Historic Triumph: Indiana Stuns Alabama in Rose Bowl, Advances to College Football Playoff Semifinals
In a stunning display of dominance, the Indiana Hoosiers crushed the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, securing their place in the College Football Playoff semifinals. This wasn’t just any victory—it marked the most lopsided postseason defeat in Alabama’s storied program history and their worst loss in any game since 1998. For Indiana, a program that hadn’t won a bowl game since the 1991 Copper Bowl, this triumph represents the culmination of a remarkable transformation under coach Curt Cignetti, whose leadership has turned a historically struggling program into a national powerhouse in just two seasons.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza led the Hoosiers’ offensive onslaught, passing for 192 yards and three touchdowns while the ground game contributed another two scores in the fourth quarter through Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby. The Hoosiers dominated from the opening whistle, building a 24-0 lead before Alabama could even get on the scoreboard. The statistical dominance was overwhelming—Indiana outgained Alabama 407-193 in total yards, thoroughly controlling both sides of the ball throughout the contest. As the game wound down, the pro-Indiana crowd celebrated with chants of “Hoosier Daddy?” in a jubilant atmosphere that marked the school’s first Rose Bowl appearance since 1968.
With this victory, Indiana advances to the Peach Bowl on January 9, where they’ll face fifth-seeded Oregon in a College Football Playoff semifinal rematch. The Hoosiers already defeated the Ducks 30-20 in Eugene earlier this season, one of their signature wins during their impressive Big Ten campaign. Indiana is now just two victories away from claiming the first national championship in school history. They made playoff history as well, becoming the first team with a first-round bye to win their subsequent game in the new 12-team format, bucking a trend that had seen the first six bye teams—including two this season—struggle after extended layoffs.
For Alabama, the loss represented a disappointing end to their second season under coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide offense was completely stifled, managing just 151 yards until the meaningless final minutes. Quarterback Ty Simpson was held to only 67 passing yards before being replaced by backup Austin Mack in the third quarter. Although Mack briefly sparked life into the Alabama offense with a field goal drive, Indiana immediately responded with two more touchdown drives to extinguish any hopes of a comeback. The scene at the Rose Bowl was picturesque, with rain clearing just before kickoff and blue skies emerging in the second half as Indiana built their commanding lead.
The game started cautiously with a scoreless first quarter—the first in a Rose Bowl in 26 years—but Indiana began asserting control with a methodical 16-play, 84-yard drive that consumed nearly nine minutes before ending with a field goal. The Hoosiers’ defense then made a critical fourth-down stop in Alabama territory, which they quickly converted into a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to Charlie Becker. Indiana dealt another devastating blow before halftime when Simpson fumbled during a scramble, allowing the Hoosiers to score again with just 17 seconds remaining in the half on Mendoza’s touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. After the break, Indiana continued their dominance with a 79-yard scoring drive capped by Mendoza’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt.
This Rose Bowl victory represents the crowning achievement in Indiana’s extraordinary two-year transformation under Cignetti. Before his arrival, Indiana had the dubious distinction of having the most losses in college football history. Now, after winning 11 games and reaching the playoff last season, the Hoosiers have steamrolled through this year’s schedule, defeating defending national champion Ohio State for the Big Ten title and ascending to the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll for the first time in program history. Their journey from perennial doormat to national championship contender stands as one of college football’s most remarkable turnaround stories, with the Hoosiers now just two wins away from completing their fairy-tale season with the ultimate prize.
