National Championship Preview: NFL Draft Storylines to Watch

By Jack Brentnall

The national championship game carries legacy implications for players and teams, but it also functions as a high-leverage evaluation point for draft prospects. With two high-profile quarterbacks, a disruptive defensive front, and multiple Day 2 defenders on display, this matchup offers scouts a last stress test before draft season really picks up speed.

Here are five NFL Draft storylines to watch as Indiana and Miami meet on college football’s biggest stage.

Can Carson Beck deliver under pressure?

At his best, Carson Beck looks like one of the cleanest pocket passers in college football. When structure holds, he delivers with timing, accuracy, and confidence to every level of the field. The lingering question has been how he responds when that structure breaks down.

Miami’s offensive line has kept Beck remarkably clean this season, allowing pressure on just 16.9% of his dropbacks, the lowest rate in the FBS. Indiana, however, should be a tough test. Its defensive front generates pressure without heavy blitz volume, relying on stunts and simulated pressures to force quarterbacks to speed up their internal clock.

For Beck, this game is less about raw production and more about process. Scouts will focus on how he navigates muddy pockets, whether he climbs rather than drifts, and if he is willing to take checkdowns instead of forcing late-developing throws. A composed performance under duress would go a long way toward quieting some of the remaining concerns in his evaluation.

Can Fernando Mendoza deliver another clutch performance?

Fernando Mendoza enters the national championship entrenched as the projected No. 1 overall pick, which shifts the evaluation lens. This game is not about proving upside or climbing up boards, but about demonstrating polish.

What separates franchise quarterbacks at the next level is often command of situational football. Mendoza’s poise, decision making, and pre-snap control have been consistent strengths, but the national championship stage magnifies every detail. How quickly does he diagnose coverage rotations? Does he punish aggressive looks without putting the ball in harm’s way? How does he manage the game if Indiana falls behind early?

Nothing in this performance will change his standing as QB1, but it will shape the narrative that follows him into the spring. Every throw, decision, and adjustment will be closely scrutinized in the months ahead.

Could a big game change Mark Fletcher’s decision?

Miami running back Mark Fletcher has publicly stated his intention to return for the 2026 season, but championship performances have a way of reshaping narratives and, at times, decisions.

Fletcher has been a steady, physical presence all year, but this matchup offers a chance to showcase traits that matter most to NFL evaluators. Can he carry Miami’s offense and run the ball well against a strong Hoosiers defense? What does he offer in the passing game? Does he hold up in pass protection against pressure looks?

Fletcher has been one of the most impactful players of the playoff run. If he delivers another strong performance against a high-quality defense and helps lead Miami to a long-awaited title, the question becomes whether striking while the iron is hot makes sense. In a historically weak running back class, this game could carry more weight than initially expected.

Can Carter Smith raise his stock vs Bain and Mesidor?

Indiana left tackle Carter Smith is not a household name, but this matchup presents a rare opportunity to change that perception. Lined up across from Miami edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, Smith will be tested by both speed and power on the game’s biggest stage.

In an underwhelming tackle class, holding up against two potential first round talents can meaningfully elevate a prospect’s stock. Scouts will focus on Smith’s hand usage, anchor strength, and ability to recover when initially beaten. Just as important will be how Indiana handles protection and whether Smith is trusted on an island or consistently given help.

Bain and Mesidor are technically refined rushers with diverse arsenals of moves. If Smith holds his own and keeps his quarterback clean, he could leave this game with a very different draft outlook.

Which cornerback strengthens his Day 2 case?

Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds and Miami’s Keionte Scott both enter the national championship viewed as potential Day 2 cornerbacks. Each has stood out during the playoff run, including a pick six apiece, and this game offers one final, high-profile chance to elevate their stock.

Both players come with questions. Ponds is significantly undersized at 5’9” and 170 pounds, while Scott will be a 25-year-old rookie with an injury history. This stage, however, allows them to show that their traits translate despite those concerns.

With two big-name quarterbacks and a deep group of receivers on display, both corners should be tested early and often. If either rises to the occasion, don’t be surprised if his name starts climbing boards in the aftermath of the national title game.

JACK BRENTNALL

HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT

Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.

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