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The 2025 college football season will come to a close on Monday night when the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers take to South Beach to play the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. As touchdown favorites, Indiana has a talent advantage, most importantly under center, where Fernando Mendoza will complete his Heisman season back where his football journey began.
Miami began the season in the spotlight, beating Notre Dame back in August and flaunting NFL-ready talents across its defense. The Hurricanes have hit some turbulence since, but toppling Ohio State and Mississippi is plenty of proof that Indiana can be beaten, too.
Miami will need its defensive stars to step up. Doing so would have a meaningful impact on the 2026 NFL Draft, too. Mendoza has made his case to be the first pick. Carson Beck has three seasons' worth of starts to show NFL evaluators. It's the supporting casts that should catch scouts' eyes on Monday. Here's who I'll be watching as we say goodbye to the 2025 college football campaign.
Miami Hurricanes prospects to watch
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE
There's an argument to be made that Bain will be the best player on the field in this game. Meeting that expectation would go a long way in keeping his stock trending upward amid concerns about his size.
Bain's arm length is a real issue, and it might cap his upside at the next level. Still, teams will be happy to bank on a prospect with as much power, burst, and technical refinement as Bain, even if his role demands some adjustments.
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE
Bain's partner in crime could also be a first-round pick, although playing his entire rookie season at 25 years old is the kind of red flag that lands prospects in Round 2.
Mesidor has the size to play the run and plenty of production, leading the ACC with 10.5 sacks in 2025. His bend, burst, and play strength are all above average, and his versatility will play an important role in slowing Mendoza down. Indiana's RPO-heavy offense is reliant on a strong early-down run game, and Mendoza's weaknesses begin to emerge under duress. Getting home could have outsized dividends for Miami.
Keionte Scott, CB
Scott was made in a lab to be a third-round pick at corner. He may be resigned to full-time slot duty at the next level, but his blend of processing, footwork, and speed makes him one of college football's most electric defenders.
Scott is happy to get his hands dirty and did so frequently -- only one defensive back rushed the passer more this season. I love his ability to make plays in zone coverage, and there are zero questions about his athleticism translating to Sundays. He's a splash play waiting to happen.
Carson Beck, QB
Beck's final collegiate game will come with the highest of stakes. There's not a ton Beck can do to change evaluators' minds. He's an interesting, but fairly limited, passer who runs hot and cold.
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However, there's a wide-open race to be the second quarterback off the board. He won't land too high on my board, but could he make a strong closing argument against Indiana? Beck has made plays when the Hurricanes needed him most, and his intangibles could convince a team to roll the dice earlier than anticipated.
CJ Daniels, WR
Like Beck, Daniels is set to end a long collegiate career against Indiana. He wasn't terribly productive in 2025 (495 yards), but his seven touchdowns weren't an accident. He has scored at least seven times in three of his five full seasons.
As a prototypical X receiver, Daniels has the size and speed to make offenses better downfield. His strong hands are a sticking point on his profile, carving out a role for him as a mid-round draft pick.
Ahmad Moten Sr., DT
Moten's ability to impact the national championship game is likely greater than his stock's mobility. He's a steady nose tackle prospect who lacks standout traits but has a good enough body of work to be a Day 3 pick.
On Monday, though, his ability to stifle the Hoosiers' ground game would put Indiana behind the eight ball. Oregon did little to hinder Indiana's offense early and found itself miles behind the Hoosiers. Indiana is too well-coached to blow big leads on bigger stages. Moten must leave his mark on this one before Indiana can run (literally) its way to a title.
Indiana Hoosiers prospects to watch
D'angelo Ponds, CB
It didn't take long for Ponds to make an impact on the CFP semifinals. His ability to create turnovers in zone coverage is among the best in the class. Ponds plays bigger than his size would suggest and is the best player on Indiana's defense.
He'll have his hands full with Daniels' size advantage and Malachi Toney, but Ponds' technique and processing position him well.
Elijah Sarratt, WR
Sarratt has followed Mendoza to the top 50, flying in the tailwind of college football's best quarterback. His profile is highlighted by elite physicality and an ability to make plays in the red zone. He can find soft spots in zones, and he's a quarterback-friendly target.
A strong statement game would be nice, but Sarratt's biggest tests will come in the pre-draft circuit. Expect Mendoza to look Sarratt's way on the game's biggest downs.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR
Cooper saw the biggest boost to his (public) stock after his incredible touchdown against Penn State, but he's quietly built a strong case to be a mid-round selection.
Cooper had an excellent platform year, helping him showcase above-average body control and the ability to impact every level of the field. He mostly operated out of the slot this year, which could become an answer to Scott's frequent cornerback blitzes. Cooper should get looks early and often as Mendoza finds his security blanket.
Carter Smith, OT
The Hurricanes are playing in this game because they have one of the best defensive lines in the country. At some point, that means Carter Smith is going to have to make the kind of plays required of a franchise tackle.
Smith's excellent season has been defined by his clean record in pass protection. He allowed six pressures all season (per PFF) and passed tests against Ohio State, Alabama, and Oregon. Perhaps that is inflated by constantly playing from ahead, but it has been impressive nonetheless. One more game against elite competition could keep Smith in the top 50 after flashes of first-round hype earlier in the cycle.
Pat Coogan, iOL
Smith will be the first Hoosier lineman drafted in April, but Coogan is tracking to be a starting-caliber interior lineman at the next level.
A Notre Dame transfer, Coogan has experience at guard and center, with excellent technique to boot. He's mobile enough to make plays on zone runs and strong enough to hold his own against bigger defensive tackles. Against an elite Hurricanes line, that will come in handy. Positional value and upside limit his stock, but Coogan is draftable and could rise in the coming months.
Fernando Mendoza, QB
What is there to say about Mendoza that hasn't been said before? He's had an excellent season and is a near-guarantee to be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
There's a world in which Miami's pressure gets to Mendoza and his suboptimal pocket habits lead to catastrophic mistakes. But it's also to see Indiana getting up early and the second half being a celebration of Mendoza's memorable season. I'm not convinced either would do much to his draft stock.
Mendoza's upside seems to be the biggest question left in his profile. We'll see if he can make enough magic to change that narrative on Monday.
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