INDIANAPOLIS, IND — The path to the national championship now runs through Pasadena. Following Alabama’s dramatic 34–24 comeback win over Oklahoma on Friday night in Norman, the No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers (13–0) have officially learned their opponent for the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
On New Year’s Day, the Big Ten Champion Hoosiers will meet the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (11–3) in the Rose Bowl. It marks Indiana's first appearance in "The Granddaddy of Them All" since 1967 and the first-ever meeting between these two programs.
Game Details
Matchup: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama
Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
Location: Rose Bowl Stadium — Pasadena, California
TV: ESPN / ABC
How Alabama Got Here
For much of the first half on Friday night, it looked like Indiana would be preparing for a rematch with Oklahoma. The Sooners capitalized on early Crimson Tide mistakes to jump out to a commanding 17–0 lead.
Then, Alabama flipped the script.
The Tide rattled off 27 unanswered points to seize control. Quarterback Ty Simpson (232 passing yards) found freshman breakout star Lotzeir Brooks for two critical touchdowns, but the momentum truly shifted just before halftime. Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown intercepted Oklahoma’s John Mateer and returned it 50 yards for a pick-six to tie the game at 17.
Alabama’s defense dominated the final two frames, recording five sacks and holding Oklahoma to just 27 yards of offense in the third quarter. The win was sealed when Sooners kicker Tate Sandell—the 2025 Lou Groza Award winner—missed two field goals in the final three minutes, including a 36-yarder that snapped a streak of 24 consecutive makes.
The Bloomington Connection
The storylines in Pasadena will be dominated by the familiar faces on the opposing sideline. Alabama’s coaching staff is loaded with former Indiana leaders who helped lay the foundation for this era:
HC Kalen DeBoer: Indiana’s Offensive Coordinator in 2019.
DC Kane Wommack: Indiana’s DC and LBs coach from 2018–2020.
Co-OC Nick Sheridan: Former Indiana OC and QBs coach.
While these coaches know Bloomington well, they haven’t faced an Indiana team like the one Curt Cignetti has built. These Hoosiers are coming off a 13–0 season and the program's first Big Ten title since 1945.
Key Matchup: Mendoza vs. The Tide Defense
All eyes will be on Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana signal-caller has been the model of efficiency this season, completing 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Mendoza’s poise—evident in his game-winning drive against Ohio State—will be tested by an Alabama secondary that leads the SEC in interceptions. The battle in the trenches will be equally vital; Indiana’s offensive line must protect Mendoza against an Alabama front that lived in the Oklahoma backfield tonight.
By The Numbers
Series History: 0–0 (First meeting)
IU’s Last Rose Bowl: Jan 2, 1968 (14–3 loss to USC)
Opening Line: Indiana -6.5
The Stakes: Winner advances to the CFP Semifinals (Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl)
For a program that went 3–24 in conference play just three years ago, the turnaround is complete. The Hoosiers have spent the year proving they belong. On New Year's Day, they get the chance to prove it against the biggest brand in the sport.
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Saturday, December 20, 2025
This article was drafted by an AI model based on human-provided inputs and sources, and then verified, edited, and finalized by a human editor.
