen coming down in a video shared by the Texans to social media, which showed quarterback C.J. Stroud approaching Houston fans who had made the trip up for the game.

Meanwhile, the Patriots earlier shared video of Drake Maye warming up that showed little to no precipitation falling. Still, gray skies above the stadium highlighted the oncoming threat of snow.

A light snow fell in Foxborough in the morning ahead of the Patriots vs. Texans game. It wasn’t yet sticking to the ground, but heavier flurries are expected later in the day.

The snow had stopped as of 1 p.m. ET, as The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin noted. However, Volin reported it was still ‘a wet, cold day’ at Gillette Stadium in the hours leading up to kickoff.

And snow is still expected to be a factor during the Patriots vs. Texans game. It’s just a question of how much will fall during the game.

As of Jan. 17, Foxborough – the location of Gillette Stadium, the home of the Patriots – is expected to get 3-6 inches of snow. Terry Eliasen of WBZ, Boston’s local CBS affiliate, notes the ‘steadiest’ snow will fall from ‘late afternoon through about midnight.’

On Jan. 18, NFL Network’s Jane Slater further clarified that ‘steady’ snow is expected to start falling at 4 p.m. ET.

Foxborough weather forecast for Patriots vs. Texans playoff game

Snow is going to fall in Foxborough on Sunday and the expectation is it will fall during the Patriots vs. Texans game, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Below is a full look at the details of the updated weather forecast around Gillette Stadium for Jan. 18:

High temperature: 36 degrees
Low temperature: 26 degrees
Chance of precipitation: 90%
Wind: 5-7 mph

The NWS also announced there will be a ‘Winter Weather Advisory’ in effect from 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 18 to 7 a.m. ET the following day. The expectation is there will be ‘total snow accumulations between 3 to 5 inches’ throughout the period.

When will most of the snow fall? Daytime estimates have listed possible ‘new snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches,’ but that forecast could change as the storm develops.

Either way, flurries should fall at some point during Sunday’s Patriots vs. Texans game, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET. That could make for slick conditions and will make it a challenge for both teams to grip and throw the ball.

The Hoosiers and Hurricanes have only played each other twice before, both times in the 1960s.
Indiana is considered to have the advantage in most position matchups, including quarterback and coaching.
Miami’s defensive line, led by projected top NFL draft picks Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, is a key strength.

The matchup between Indiana and Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game wasn’t something expected in the preseason or even when both teams started their postseason journeys. But the Hoosiers and Hurricanes arrive Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium confident they’ll be the ones celebrating at the end of 60 minutes.

If you’re looking for some historical component to the game, there’s little to go on. The lone two meetings between the schools came in the 1960s. And the Big Ten and ACC have never met in a title game during the CFP era.

However, there is some recent history between Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Miami. Mendoza played for California when the Golden Bears fell to the Hurricanes in a dramatic finish.

So how do the teams stack up against each other? We break down the matchups.

QB

Indiana: Fernando Mendoza

Miami: Carson Beck

Mendoza surpassed all reasonable expectations with a season that saw him win the Heisman Trophy and then follow that up with two ruthlessly efficient performances in the playoff. Beck also made a big impact in his first year on a new team, giving Miami stability at the position. He has been turnover-prone at times, but mostly avoided miscues in the playoff run.

RB

Indiana: Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black

Miami: Mark Fletcher and Charmar Brown

What gives Indiana the advantage at this position is the versatility of having Black and Hemby to share carries and wear down the Hurricanes defense. They’re physical runners that don’t try to do more than they play allows, leading to few negative plays. Fletcher might be the best back of the group, and he’s been outstanding in the playoff with 395 yards in three games. But there’s a big drop off to Brown, who mostly is a short-yardage option.

EDGE: Indiana

WR and TE

Indiana: Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., Charlie Becker and Riley Nowakowski

Miami: Malachi Toney, Keelan Marion and CJ Daniels

Another situation where the depth of Indiana gives them a slight advantage. Sarratt is a big target who can make contested catches, and Cooper has provided some clutch contributions as the team’s leader with 866 yards. They’ve combined for 28 of Mendoza’s 41 touchdown passes. Becker is a big-play guy that has provided knockout punches getting behind defenses. For Miami, Toney was a revelation as a freshman with his ability to turn short passes into large gains. Marion was outstanding in the Fiesta Bowl against Mississippi, which is the No. 2 option the Hurricanes need, especially with starting tight end Elija Lofton out.

EDGE: Indiana.

OL

Indiana: Pat Coogan, Carter Smith, Bray Lynch, Drew Evans, Khalil Benson

Miami: Markel Bell, Matthew McCoy, James Brockermeyer, Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa

Another close call that goes the way of the Hoosiers. Indiana’s group has proven itself against some of the best defensive lines in the country while leading a running game that averages 5.2 yards per carry. Miami’s Francis Mauigoa is one of the best left tackles in the country and leads a unit that has allowed just 19 sacks in 15 games.

EDGE: Indiana

DL

Indiana: Mikail Kamara, Mario Landino, Tyrique Tucker, Hosea Wheeler, Daniel Ndukwe

Miami: Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Ahmad Moten, David Blay

Bain and Mesidor are two of the best defenders in the country and are projected to be among the top picks in the first round of the NFL draft in April. The duo has combined for 19 sacks and will be difficult to contain. Indiana lacks a superstar, though Tucker was a first-team Big Ten selection, but gets contributions from everyone to create a solid group.

EDGE: Miami

LB

Indiana: Aiden Fisher, Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy

Miami: Mohamed Toure, Wesley Bissainthe and Raul Aguirre Jr.

Fisher and Hardy were two of the best performers in the Big Ten with each totaling more than 90 tackles. Jones and Hardy — with 8 and 7 sacks, respectively — are also able to get after the quarterback. Toure, the leading tackler for Miami, was huge difference in his first year after transferring from Rutgers. Bissainthe is a key veteran presence that can make plays all over the field.

EDGE: Indiana

DB

Indiana: D’Angelo Ponds, Jamari Sharpe, Louis Moore, Amare Ferrell and Devan Boykin

Miami: Keionte Scott, Zechariah Poyser, Xavier Lucas, Bryce Fitzgerald and Jakobe Thomas

Ponds is a lock-down corner and Moore added six interceptions from his safety spot. Both were all-Big Ten selections. Ferrell plays alongside Moore and is also opportunistic. Miami also has a strong group with Thomas the team’s leading tackler who makes plays rushing the passer and defending the pass. Fitzgerald was one of best freshmen in the country with six interceptions, including the game-clincher against Texas A&M in the first round.

EDGE: Indiana

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nico Radicic (K), vs Carter Davis (K)

Radicic has only missed one kick all season, but has only attempted 17 field goals — all from inside the 50 yards. Davis has a strong leg with six makes beyond 50 yards, but he’s had four misses in the three playoff games.

EDGE: Indiana.

COACHING

Curt Cignetti vs Mario Cristobal

Cignetti is on the verge of completing one of the great coaching jobs in college football history by leading the Hoosiers to a national title in his second season. Indiana plays with unique discipline and minimizes mistakes, which is a tribute to their coach. Cristobal had a spotty record with some curious coaching decisions in losses prior to this season. But his rebuilding job with the Hurricanes shouldn’t be overlooked, and he’s been mostly pushing the right buttons this season.

EDGE: Indiana

When is CFP national championship game? Indiana vs Miami start time

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, Jan. 19
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)

The CFP national championship game between Indiana and Miami will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Denver Broncos earned their first playoff win since Super Bowl 50 by beating the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in the divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs.

However, the victory came at a cost. Bo Nix suffered an ankle injury during the contest that will knock him out for the remainder of the season.

Here’s what to know about Nix’s injury and how the Broncos will move forward with their top quarterback unavailable.

Bo Nix injury update

Broncos coach Sean Payton announced Nix had suffered a season-ending ankle fracture during his postgame news conference.

‘On the second-to-last play in overtime, Bo fractured a bone in his right ankle,’ Payton told reporters. ‘He’s scheduled to have surgery Tuesday of this week to put him out for the rest of the season.’

Payton later clarified the play wasn’t the second-to-last play of overtime and came just before Nix’s pass to Marvin Mims Jr. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero posted a video of the play – which featured Nix taking a low hit from Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop – to social media.

Nix was able to finish the overtime period despite the injury. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while leading the team with 12 carries and 29 rushing yards.

Now, his season will end, as Nix is set to undergo season-ending ankle surgery in Alabama on Tuesday, per Payton.

Who is the Broncos’ backup quarterback?

Jarrett Stidham is the Broncos’ backup quarterback and will replace Nix. Payton expressed confidence in the veteran, who will make his first start of the season in the AFC championship game.

‘Stiddy’s ready to go,’ Payton said, referring to the backup quarterback by his nickname.

Stidham, 29, is a seven-year veteran who was elected in the fourth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He has been with the Broncos since 2023 and made two starts for the team that season, going 1-1 and completing 60.6% of his passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Stidham has not attempted a regular-season or postseason pass since the 2023 NFL season.

Broncos QB depth chart

The Broncos have just two healthy quarterbacks remaining in their organization with Nix out for the season. They are as follows:

Jarrett Stidham
Sam Ehlinger

Ehlinger is in his first season with the Broncos after spending his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. The 27-year-old Texas product hasn’t played a snap for the Broncos this season but was the Denver’s emergency third quarterback for Sunday’s game.

Like Stidham, Ehlinger hasn’t played a regular-season or postseason NFL snap since the 2023 season. He last attempted a pass in 2022, when he started three games, going 0-3 and completing 63.4% of his passes for 573 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while with the Colts.

Broncos backup QB situation

Prior to the start of the 2025 season, the Broncos didn’t have the best backup situation in the league. In fact, USA TODAY’s Nate Davis ranked the passers-in-waiting at No. 25 out of the 32 teams in the league.

‘Even though he’s had limited regular-season run in six NFL seasons, coaches tend to rave about Jarrett Stidham. Third-stringer Sam Ehlinger is similarly unproven,’ Davis wrote.

Broncos QB options without Bo Nix

The Broncos are likely to roll with Stidham as their starter with Nix out while Ehlinger would slot into the backup role.

That said, Denver could consider adding a third-string quarterback to their organization for depth purposes. Here’s a look at some of the available candidates the Broncos could consider for that role:

Shane Buechele
Taylor Heinicke
Adrian Martinez
Clayton Tune
Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Report: ‘Players didn’t know’ about Bo Nix’s injury

Fans weren’t the only ones blindsided by Nix’s injury. Bleacher Report’s James Palmer reports that ‘players didn’t know’ that the second-year quarterback was injured until Payton announced it at the podium during his news conference.

Bo Nix’s reaction to injury: Report

Payton said after the game that Nix had an upbeat, positive outlook on his injury, owing largely to his Christian faith.

‘He’s a tough cookie,’ Payton said.

Despite Payton’s recollection in his quote, there have been more than a couple of quarterbacks to lead their team to a conference championship game in their second season. Among active players, that list includes Mahomes, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)

Sean McDermott came to the defense of his players and vented his frustrations toward a perceived slight by the referees during the Buffalo Bills’ divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos in the NFL playoffs.

The Bills coach targeted his postgame frustrations at the game’s officials for their call of Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian’s interception against quarterback Josh Allen.

The Bills’ head coach expressed his belief that the play – which set up the Broncos’ game-winning field goal moments later – should have either been ruled a catch or been the subject of a closer, ‘slowed down’ look prior to the Broncos’ ensuing offensive possession.

‘I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it,’ McDermott said after the game. ‘I’m standing up for us.’

‘It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,’ McDermott said. ‘And if it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right. That would have made a lot of sense to me – to make sure we have this thing right. Because that’s a pivotal play in the game. We (would have had) the ball at the 20, maybe kicking a game-winning field goal right there.

‘So I’ll just leave it at that, and I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I’m standing up for us. Because what went on is not how it should go down. These guys spent three hours out there playing football, pouring their guts out. To not even say, ‘Hey, let’s just slow this thing down.’ That’s why I’m bothered.’

Sean McDermott shares more frustration after press conference

McDermott made additional comments regarding his thoughts on the interception call in a pool report to The Buffalo News writer Jay Skurski after his press conference. The Bills’ head coach doubled down on his thoughts that the play should have been ruled a catch by receiver Brandin Cooks, rather than an interception in favor of the Broncos and McMillian.

‘Here’s the deal, right? The fans deserve more,’ McDermott said, according to The Buffalo News. ‘The players certainly deserve more. They deserve an explanation, and it’s a shame that a game is decided on a call like that, and there is no time spent with the head official going underneath the hood or to the replay booth, right?

‘I don’t understand how that works. I don’t understand how that could be the case when it’s such a close play, so basically there is one person ruling on that play or, only New York ruling on that play? I don’t agree with that. If that’s the case, I don’t agree with that.’

McDermott went on to triple down on his assessment of the play and reiterated that he felt a need to speak up because he believed his team was wronged.

‘We’re not just going to sit here and take it,’ he said, per The Buffalo News. ‘I’m pissed off about it, and I feel strongly as I’ve looked at it in review in my own locker that it’s a catch, and that the process should have been handled differently.’

The Bills will have to wait at least one more year for their first AFC title since 1993. The Broncos, with their win, moved on to the AFC championship game, where they’ll play the winner of Jan. 18’s New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans divisional game.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will miss the final two games of the team’s current road trip due to knee inflammation.

Leonard missed Friday’s four-point win in Toronto with a right ankle sprain, but NBA reporter Chris Haynes reported that the knee issue in his left leg is what’s now causing the most concern. Haynes reported that Leonard is being sent home for treatment and he’ll be evaluated once the team returns on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Leonard, 34, has been the driving force behind the Clippers’ recent surge. The six-time All-Star has averaged 32.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists over his last 13 games, 11 of which resulted in Clipper wins.

With Leonard out, the Clippers defeated the Raptors in overtime 121-117 on Jan. 16, to improve their overall record to 18-23.

For the season, Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.2 points per game, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 94.1% from the free throw line.

The article frames a hypothetical Indiana national championship as the most unexpected in modern college football history.
Several of these surprise champions, like 2010 Auburn and 1976 Pittsburgh, were led by Heisman Trophy-winning players.

Things we could’ve written back in August that no longer apply: Indiana’s last outright Big Ten championship came in 1945. Last nine-win season was in 1967. Last time with back-to-back bowl appearances came in 2015-16. Last time with back-to-back winning seasons came in 1987-88.

Without question, an Indiana title would be the most unexpected in modern Bowl Subdivision history given the program’s dismal history as a Big Ten and Power Four doormat.

Remade as a bulldozing juggernaut by second-year coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers now enter the title game against Miami with a case for being seen as the best team of the College Football Playoff era.

While the unbeaten Hoosiers would be in a class by themselves, let’s look back at eight previous national champions who defied the odds and expectations to deliver an out-of-nowhere title:

2010 Auburn

Two words: Cam Newton. After going 5-7 in Tommy Tuberville’s final season, the 2009 squad went 8-5 under new coach Gene Chizik and tied for fourth in the SEC West. Then Auburn, which was No. 23 in the preseason poll, signed Newton and went a perfect 14-0 with seven single-digit wins, including in the Iron Bowl (28-27) and the title game against Oregon (22-19). This was Auburn’s only ranked finish from 2008-12; the other four teams surrounding the title squad went a combined 24-26.

2000 Oklahoma

Maybe the most consistently successful program of the post-war era hit rock bottom in the 1990s, culminating in three losing records in a row under then-coach John Blake from 1996-98. But Blake recruited a good chunk of the roster that Bob Stoops led to the national championship in just his second season, taking a team that debuted at No. 19 in the preseason to what is by far the most unexpected of the program’s seven claimed titles. Josh Heupel, a quarterback from junior college, led the offense, while the defense was full of standouts, including LB Rocky Calmus.

1990 Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets shared the title with Colorado, which went 11-1 in 1989 and finished No. 4 in the Coaches Poll. In comparison, Tech went 2-9 under new coach Bobby Ross in 1987 and 3-8 in 1988 before climbing to 7-4 in 1989. The 1990 George Tech team was unranked until October, didn’t crack the top five until late December and earned the shared title after demolishing Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl. The Jackets would drop to 19-27 over the following four seasons.

1984 Brigham Young

The last team outside the current Power Four landscape to win the national title, BYU ended the 1984 season as the only unbeaten team in the country and one of just four with fewer than two losses. While this perfect-storm scenario helped the Cougars thread the needle and finish ahead of No. 2 Washington in a very close vote, the 1984 team was the fifth in six years to win at least 11 games under coach LaVell Edwards.

1983 Miami (Fla.)

Miami made its debut in 1926, had some success in the 1950s and posted just two winning seasons, both at 6-5, from 1968-78. But the program began to grow under coach Howard Schnellenberger, going 9-3 in 1980, 9-2 in 1981 and then 7-4 in 1982. The 1983 team lost its opener to Florida by 25 points, didn’t crack the Top 25 until October and was ranked No. 5 when it faced off against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. After stopping the Cornhuskers’ two-point attempt in the final minute, Miami surged to No. 1 after losses by Texas and Illinois and close win by Auburn to christen a dynasty that dominated the sport for the following two decades.

1976 Pittsburgh

From 1964-72, Pittsburgh went 22-68-2 with four one-win seasons, including a 1-10 mark in 1972. After hiring coach Johnny Majors, the Panthers went 6-5-1 in 1973, 7-4 in 1974 and 8-4 in 1975, building momentum heading into 1976 with a late-season win against Notre Dame and a Sun Bowl victory against Kansas. Like Newton at Auburn in 2010, the 1976 Panthers were carried by a Heisman winner, running back Tony Dorsett, who ran for 1,948 yards during the regular season and another 202 yards in the Sugar Bowl win against Georgia.

1965 Michigan State

The Spartans went 35-2 from 1950-53, finished in the top three in 1955 and 1957 but then stumbled down the Big Ten ladder, going 36-24-3 overall and 23-17-2 in conference play from 1958-64. But coach Duffy Daugherty and Michigan State forged a new era in college football by integrating the roster with Black athletes in the early 1960s, building a team that went from 4-5 in 1964 to 19-1-2 the next two seasons. The 1965 team finished atop the US LBM Coaches Poll and shared the title despite losing the Rose Bowl to UCLA.

1962 Southern California

One of the dominant programs of the 1920s and ‘30s, USC had fallen on hard times in the post-war era, posting one 10-win finish and four losing seasons from 1946-1961. But the Trojans’ fortunes began to change with the arrival of future Hall of Fame coach John McKay in 1960. After going a combined 8-11-1 in his first two seasons, the 1962 squad opened the year unranked, climbed into the polls after being Duke in the opener and then secured the program’s first title since 1939 by winning a high-scoring Rose Bowl against Wisconsin.

When is CFP national championship game? Indiana vs Miami start time

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, Jan. 19
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)

The CFP national championship game between Indiana and Miami will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.