Welcome to college football in 2025. Indiana is the No. 1 team in the country and favored by a touchdown over No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl, which serves as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
And in a game that features the Heisman winner, not one person is surprised that player, QB Fernando Mendoza, plays for the Hoosiers and not the Crimson Tide.
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Here’s how to watch all the College Football Playoff games (scroll for live updates).
No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama (4 p.m., ESPN)
It can’t be said often enough how Indiana made such a leap in Curt Cignetti’s first year and then got even better in his second year at the school. After a playoff appearance in 2024, Indiana simply beat everyone on its schedule in 2025.
Alabama was dominated by Georgia in the SEC title game and carried over that performance into the first 20 minutes of their first-round game at Oklahoma. But a blocked punt and a pick-6 got Alabama right back into things and the Tide rolled to a 34-24 win over the Sooners.
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By now, everyone knows Alabama can’t run the ball. Indiana, meanwhile, is incredibly good against the pass. Just how much can Indiana dare Alabama to attempt to run the ball?
Opposing QBs have thrown for 2,334 yards against the Hoosiers and tallied just seven touchdowns. Remarkably, those seven touchdowns have come over seven different games. Not one quarterback has thrown for multiple TDs against Indiana in 2025.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson is going to have to break that streak for Alabama to pull the upset. If he can have a big game, Alabama should at least hang around.
Live25 updates
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:08 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 2:21 PM PST
Nick Bromberg
That nine-yard Ty Simpson run — which resulted in a fumble — gave Alabama 30 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Simpson is the team’s leading rusher so far with three carries for 17 yards.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 2:19 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Alabama QB Ty Simpson scrambled for a nice gain, but had the ball knocked out by Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds. Isaiah Jones is there to fall on it and the Hoosiers get another big play to end a promising Bama drive.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 2:07 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Alabama offense is stuck in neutral to start this game. Another drive ends pretty quickly and the ball goes right back to the Hoosiers.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:59 PM PST
Ryan Young
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama made the right call in going for it there, but wow it backfired completely. They’re now in a 10-point hole, and it feels like they have to get some points on the board before halftime to keep Indiana from running away with it.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:59 PM PST
Nick Bromberg
Becker’s season-long stats don’t jump off the page, but he’s been huge over the last handful of games for the Hoosiers. He could be a star in 2026.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:58 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Fernando Mendoza throws a 21-yard rope to Charlie Becker, who makes a great leaping catch in the end zone. Hoosiers cash in on the 4th down stop.
Indiana 10, Alabama 0
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:54 PM PST
Nick Bromberg
If you’re going to criticize Alabama, criticize the Tide for not running it up the middle on 4th and a yard instead of criticizing Kalen DeBoer for not punting it. Going for it is a perfectly fine decision, even at your own 34-yard line
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:54 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Crimson Tide RB Germie Bernard was stopped just short of the line to gain on 4th-and-1 at their own 34. Indiana immediately in scoring range after that stop.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:52 PM PST
Ryan Young
Just announced in the press box: That was the first scoreless first quarter at the Rose Bowl since 2000, back when Wisconsin beat Stanford 17-9.
What’s that mean for today? Probably nothing. But it was an unusually slow start for Indiana and Alabama.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:42 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Hoosiers stall out at the 12-yard line and settle for Nico Radicic’s 31-yard field goal to open the 2nd quarter.
Indiana 3, Alabama 0
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:39 PM PST
Ryan Young
Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff came out onto the field early there before the end of the first quarter, seemingly mad about something.
But after an awkward moment, and a retreat to the sidelines briefly, the clock ran out to end the quarter. We’re still tied up, though Indiana has a short field goal coming.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:31 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Hoosiers have moved the ball well after starting this drive from the shadow of their own end zone. A nice toss from Fernando Mendoza to Charlie Becker has them in Alabama territory.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:30 PM PST
Ryan Young
Both teams have the same colors, and I am sitting right above the Indiana band, but this is clearly a very heavy Hoosiers crowd today. Their offense has just struggled to do much of anything so far.
Mendoza’s deep pass to Charlie Becker there finally woke them up, and got the Hoosiers across midfield for the first time today. We’ll see what comes of this drive.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:22 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Tide drove into Indiana territory but couldn’t quite get into field goal range. A nice punt pins Indiana at its own 3-yard line.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:15 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Another sack of Mendoza ends Indiana’s opening drive with a three-and-out. What a start for the Crimson Tide defense.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:14 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Alabama got after the Heisman-winning QB on the first play from scrimmage.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:11 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Indiana will receive the opening kickoff of the Rose Bowl.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:55 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
So far, all 6 teams with first-round byes have lost since the 12-team playoff format was adopted last season. No. 1 Indiana has a shot to end that skid with a win over No. 9 Alabama.
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Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:45 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
After the Crimson Tide ruled over college football for so many years, it’s odd to seem them as a 7-point underdog to Indiana in this CFP quarterfinal. But Alabama players and coaches are leaning into it.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson is trying to lead his team to an upset win in the Rose Bowl. (AP Foto/Alonzo Adams)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
