Miami's 'home game' for national title is latest in college football history

The 2025 college football season will conclude on January 19, 2026, with No. 1 Indiana (15-0) facing No. 10 Miami (13-2) in the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship. Despite being the lower seed and designated as the "away team," Miami has the advantage of playing in Hard Rock Stadium, their home venue, located in Miami Gardens, Florida. This marks the second time the stadium has hosted the CFP Championship game since the CFP's announcement in 2022.

Miami, under head coach Mario Cristobal, has reached the championship game after defeating No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 6 Mississippi. The Hurricanes have a historical precedent of winning national championships on their home field, with previous victories in the Orange Bowl contributing to their first four national titles.

Throughout college football history, several teams have had the opportunity to compete for national championships in geographically favorable locations.