Tonight’s College Football Championship is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, and it is being called the Cuban Super Bowl, a nickname that has spread across Miami with unmistakable pride. Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is Cuban American and Miami‑raised, a hometown product now leading the Hoosiers onto the sport’s biggest stage. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal shares that same cultural and geographic lineage, and the two are connected by more than heritage.
GAME TIME 7:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN TV and Streaming
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Cristobal and Mendoza both trace their roots to Christopher Columbus High School, the all‑boys Catholic powerhouse in the Westchester neighborhood. Cristobal graduated in 1988 before becoming a standout offensive lineman at the University of Miami. Decades later, Mendoza emerged from the same hallways and practice fields as one of Columbus’ premier quarterbacks, eventually rising to national prominence at Indiana.
The connection runs even deeper. Cristobal was once teammates with Fernando Mendoza Sr., the quarterback’s father, during their own Columbus playing days. That generational overlap adds a remarkable twist to this year’s championship storyline: the head coach of one finalist once lined up alongside the father of the opposing quarterback.
It’s a uniquely Miami narrative — family, football, culture, and legacy converging on one of the sport’s biggest nights.
More than one million Cuban Americans call Miami home. Their presence shapes culture, food, and sports passion. This championship feels deeply personal for many families.
A Community United by Culture, Pride, and Football
This game transcends typical college football stakes. It blends heritage, history, and hometown pride. It brings generations together across Miami’s neighborhoods.
The Cuban community feels seen and celebrated. The city rallies behind its coaches and its star. The “Cuban Super Bowl” becomes a cultural milestone.
