Mark Cuban Says Indiana Topped 'Miracle on Ice' As Most Unlikely Championship in US History
Indiana's national championship victory capped off the underdog story to end all underdog stories in the view of Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban, who's an IU alum and major booster, told USA Today's Dan Wolken the Hoosiers' triumph was more improbable than the United States' win over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics:
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The Soviet Union was a powerhouse on the ice and had demolished Team USA 10-3 in an exhibition just weeks before their Olympic encounter. The scale of the upset can't be overstated.
As incredible as the "Miracle on Ice" was, it was only just one game.
Indiana, two years removed from a 3-9 finish, ran the table and won 16 straight games. The season concluded with wins over four of the 10 best teams in the country.
College football doesn't lend itself to Cinderella stories.
In college basketball, one transcendent talent can carry a team a long way in the NCAA tournament. That's simply not possible in football, where 11 players line up on each side of the ball.
Since 1970, only four teams were unranked in the preseason Associated Press poll and went on to lift a title. None of those teams had to navigate a playoff structure, either.
Leaving aside Indiana's history of futility on the gridiron, winning the College Football Playoff as the No. 20 team in the preseason was unlikely on its own. A school that hadn't enjoyed a 10-win season before 2024 going on to capture the CFP trophy is unprecedented in the modern era.
Maybe the transfer portal and NIL money have flattened college football in a way where more schools can contend for a title. But don't assume Indiana's journey is something we'll see again soon.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
