Miami vs Indiana Injury Report: Initial Updates for CFP National Championship Game

• No. 10 Miami faces No. 1 Indiana in the CFP National Championship on Monday, January 19
• Both teams released initial injury reports with Miami’s Xavier Lucas suspended for the first half
• Check out the full Miami vs Indiana injury report and updates below

The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes and No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers will meet Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium. Both teams released initial injury reports this week ahead of the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff in Miami Gardens.

Miami starting cornerback Xavier Lucas will miss the first half due to a targeting suspension from the Fiesta Bowl. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said that “everybody who played in the last game will play in this game.”

Both teams are relatively healthy heading into the championship. The final availability report will be released 90 minutes before kickoff Monday evening. The game airs on ESPN.

THESCORE BET

Offer

T&Cs

Bet $10 & Get $100 in Bonus Bets
Must manually enter promo code DIME to claim offer.

Must be 21+, offer available in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

LOCK IN PROMO

CODE: DIME

CODE: DIME

SIGNUP OFFER

USE PROMO CODE
DIME

BET $10, GET $100

GET OFFER NOW

Jump to: Miami Injury Report | Indiana Injury Report

Miami Injury Report

The Hurricanes face a first-half challenge with starting cornerback Xavier Lucas suspended. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said this week that Akheem Mesidor and Ahmad Moten Sr. are both “full throttle” in practice.

Xavier Lucas Suspended First Half

Starting cornerback Xavier Lucas will miss the first half due to a targeting penalty sustained in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Ole Miss. Lucas was ejected in the fourth quarter after a collision with receiver Cayden Lee.

Cristobal vigorously contested the call, arguing the receiver’s body position shifted at the last second making contact unavoidable. The suspension stands, and Lucas cannot play until the second half.

Lucas is widely regarded as Miami’s best cornerback. His absence forces the Hurricanes to deploy a patchwork secondary against Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has completed 86.1 percent of his passes in the playoffs with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Secondary Depth Tested

True freshman cornerback Jaboree Antoine is expected to see extensive first-half playing time with Lucas suspended. Antoine recorded two tackles in limited snaps during the Fiesta Bowl.

OJ Frederique Jr. should be “good to go” according to Cristobal. Frederique suffered a leg injury in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State and was seen in a walking boot afterward. He played just five snaps against Ole Miss despite being cleared.

Damari Brown remains day-to-day with a lower leg injury. Brown has missed all three College Football Playoff games and hasn’t played since November 29. Even if cleared, his conditioning after a month away is questionable.

Defensive Line “Full Throttle”

Defensive end Akheem Mesidor is in “great condition” after suffering an elbow injury against Ole Miss. Cristobal said Mesidor “hurt his elbow for a second and he’s already full throttle.”

Mesidor leads Miami with 10.5 sacks this season. He returned to finish the Fiesta Bowl after the injury and recorded four tackles. His availability is critical against Indiana’s offensive line.

Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. was “full go” in Monday’s practice. Moten has been battling an ankle injury since the Cotton Bowl when an Ohio State lineman rolled up on his leg. He played limited snaps against Ole Miss but appears ready for a full workload.

Elija Lofton Questionable

Tight end Elija Lofton is the biggest question mark for Miami’s offense. Lofton was carted to the locker room in the second quarter against Ole Miss after taking a severe hit following a reception. He was seen spitting blood on the sideline before leaving.

Cristobal confirmed Lofton is “the one that’s in question” when discussing injury status. Lofton ranks fourth on Miami with 23 receptions for 218 yards and three touchdowns this season.

If Lofton cannot play, backup Alex Bauman would assume the primary tight end role. True freshman Luka Gilbert would provide depth. Miami may utilize more three-receiver sets rather than their preferred two-tight-end formations.

Indiana Injury Report

The Hoosiers are in excellent health heading into the championship. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said earlier this week that “everybody who played in the last game will play in this game.”

Mikail Kamara Available

Defensive end Mikail Kamara will be ready despite leaving the Peach Bowl against Oregon twice with assistance from the coaching staff. Kamara’s availability is crucial with fellow defensive lineman Stephen Daley sidelined.

Daley suffered a season-ending leg injury celebrating Indiana’s Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State. He ranked second nationally with 19 tackles for loss before the injury. Sophomore Daniel Ndukwe has stepped into an expanded role in Daley’s absence.

No New Injury Concerns

Indiana’s injury report remains unchanged from the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers demolished Oregon 56-22 without any significant health concerns emerging.

The same defensive contributors ruled out against Oregon remain out. Defensive linemen Kellan Wyatt and Andrew DePaepe, defensive backs Amariyun Knighten and Bryson Bonds, and running back Lee Beebe Jr. are all unavailable.

Indiana has outscored opponents by an average of 31.5 points en route to their 15-0 record. They topped that mark with 35- and 34-point victories over Alabama and Oregon in the playoffs.

This marks the third meeting between Miami and Indiana, and the first since 1966. The series is tied 1-1. Miami is technically the away team despite playing at Hard Rock Stadium, their home field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Monday.