LOS ANGELES – No. 1 Indiana football travels to Pasadena for a New Year’s Day matinee with No. 9 Alabama at the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
The Hoosiers enter the week fresh off a three-week break after earning the top seed in the second 12-team CFP. The Crimson Tide earned a come-from-behind victory on the road against No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24.
Indiana is making its second-ever Rose Bowl appearance and first since the 1967-68 season. The Hoosiers lost to OJ Simpson and USC 14-3 on January 1, 1968.
Ahead of Thursday afternoon, here is Inside the Hall’s preview of the Rose Bowl game between the Crimson Tide and Hoosiers.
Game information
WHO: No. 1 Indiana (13-0, 10-0 in Big Ten) vs. No. 9 Alabama (11-3, 7-2 in SEC)
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
When: Thursday, January 1, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
TV: ESPNChris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe & Kris Budden (sideline)
Radio: Don Fischer (play-by-play), Buck Suhr (analyst)
The line: Indiana -7, over/under 47.5 (DraftKings)
SP+ prediction: Indiana 31, Alabama 18 (71 percent chance of an IU win)
Meet the opponent
Alabama is making its first appearance in the 12-team version of the playoff in its second year with former Indiana offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer at the helm.
The Crimson Tide erased a 17-point first-half deficit in its first-round win over the Sooners in Norman on Dec. 19.
Junior quarterback Ty Simpson leads the Bama offense that scores 31.4 points per game. Behind Simpson, the Crimson Tide is averaging 270 passing yards per game. However, he proves to be inaccurate when his offensive line struggles to protect him.
Due to the offensive line’s inconsistencies, Alabama’s run game is lagging behind its passing game. The Crimson Tide mustered just 55 rushing yards in the first-round win against Oklahoma.
Kane Wommack, also a former Indiana coordinator, leads the Crimson Tide’s swarm defense. The Crimson Tide features a top-25 defense in most categories, allowing 19.2 points per game.
The return of defensive tackle LT Overton bolsters a defensive line that is allowing 129 rushing yards per game.
Thursday afternoon marks the first time the two programs have met and Indiana’s first SEC opponent since Ole Miss in the 2021 Outback Bowl.
Injury update
Indiana released its first injury report Monday afternoon. It was no surprise that defensive lineman Stephen Daley was listed as out. The only Hoosier listed as likely is kicker Brendan Franke.
Omar Cooper Jr. is expected to play after suffering an injury in the first quarter of the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.
The required availability report will be released two hours before kickoff, Thursday at 2:00 PM ET.
Storylines
Indiana is looking for its first Rose Bowl victory
Thursday afternoon in Pasadena marks a pivotal day in Indiana University football history. Indiana’s cream and crimson fan base is filling flights into Los Angeles-area airports as anticipation builds toward New Year’s Day.
Last year’s trip to the iconic venue to play UCLA was valuable for the fan base, but didn’t come close to this week’s level of excitement.
Indiana has spent much of the past three weeks downplaying the significance of college football’s biggest stage. Not only is the stadium that Indiana plays at important considering the CFP, but the opponent and the conference it comes from are also vital.
SEC programs have defeated Curt Cignetti and the Big Ten strength of the Hoosiers the past two seasons. Indiana now has a chance to defeat an SEC and college football titan with all eyes watching.
If the Hoosiers gain the upper hand, the stories will surely fade.
Who will benefit from the forecast rain?
The 112th Rose Bowl will unfold under a very different sky than usual.
Rain is expected throughout Thursday, keeping college football fans from seeing the familiar sight of the sun setting behind the San Gabriel Mountains. These humid conditions could complicate offensive game plans and potentially work in Indiana’s favor.
A downpour would likely force Alabama to lean on its running game, an area where the Crimson Tide has struggled to generate consistent momentum. That restriction could put pressure on Simpson and limit Alabama’s offensive options.
A more one-dimensional Alabama offense tilts the game toward Indiana, whose balanced offense is better equipped to adapt.
Indiana has an advantage regardless of the weather, but a rainy Rose Bowl could cement that advantage.
Outlook
Few Indiana fans ever thought the Hoosiers would face Alabama in the Rose Bowl, especially in Cignetti’s second year.
There is no predictable outcome, largely due to the uncertain weather. That said, Indiana is the No. 1 team in the country for a reason. While it lacks Alabama’s top talent, it is the better team.
Cignetti’s teams excel after bye weeks, although a three-week layoff is unusual. Last year’s Rose Bowl showed that rest alone doesn’t guarantee anything.
If Indiana avoids a slow start and builds momentum early, it is determined to win its first Rose Bowl and cement its national relevance.
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