The Aura Bowl: We Need a Miami vs Oregon National Championship Game

The College Football Playoff national semifinals are set to kick off tomorrow, so I figured there is no better time to write about the matchup I feel like we need to see in the National Championship Game.

Thursday night, the Miami Hurricanes will take on Ole Miss Rebels, while the Oregon Ducks face the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday. Each of these programs has something compelling about them, and all deserve respect for what they've done so far this season.

Indiana’s rise, has been insane to play out in real time. Once viewed as a small program with little expectations, the Hoosiers have transformed into a legitimate powerhouse in the Big Ten. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, the turnaround has been remarkable, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy-winning season has been incredible to watch and his play has made him essentially the consensus number one overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, has in a way been the talk of college football over the past month or so. With head coach Lane Kiffin departing before the postseason to accept the LSU coaching job, the Rebels have endured coaching turmoil that could have derailed their title hopes. Instead, they now find themselves just one win away from the national championship game.

As compelling as those stories are, there is one matchup that feels tailor-made for college football fans at every level: a Miami Hurricanes versus Oregon Ducks national championship game.

From a quarterback standpoint alone, the storyline writes itself. Carson Beck versus Dante Moore, two transfer quarterbacks leading storied programs on the sport’s biggest stage is just crazy to think about as it is a perfect example of how quickly things can change in this new NIL world of college sports.

Then there’s the sideline energy. Miami brings unmistakable personality and swagger, embodied by legendary figures like Michael Irvin, who looks like he’s ready to run through a wall before kickoff. On the other side is Oregon’s crowd is simply just so cool to look at as it has become one of the most recognizable brands in college sports.

Another compelling subplot would be Miami head coach Mario Cristobal facing his former team. Cristobal helped build Oregon into a consistent national contender, and now he has Miami back in the national spotlight.

Neither Miami nor Oregon has been a true juggernaut throughout this century. Oregon has enjoyed more sustained success, while Miami’s greatness largely defined earlier eras of college football. That contrast is exactly what makes this matchup so refreshing.

These are two teams that, before the postseason began, many did not expect to see in this position. Miami, in particular, faced controversy just to get into the playoff. The Hurricanes’ inclusion was heavily debated, with Notre Dame also in the mix for the final spot. Miami ultimately earned its place by beating Notre Dame in Week Zero, but critics still questioned whether the Hurricanes belonged.

If Miami were to reach the national championship game after all that doubt, it would be a remarkable storyline.

From a pure entertainment standpoint, a Miami versus Oregon national championship would be a win for the sport. It would captivate casual fans, energize diehards, and showcase college football’s evolving identity.

The vibes, the culture, the uniforms, the history, and the sense of something new would all converge on the sport’s biggest stage.

Most importantly, it would feel different. It wouldn’t be another Alabama versus Georgia showdown, a matchup fans have grown accustomed to over the past several years. Instead, it would represent new blood with just enough history to feel significant and meaningful.

College football and us as fans need this matchup.