Lead
PASADENA, Calif. — On Jan. 1, 2026, No. 1 Indiana demolished No. 9 Alabama 24-0 in the Rose Bowl, a result that upended expectations and vaulted the 14-0 Hoosiers into the College Football Playoff semifinals. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns while Indiana outrushed Alabama 215 to 23. The win marked Indiana’s biggest postseason victory and Alabama’s heaviest bowl defeat since 1998. The Hoosiers will meet Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana improved to 14-0 and advanced to the CFP semifinals; Fernando Mendoza completed 14-of-16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
- The Hoosiers outrushed Alabama 215-23, controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides.
- Alabama finished the season 11-4; this was the Crimson Tide’s worst postseason loss since a 42-6 defeat at Arkansas in 1998.
- Indiana had not won a postseason game since 1991 and had never entered a game ranked No. 1 before this season.
- Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson sustained a cracked rib on a first-half fumble play and left after one series in the second half.
- A pivotal fourth-and-1 stop at the Alabama 34 swung momentum and led directly to Indiana scoring drives.
- Indiana coach Curt Cignetti improved to 25-2 at IU and has the program riding its deepest national run in modern history.
Background
Pregame assessments heavily favored Alabama based on recruiting pedigrees and historical success: the Tide claim 18 national championships and rank among college football’s winningest programs, while Indiana has been a long-suffering program historically. Those program histories made the match-up a classic David-versus-Goliath narrative and shaped external expectations that Alabama would win handily.
Indiana’s 2025 season rewrote that script. Under Curt Cignetti the Hoosiers ran an offense led by Mendoza and a defense that has tightened in recent months, propelling IU to an undefeated regular season and national No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history. Alabama, after streaks of dominance, arrived in Pasadena having shown inconsistency late in the season, including a heavy loss to Georgia in the SEC title game.
Main Event
The game turned in the second quarter when Indiana forced a fumble by Alabama QB Ty Simpson on a scramble; Isaiah Jones recovered and Mendoza guided a 58-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard TD to Omar Cooper Jr., extending the lead. Indiana’s balance and execution set the tone: short-yardage efficiency and play-action passing allowed Mendoza to target multiple receivers effectively.
Mendoza produced three touchdowns on three distinct route concepts: a 21-yard post to Charlie Becker, a 1-yard throw to Cooper in the corner as the half closed, and a 21-yard fade to Elijah Sarratt. He also scrambled and picked up critical yards, including an 8-yard third-down run that sustained a scoring drive early in the third quarter.
Alabama showed early signs of life with pressure that resulted in two sacks and a three-and-out on the opening possession, but the Tide never sustained drives. Alabama converted just 1 of 5 third downs in the first half while Indiana went 4 of 7, and the Hoosiers’ defense repeatedly stopped runs at or behind the line.
A decisive sequence came on fourth-and-1 at the Alabama 34 when a wildcat jet-sweep attempt was stopped short by Isaiah Jones and Ro Hardy; Indiana capitalized with a touchdown drive. Simpson left the contest after one second-half series, later disclosing a cracked rib suffered during the fumble play, and Alabama was unable to mount a comeback.
Analysis & Implications
Indiana’s victory was both tactical and cultural: the Hoosiers dominated the trenches, neutralizing Alabama’s rush and creating mismatches in space. Outrushing an opponent by 192 yards in a major bowl signals a systemic advantage that is repeatable rather than situational. That kind of control reduces variance and increases the odds that Indiana can replicate success against elite opposition.
For Alabama, the loss exposes roster and structural questions. The Tide’s run game struggled all season, ranking near the bottom nationally in yards per carry, and Pasadena highlighted those deficiencies. Kalen DeBoer will face a consequential offseason focused on identity, recruiting and reestablishing the physical edge that has historically defined Alabama teams.
Nationally, the result underlines the evolving parity of college football: transfer mobility, NIL dynamics and scheme innovation have compressed historical gaps. Indiana’s path from three wins two years ago to a CFP semifinal demonstrates how quickly program trajectories can change when coaching, recruiting and development align.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | Indiana | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 24 | 0 |
| Total rushing yards | 215 | 23 |
| Fernando Mendoza | 14-16, 192 yds, 3 TDs | — |
| Season records | 14-0 | 11-4 |
Those numbers show a lopsided control of the line of scrimmage and efficient quarterback play for Indiana. The rushing disparity (215-23) is particularly revealing: when one team dominates the ground game by that margin, it both sustains offensive drives and limits opponent possessions, compounding scoring opportunities and defensive rest advantages.
Reactions & Quotes
Coaches, players and analysts offered measured takes immediately after the game, highlighting Indiana’s execution and Alabama’s offseason questions.
They just execute at a high level, and everyone feeds off each other on both sides of the ball. You have to tip your hat to coach Cignetti and what he’s done here.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama head coach
DeBoer framed Indiana’s win as the product of collective execution rather than isolated heroics, noting Cignetti’s program-building work.
I’m very confident the way the team is playing. It’s not just myself. I think our entire team and our coaching staff really enjoy football, and that’s why we work so hard.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana quarterback
Mendoza emphasized team preparation and buy-in, tying his Heisman-winning season to the program’s broader culture.
The last two days have been fairly disruptive, with the travel day and then a first practice on site. As the leader, I feel there’s a lot of loose ends we’ve got to tie together.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana head coach
Cignetti’s pregame concerns about travel and routines contrasted with the team’s on-field composure, underscoring coaching attention to marginal gains.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Alabama will make sweeping staff changes this offseason remains unconfirmed; official decisions have not been announced.
- Long-term durability of Indiana’s roster depth under playoff pressure is unproven; national championship-level opponent tests remain ahead.
- Any internal morale or culture shifts inside Alabama beyond publicly acknowledged evaluations are reported by media sources but not independently verified.
Bottom Line
Indiana’s 24-0 Rose Bowl win over Alabama is a landmark result for the program and a signal that the national landscape of college football is more fluid than historical pedigree alone might suggest. The Hoosiers’ control of the line and Mendoza’s efficient play present a sustainable blueprint for postseason success, at least in the short term.
Alabama faces hard questions about running-game identity, roster composition and how to respond in recruiting and internal development. For neutral observers, the result is a reminder that the playoff era rewards current execution over past laurels; Indiana’s rematch with Oregon on Jan. 9 will be the next test of whether this run is an era-defining ascent or a remarkable but finite peak.