CFW Week 22 Forecast - Will we have a 16-team playoff next year?

 CFW Week 22 Forecast – Will we have a 16-team playoff next year?

Home field for Miami,

homecoming for Mendoza

 

The Miami Hurricanes couldn’t have it any better on Monday night. They will be playing for the national championship on their home field. What more could you ask for?

 

But will it feel like a home game for Miami? Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback, grew up in Miami. He has a big following in Miami. It will be a homecoming for Mendoza.

 

During the season, Hard Rock Stadium, the site of the national championship game, is Miami’s home field. However, during the season, the Canes never fill up Hard Rock stadium. The stadium seats 65000-66,000. Miami draws anywhere from 35,000 to 55,000 a game, usually around 45,000.

 

From the crowds at both the Rose and Peach Bowls, we know that Indiana has been dominating the attendance at its CFP games. Indiana fans will go to any extreme to get a ticket to the national title game. I wouldn’t be surprised if some Miami fans sell their tickets to Indiana fans. Anything to make a profit.

 

Along with the Indiana fans, I suspect a lot of local Miami area residents will be in the stadium cheering, not for the Canes, but for Indiana – for Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza grew up within walking distance of the Miami campus. He played football for and graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.

 

Mendoza’s father, also Fernando, is a pediatrician and director of a children’s health system in Miami. He too played football for and graduated from Christopher Columbus High School. In fact, and another quirk to the game, the father was high school friends with Miami coach Mario Critobal. They played football together at Christopher Columbus High School.

 

So, the Mendoza’s are well-known in Miami. Fernando will have a lot of local fans at the game. It will be interesting to see who the majority of fans in Hard Rock Stadium are cheering for on Monday night. It’s Miami’s home field, but it’s Fernando’s homecoming. What a scenario!

 

We may have a 16-team CFP next season after all. The conferences have until January 24 to come together on a decision. Actually, all conferences but the Big Ten are together. Nine of the conferences want a 16-team playoff. The Big Ten wants a 24-team playoff. If they don’t agree by January 24, then we will remain at a 12-team playoff again next year. Latest word is the Big Ten will agree to a 16-team playoff, if the other conferences agree to expanding to a 24-team playoff in three years. The 16-team playoff would consist of the four Power Four conference champions, the highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion and 11 at-large teams. All teams would be seeded as they are ranked in the final CFP rankings. Stay tuned!

 

Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has found a new home. Raiola will be playing for the Oregon Ducks next season. However, current Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has chosen to remain at Oregon for another season. Moore did have serious thoughts of entering the NFL draft. So, what does that mean for Raiola? Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has signed with LSU.

 

Former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman will be teaming up with Arch Manning next season. Coleman signed with Texas. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is now suing the NCAA to get another year of eligibility. Former Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula has transferred to Virginia. Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has signed his draft papers. Simpson is declining all transfer offers.

 

He was a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Musician, singer and songwriter Bob Weir died on January 10. Weir played rhythm guitar for the Grateful Dead. Weir began playing the guitar at age 13, after less successful efforts with the piano and the trumpet. He was the lead vocalist on most of the Dead’s songs. A native of San Francisco, Robert Hall Weir was 78.

 

Sources say the Pittsburgh Steelers are showing interest in Curt Cignetti.

 

The weather during the game Monday night is supposed to be clear, with a temperature in the mid-50s.

 

Enjoy the championship game!

 

Touchdown Tom

January 15, 2026

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

Touchdown Tom’s Prediction for the College Football Playoff

 

College Football Playoff, Championship – (Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida) – 7:30 pm ET, Monday, ESPN – If I were an Indiana fan, I would be a little worried. All of the pregame buildup, hoopla, attention and commentary have been about Indiana and Fernando Mendoza. There has been very little mention of Miami. You would think Indiana has already won the game. This talk can’t be sitting well with the Miami players. They have to be getting mad. This could be the best thing Miami coach Mario Cristobal could ask for. He doesn’t need to fire up his players. The press, analysts and commentators are doing it for him. And this could be the worst thing Indiana coach Curt Cignetti could ask for. This could all be going to the heads of the Indiana players. If they are reading and listening to all this pregame commentary, they could become complacent and overconfident. Cignetti has to keep his players focused. He has to keep their heads on their shoulders. Against Oregon, Indiana got off to a fast start. However much of that was due to some breaks. The Hoosiers may not get any breaks from Miami. Talent wise, Miami and Indiana are about even. Miami has 10 blue-chip players (4 and 5-star), Indiana has 8. Is any pressure getting to Fernando Mendoza? He hasn’t been here before. Carson Beck has been here. Both teams have been playing good defense for the most part. Indiana held Alabama to 3 points. The Hoosiers held Oregon to 7 points until midway through the third quarter. Oregon’s additional points came late in the game after Indiana already had leads of 42-7 and 56-15. Miami went into Kyle Field in College Station and held Texas A&M to 3 points. The Canes held Ohio State to 14 points and 45 rushing yards. But Miami did give up 27 points, 400 total yards and 277 passing yards to Ole Miss. So, the Canes’ defense is not invulnerable. In addition to Carson Beck, Miami running back Mark Fletcher and receiver Malachi Toney could impact the game. In addition to Fernando Mendoza, Indiana running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black and receivers Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt need to step up. Breaks could be the difference in the game. Mendoza shear subdues the Hurricane – Indiana 28, Miami 21.

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“I would have been remembered as the guy who chased money to Miami or Tennessee for a final season. But I was a captain. My handprints are in the cement at Denny Chimes. I would have lost everything I built at Alabama,” Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, on why he stuck with entering the NFL draft as opposed to transferring to Miami or Tennessee for $6.5 million.

 

“If I were the Pittsburgh Steelers, I think the first person that I would call would be Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame,” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.

 

“The country music group Alabama is changing its name to Indiana,” Cat Daddy, calling into the Paul Finebaum Show.

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

The next CFW – Week 22 Results – will be posted Tuesday morning, January 20.