Alabama Eyes Fast Start in Rose Bowl Clash with No. 1 Indiana
Alabama’s offense isn’t exactly known for dragging its feet out of the gate - but lately, the Crimson Tide have looked a little sluggish early on. And with the stakes getting higher, that trend is something they’re eager to shake heading into a massive College Football Playoff showdown.
After a slow start proved costly in the SEC Championship loss to Georgia, Alabama found itself in an early 17-0 hole against Oklahoma in the first round of the CFP. They clawed their way back for a gutsy win, but the message from inside the locker room is clear: they can’t keep playing from behind.
“We’ve got to stop doing first-quarter shenanigans, waiting to get the run game going in the second or third quarter,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Saturday. “We’re capable of doing it earlier in the game.
We’ve got good enough players. The scheme is there.
We’ve just got to execute earlier in the football game.”
Execution will be critical when No. 9 Alabama faces No.
1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on ESPN, and the winner punches their ticket to the College Football Playoff semifinals in the Peach Bowl on Jan.
Grubb didn’t sugarcoat it - in the biggest moments, Alabama hasn’t always looked physically ready right out of the gate.
“It’s not been the case all year, but some critical games it didn’t feel like we were ready for the physical strain early on,” he said. “The guys know that.
They’re up for the challenge. I think we’ll see a different football team in the first quarter of the Rose Bowl.”
That kind of self-awareness - and accountability - is part of what’s kept Alabama in the national title conversation, even in a season that’s had its share of bumps. And while the slow starts have raised eyebrows, the team’s ability to respond when the pressure’s on has been just as telling.
“What they showed, what we felt they’ve been capable of all year, is when the chips are down, you’ve got to be at your best,” Grubb said. “Play to our standard. Not our circumstances.”
That mindset will be tested against an Indiana team that’s earned its No. 1 ranking with physicality, depth, and consistency. If Alabama wants to avoid digging itself into another early deficit, it’ll need to flip the script from the opening snap.
The pieces are there - talent, scheme, and a coaching staff that knows how to push the right buttons. Now it’s about putting it all together when the lights come on in Pasadena. Because in the College Football Playoff, there’s no margin for easing into the moment.