Overview
- The Hoosiers beat Miami 27-21 to secure the program’s first College Football Playoff title.
- Riley Nowakowski punched in a one-yard run at 6:13 of the second quarter to cap a 14-play drive after taking a handoff from quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
- The Milwaukee native finished the season with 32 receptions for 387 yards and two receiving touchdowns, added two carries for two rushing scores, and recorded two catches for 17 yards in the final.
- Nowakowski transferred out of Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin program on Dec. 18, 2024, then became a regular contributor in Bloomington.
- Teammates credited head coach Curt Cignetti’s standards and unifying culture for the turnaround, and local reports also highlighted contributions from Homestead alum Anthony Chung.