Indiana Stuns Alabama in Rose Bowl
In a surprising turn of events, Indiana triumphed over Alabama with a score of 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, securing a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
This marked the most significant postseason defeat for the Crimson Tide in their school’s history. It was also their largest loss since 1998, when they faced Arkansas and fell 42-6.
For Indiana, this win broke a long-standing drought, as they hadn’t claimed a bowl victory since the 1991 Copper Bowl. Under coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have shown impressive performance over the past couple of seasons.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns in what was his first game following the school’s inaugural Heisman Trophy win. Indiana set the tone early by scoring the first 24 points and built momentum in the fourth quarter with rushing touchdowns from Kaylon Black and Roman Hemby.
Several players contributed significantly; in addition to the rushing touchdowns, Charlie Becker, Omar Cooper Jr., and Elijah Surratt all caught touchdown passes. Black also rushed for 99 yards, aiding the Hoosiers, who outgained Alabama 407 to 193. This outing brought a joyful response from a crowd filled with Indiana supporters, who celebrated the team’s first Rose Bowl appearance since 1968.
Next, Indiana will face Oregon State in the Peach Bowl on January 9, marking a CFP semifinal rematch. The Beavers recently defeated Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl. Earlier in the season, Indiana bested the No. 3 Ducks 30-20, capturing one of the more memorable victories in Cignetti’s tenure.
In this current 12-team playoff format, Indiana made history by advancing through a first-round bye. They are now only two wins away from claiming their first national championship. While other top-seeded teams struggled after long layoffs, the Hoosiers managed to maintain their excellent form, finishing with a 25-2 record.
Alabama’s second season under coach Karen DeBoer ended at the same venue where they faced their last game with coach Nick Saban two years prior. Following an impressive win against Oklahoma, Alabama could only muster 151 yards in the final minutes of this matchup.
Ty Simpson had a notable 67-yard completion before being substituted with backup Austin Mack, who managed to kick-start the Tide with a brief scoring drive. However, Indiana quickly retaliated with two touchdown drives of their own.
The Rose Bowl turf, despite enduring nearly 24 hours of rain before the game, held up remarkably well. As the game progressed, the weather improved, coinciding with Indiana’s surge in the first half.
After the first quarter ended without any score for the first time in 26 years at the Rose Bowl, Indiana launched a dominant second drive. It was an 84-yard series that took around nine minutes, concluding with a Nikolas Radic 31-yard field goal.
Following another defensive stop, Mendoza connected with Becker for a 21-yard touchdown. Late in the first half, Simpson fumbled after advancing through Indiana’s defense, leading to Mendoza’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Cooper just before halftime.
After half-time, Mendoza orchestrated a 79-yard drive that finished with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Surratt, adding to the impressive victory. This win reflects the rebuild that Cignetti has successfully led since taking over a program that previously had the most losses in college football history. The Hoosiers celebrated an 11-game winning season that had seen them claim the Big Ten title and rise to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time.
