The 2026 College Football Playoffs delivered on all fronts – exhilarating action and nail-biting endings that kept the nation on the edge of their seats. Each of the eleven postseason games captivated millions of viewers across the country, leading up to the National Championship showdown between the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers. There to enhance an already thrilling postseason journey, bolstering each of the team’s morale and fueling the spirit of the fans was, of course, the beloved marching bands. Each football team and university band practiced tirelessly throughout the year in the hope of making playoff appearances, and the hard work certainly paid off for both programs.
For the Indiana Hoosiers, the 2025-2026 season was a true Cinderella story, coming from a history of loss, they capped an undefeated season clenching the university’s first-ever national title. Supporting them every step of the way, making this historic victory even more special, was Indiana’s marching band, the Marching Hundred. Led by Dr. Tiffany Galus, the Marching Hundred was an all-important piece to one of the biggest turnarounds in sports history.
Tiffany has experience working as Indiana University’s Assistant Professor of Music in Bands and Associate Director of IU athletic bands, and in the Fall of 2025, she stepped into the role of Director of the Marching Hundred.
“Having the opportunity to support the Indiana Football program during this historic postseason has been a dream come true. Watching Coach Cignetti and this year’s remarkable team week to week was a constant inspiration – their commitment to preparation, consistency, and teamwork became an example for the entire university to follow and it was an honor to support them towards the university’s first CFP National Championship.”
Each of the Marching Hundred’s postseason appearances at The Big Ten Championship, The Rose Bowl, the Tournament of Roses Parade, The Peach Bowl, and the National Championship Game, presented different factors that influenced design decisions and preparation. Tiffany explained how she used Pyware 3D not only to design and customize drill for each event, but also to map out specific transitions for performers to make their way to the field as efficiently as possible.
“Each of these postseason appearances had a different set of performance variables, fan engagement events, and entrance/exit parameters. By using Pyware to design formations and transitions for each event, it allowed each experience to flow seamlessly. I used Pyware not only to write and modify the drill to fit each event, but to also chart out ‘transitions’ into and out of each fan event and performance travel scenarios. By providing each performer with a transition location from their seats to the tunnels to the field, it allowed us to maximize our performance time on the field. Through recommendations from Dr. Christopher Hoch from Ohio State University, I also used Pyware to design and chart a ‘Nickerson-Style’ turn for the Tournament of Roses parade.”
The meticulous way Tiffany creates the drill design allows performers to familiarize themselves with every aspect of each performance, in advance. In addition, the integration of Ultimate Drill Book optimizes their learning experience as well, with the opportunity to independently practice the drill synced directly from Pyware. The ability to learn individual roles, specific coordinates and pathways, and view the show in its entirety, even down to the specifics of the venue, equips performers with all they need to succeed.
“I use the ‘Prop’ tool to create field diagrams for each performance venue and each stadium we perform in, so the performers learn their drill while also seeing additional field markers (High School, Professional and College hashes and numbers, Big Ten and CFP logos, on field advertisements, etc.). This allows them to mentally prepare for a field that they will only set foot on while they’re performing!”
“Through our use of UDB, we can utilize very detailed Production Notes, to provide clear instruction to each member of the Marching Hundred. This saves countless time in rehearsals and allows each member to have an increased sense of ownership and accountability in every appearance and performance,” Tiffany explained.
“The essential Pyware Tools that I use most frequently are the ability to write both forwards and backwards, allowing me to chart our most iconic sets with the most ideal instrumentation, and then working into and out of those forms; the Step-Size and Interval Analysis Tools to give the performers the best opportunities for success; and utilizing the prop tool to create ‘stencils’ that allow picture drill to come to life.”
For the National Championship pregame performance, in keeping with tradition, the Marching Hundred performed their most well-known, cherished drill formations and iconic school songs for the thousands of IU fans spanning across the Hard Rock Stadium. They also added a formation for Coach Cignetti to pay tribute to the wonderful work he has done for Indiana University and his back-to-back Coach of the Year Awards.
The Marching Hundred’s halftime show for the postseason was called “Breaking the Mold,” with music selections from Wicked and How to Train Your Dragon. Tiffany shared the inspiration behind the performance as “a celebration of all those who defy expectations, forge their own path, and dare to make the impossible, possible.” A most fitting message for the event, as the Indiana Hoosiers were in the midst of making history.
The second National Championship contender, the University of Miami Hurricanes, was backed by Frost Band of the Hour. In just the second year of leadership, both Directors Craig McKenize and Sheldon McLean spearheaded the program through the postseason run, all the way to the final game. Utilizing both Pyware 3D and the UDB app, paired with diligent work throughout the season, the marching band was fully prepared to show up, and show out.
“Pyware has been such a valuable tool for us this season. We have been trying to get more shows on the field each season since we’ve been hired, and with our weather, we’re often really on a time crunch to get drill learned and polished for performances. The ability to sync what we’re designing with the UDB app and make immediate updates and changes as necessary has made the process so much easier,” Craig said.
Premier football needs its counterpart – premier marching band. The thousands of audience members in the Hard Rock Stadium and the millions that watched on television will remember not only the football action, but the sound of the 2026 CFP National Championship.
