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Days before No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami square off in South Florida for the national championship, governors Mike Braun and Ron DeSantis are putting their money — or food — where their mouths are.
The two governors — Braun of Indiana and DeSantis of Florida — agreed on a “friendly bet,” which Braun pitched Friday.
The loser sends local food to the winning governor.
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(Left) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun speaks during a news conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about ongoing immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago and its suburbs in Gary, Indiana, on Oct. 30, 2025. (Right) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference at Lake Worth State College, Aug. 20, Aug. 20, Florida. (Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images; Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Image)
“Hey @GovRonDeSantis how about a friendly bet on the national championship?” Braun asked.
“If IU loses, I’ll send you some pork [Fischer Farms]which is in my neck of the woods in Dubois County, plus some pies from the famous [Wicks Pies]including a sugar cream pie (an Indiana favorite). Pork and pie to brag about. Are you in?”
“Mike – I’m happy to commit and impressed with IU’s turnaround (thanks in part to a Miami kid at QB). But I’m all in for the U,” DeSantis responded. “If Indiana wins, I’ll send stone crabs and key lime pie [Joe’s Stone Crab]. I’ll just drop them off in Naples or Marco Island, since that’s basically south of Indiana this time of year.”
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes throws the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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The Hoosiers are 8.5-point favorites, so Gov. Braun certainly has the edge as Indiana aims to become just the third team in NCAA history to go 16-0, joining Yale in 1894 and FCS’ North Dakota State seven years ago.
Indiana beat No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the semifinals last week, while Miami earned a trip to its own home stadium after downing No. 6 Ole Miss in a thriller in which Carson Beck scored the game-winning touchdown with 18 seconds left.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The game kicks off Monday from Hard Rock Stadium at 7:30 PM ET.
