1/18/2026
MIAMI, FLA

The Pacific Northwest will have a quiet but meaningful presence on college football’s biggest stage.

When the College Football National Championship kicks off Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium, the spotlight will shine on Indiana and Miami — but woven into the title game is a thread that stretches from the mountains of North Idaho to South Florida. In a sport dominated by Southern speed and Midwest power, two players from the Northwest will be part of the national championship conversation.

Twin brothers Riply and Kolby Luna, natives of Kellogg, Idaho, represent the lone Northwest connection in this year’s title game, a reminder that even the most remote football towns can find a path to college football’s grandest moment.

With the championship just four days away, Miami has a chance to win a national title on its home field, while Indiana seeks the first championship in program history. The matchup also highlights how national the sport has become, with rosters built from players spanning coast to coast — and in Miami’s case, reaching well beyond traditional recruiting borders.

Indiana Hoosiers: A Midwest Core with National Reach

Indiana’s roster is anchored in-state, with 34 players from Indiana forming the backbone of the Hoosiers. The program has expanded its footprint east and south, drawing heavily from Virginia (14 players) and Illinois (10 players).

The Hoosiers also feature talent from Florida and Texas (six players each), along with Georgia (5), Maryland (4) and Ohio (3). Additional representation comes from California (2) and Wisconsin (2), while North Carolina, Arkansas and Alabama each contribute one player.

Indiana Hoosiers – Players by State

• Indiana: 34

• Virginia: 14

• Illinois: 10

• Florida: 6

• Texas: 6

• Georgia: 5

• Maryland: 4

• Ohio: 3

• California: 2

• Wisconsin: 2

• North Carolina: 1

• Arkansas: 1

• Alabama: 1

Miami Hurricanes: Built at Home, Reaching the Northwest

Miami’s roster is overwhelmingly rooted in Florida, with 62 players from the Sunshine State. That foundation is bolstered by players from Georgia (8) and Texas (5), reinforcing the Hurricanes’ presence in college football’s most fertile recruiting regions.

Yet Miami’s reach extends far beyond the Southeast. The Hurricanes feature players from California (3) and Illinois (2) — and notably, two players from Idaho, a rarity in a national championship game. The roster also includes one player each from Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey and Louisiana, along with one from Ontario, Canada.

Miami Hurricanes – Players by State/Region

• Florida: 62

• Georgia: 8

• Texas: 5

• California: 3

• Illinois: 2

• Idaho: 2

• Mississippi: 1

• Nevada: 1

• New Jersey: 1

• Louisiana: 1

• Ontario, Canada: 1

From Kellogg to the Title Game

Those two Idaho players are Riply and Kolby Luna, twins who starred at Kellogg High School before traveling across the country to join Miami. Their journey represents one of the longest recruiting paths in the championship, carrying a Northwest identity into a game dominated by Florida, Georgia and Texas pipelines.

Kolby Luna, a wide receiver, finished his high school career with 3,411 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns, highlighted by a senior season of 1,753 yards and 21 scores. Riply Luna, the Wildcats’ quarterback, threw for 93 touchdowns over his prep career, posting back-to-back seasons of 37 and 36 touchdown passes. As a senior, he also added 726 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Now redshirt sophomores, both brothers have appeared in one game this season — a 41–7 victory over NC State — but remain part of a Miami roster poised for a championship opportunity. On Monday night, the only players from Idaho in the College Football National Championship will step onto the field in South Florida, carrying the Pacific Northwest into the heart of college football’s biggest moment.

From the snow-lined streets of Kellogg to the palm trees of Miami, the Luna brothers’ journey reflects a familiar Northwest truth: greatness doesn’t require a big stage to begin. On college football’s biggest night, a small Idaho town will be represented under the brightest lights, proving that the Pacific Northwest — no matter how far from the spotlight — still finds its way there.

www.elisportsnetwork.com