Caitlin Clark, indirectly, pushed Carson Beck to end up on the Miami...

Caitlin Clark, indirectly, pushed Carson Beck to end up on the Miami Hurricanes.LAPRESSE

The College Football Playoff National Championship is officially set. The best team in the country, the Indiana Hoosiers, will face the Miami Hurricanes on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. Both teams have triumphantly and convincingly made it this far, and it’s thanks to several players and coaches.

The quarterbacks usually take most of the accolades, and it’s certainly fair in this case. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdowns in the semifinals, while Carson Beck scored the game-winning touchdown. Both QBs have gotten their team to the championship game in their first season on their new teams, having transferred from California and Georgia, respectively. Hurricanes fans may have doubted the move at first, but Beck joining has been crucial. And they have Caitlin Clark to thank, in a way.

Hanna Cavinder reacts to Carson Beck’s move to Miami Hurricanes and his million-dollar NIL dealTikTok

The Caitlin Clark-Cavinder Twins-Carson Beck Connection

The reason is Beck’s previous relationship with Hanna Cavinder. During the Elite Eight round of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, Clark put up 41 points in a dominant performance over the LSU Tigers. Hailey Van Lith had guarded Clark for most of that game, putting a damper on what had been a very solid season for the guard before then.

That game forced Van Lith out of LSU, and she sought greener pastures at TCU the following year. Enter Haley Cavinder, who had committed to play at TCU ahead of the 2024-25 season. With Van Lith on the roster, Cavinder felt it was better to return to the Miami Hurricanes instead, where she could get more playing time. The ability for the twins to team up saw both Hanna and Haley on the Miami roster once again.

Beck, who had been dating Hanna at the time, was in the transfer portal and plotting an exit from the Georgia Bulldogs. With the opportunity to be the starting quarterback for the Canes and also be close to Cavinder, it was a no-brainer for Beck.

Clark putting up 41 points on Van Lith ended up being a domino to fall in Beck signing with the Hurricanes. Now, Miami and Beck are in the National Championship; even though his romantic relationship with Cavinder is over.