The Rose Bowl has always carried weight, but this year’s matchup between No. 1 Indiana and No. 9 Alabama adds a layer of history and intrigue that even Pasadena’s storied backdrop can’t overshadow.
We’re looking at a College Football Playoff quarterfinal that pits tradition against momentum - and it’s happening exactly 100 years after Alabama first made the trip west to play in the 1925 Rose Bowl. That game, a 20-19 win over Washington, helped put Southern football on the national map. A century later, the Crimson Tide return to the Rose Bowl with a shot to make history again - but this time, they’re not the favorites.
Indiana, undefeated and sitting atop the college football rankings for the first time in program history, enters Thursday’s matchup as the No. 1 seed and a team that’s earned every bit of its hype. The Hoosiers are the Big Ten champs and have steamrolled their way through the season with a defense that’s made life miserable for even the most seasoned quarterbacks. Their rise has been one of the most compelling stories in college football this year - a perennial underdog turned powerhouse.
Alabama, on the other hand, is no stranger to the big stage. The Tide are chasing their 986th all-time win, a number that would further cement their place among the sport’s elite.
Only two programs have more. But while the program’s legacy is undeniable, this year’s team has had its share of ups and downs - and they’re heading into this one as the underdog.
That’s a rare position for Alabama, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. On Tuesday’s First Take, ESPN analyst David Dennis Jr. didn’t mince words when asked about the matchup.
“This is the lock for me of the College Football Playoff right now,” he said. “This is going to be a blowout.”
Dennis pointed to Alabama’s struggles on the ground as a major concern. “Alabama cannot run the ball,” he said.
“And while they have a great quarterback… we’ve seen what IU does against great quarterbacks.” Indiana’s defense has made a habit of neutralizing elite signal-callers all season long, and that’s a problem for a Crimson Tide offense that’s leaned heavily on its passing game.
Dennis went as far as to say, “Whatever the spread is, double it. This is going to be a blowout.”
Strong words - and ones that will no doubt find their way onto Alabama’s bulletin board.
There’s another layer of intrigue here: these two programs have never faced each other on the football field. On one side, you’ve got Alabama, one of the most decorated programs in college football history. On the other, Indiana, a team with the second-lowest all-time winning percentage in the sport - but right now, playing like a team that belongs at the very top.
So, what gives on Thursday? Will it be another classic chapter in Alabama’s postseason legacy, or will Indiana continue its dream season with a statement win on the biggest stage?
One thing’s for sure: the Rose Bowl is once again the center of the college football universe. And 100 years after Alabama helped kick off the bowl’s national prominence, the Tide return - this time, looking to prove the doubters wrong.