Monday Morning Update
Indiana One Win Away From College Football Glory
This weekend, college football turned into a fairy tale—or a sitcom—with Indiana absolutely rolling over Oregon in the playoff semifinals. The Hoosiers punched their ticket to the national championship in convincing fashion, earning plenty of “did that just happen?” reactions around the water cooler this Monday morning.
In the Rose Bowl-style Peach Bowl, Indiana—led by Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza—smoked Oregon with a 56–22 blowout. Mendoza went 17 of 20 for 177 yards and five touchdowns. The Hoosiers’ tight defense forced turnovers, including a pick-six on Oregon QB Dante Moore, and Indiana’s running game added two more touchdowns. ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2026/01/09/sports/indiana-dominates-oregon-to-advance-to-national-championship-game/?utm_source=openai))
Why it matters: Indiana has never been this good—and now they’re one win away from a national championship. Their head coach, Curt Cignetti, jokes about cracking open a beer rather than plotting the next game, and honestly, given how dominant they’ve been, who can blame him? ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2026/01/10/sports/curt-cignetti-was-only-thinking-about-one-thing-after-indianas-cfp-win-in-viral-moment/?utm_source=openai))
This matters on Monday because it’s a feel-good story that's impossible to ignore. Even if you normally skip college football headlines, it’s hard not to root for a historic underdog who might wrap up a perfect season and an unexpected title.
Monday morning takeaway: Indiana’s Cinderella run isn’t over—it could end with the title, and what a story that would be.
Sources: New York Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Post (Coach Cignetti’s quote)
Miami Upsets Ole Miss to Set Up Miami vs Indiana Title Game
Meanwhile, over in the other semifinal, Miami edged Ole Miss 31–27 in a nail-biter at the Fiesta Bowl. Quarterback Carson Beck sealed the win with a late rushing touchdown. As a bonus twist, Miami has the home-field edge—because the national championship will be played at Hard Rock Stadium, their home turf. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/indiana-opens-td-favorite-over-miami-cfp-title-game--flm-2026-01-10/?utm_source=openai))
Why it matters: Miami’s win is a classic “two paths to victory” setup—solid finishing drive vs. all-out blowout. It also adds an extra layer of intrigue: the title game will be in Miami, and fans are already clamoring. A hometown championship run? That's an office convo starter.
Monday morning takeaway: Miami’s drama-filled win sets the stage for a wildly compelling title game—with the added spice of being played in their backyard.
Sources: Reuters, The Sun (fashion & context)
NFL Playoffs Kicking Off This Weekend
The NFL postseason officially starts this weekend—Saturday, January 10 marks the kickoff of Wild Card Weekend as the quest toward Super Bowl LX begins. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_NFL_playoffs?utm_source=openai))
Why it matters: Wild Card Weekend is when anything can happen—teams coming in hot or crashing hard, buzzer-beaters, and total chaos. It's like trading elevators at work: exciting, unpredictable, and the start of something big.
Monday morning takeaway: Pay attention this weekend—even brief naps during the game could lead to major surprises in the NFL playoff bracket.