David Pollack isn’t one to sugarcoat things, and ahead of Alabama’s Rose Bowl showdown with Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the former All-American linebacker didn’t hold back. His take?
Indiana is the more physical football team right now. Let that sink in.
In a year where Alabama's identity has been in flux, Pollack's assessment cuts to the core of what’s made this Crimson Tide team feel different - and not in a good way. Physicality, once a cornerstone of Alabama football under Nick Saban, has been inconsistent at best. And after watching Georgia dismantle them in the SEC Championship, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
“Clearly, the better, more-rounded, well-rounded, physical team is Indiana,” Pollack said. “That’s a weird world, man, weird world.”
He’s not wrong. This Alabama team has shown flashes of brilliance, but too often, they’ve been the ones getting pushed around - something that used to be unthinkable.
In the SEC title game, Georgia didn’t just beat Alabama - they dominated them. The Bulldogs held the Tide to negative rushing yards, and Ty Simpson spent the afternoon under siege.
That game wasn’t just a loss; it was a statement. Georgia exposed Alabama’s soft spots, especially up front.
And it wasn’t an isolated incident. This has been a season-long theme.
In the opener against Florida State, Alabama struggled to match the Seminoles' physicality and lost. Same story in their first matchup with Oklahoma.
Even in the rematch win over the Sooners, the Tide managed just 33 rushing yards - hardly a confidence booster heading into a game against a team like Indiana that thrives on toughness.
Pollack also pointed out that Simpson has been solid against zone coverage and timing routes, but the bigger question is whether he’ll have time to throw. Alabama’s offensive line has been leaky, allowing too many free rushers and forcing Simpson into uncomfortable spots. If Indiana can replicate the kind of pressure Georgia brought, it could be a long day for the Tide offense.
That’s where this game could be decided. Indiana, a team not traditionally known for overpowering SEC heavyweights, comes into this matchup with a clear edge in physicality - at least based on what we’ve seen lately. Their front seven has been disruptive, and if they can bottle up Alabama’s run game and make Simpson beat them under duress, they’ll have a real shot.
It’s not often Alabama enters a playoff game with this many doubts about their toughness. But this season has been anything but typical. And if Indiana pulls off the upset, they’ll owe a tip of the cap to Georgia - the team that showed everyone exactly how to beat the Tide: punch them in the mouth and don’t let up.