Alabama’s Road to the Rose Bowl: From Controversial Inclusion to Redemption Against Oklahoma
When Alabama was announced as part of the 12-team College Football Playoff field on Dec. 7, the reaction was immediate - and loud. The Crimson Tide had just taken a 21-point loss to Georgia.
They opened the season with a head-scratching defeat to a Florida State team that finished 5-7. And they dropped another game to Oklahoma in mid-November.
Three losses, one playoff spot - history made, and not without debate.
But Alabama didn’t just sneak into the postseason. They earned their way forward - and did it in classic Crimson Tide fashion: by adjusting, responding, and ultimately outlasting a familiar foe.
The Rematch: Alabama Flips the Script on Oklahoma
When Alabama and Oklahoma met again on Dec. 19, the Sooners came out swinging. They jumped to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, and it looked like the Tide might be headed for an early exit. But that’s when Alabama found its rhythm - and never let go.
The Crimson Tide rattled off 27 unanswered points, flipping the game on its head and closing out a 34-24 win. It was a classic Alabama comeback, built on defensive adjustments, quarterback resilience, and a little help from Oklahoma’s mistakes.
Defensive Adjustments That Changed the Game
Early on, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer had Alabama’s defense on its heels. The redshirt junior was locked in - hitting throws from the pocket, extending plays with his legs, and keeping the Tide guessing.
But Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack made the necessary tweaks. He dialed up pressure, brought extra rushers, and forced Mateer into quicker decisions.
The result? Oklahoma’s passing attack was cut down from 186 yards in the first half to just 121 in the second.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer praised the unit’s ability to adapt: “They’re proud of what they accomplished… and really did a nice job as the game went along of making adjustments to get more pressure on the quarterback. The game came back to us.”
That pressure turned the tide - literally.
Ty Simpson Finds His Footing
Ty Simpson’s season has been a rollercoaster. The redshirt junior quarterback opened the year with a rough outing against Florida State and hit a slump late in the regular season, throwing nearly as many interceptions (4) as touchdowns (5) over the final four games.
But against Oklahoma, Simpson bounced back. After a slow first quarter, he settled in and delivered a steady performance: 18-of-29 passing, 232 yards, and two touchdowns. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient - and exactly what Alabama needed.
Simpson didn’t force the issue. He took what the defense gave him, let his playmakers work, and avoided the kind of mistakes that had cost the Tide earlier in the year.
This Time, It Was Oklahoma Making the Mistakes
In their regular-season win over Alabama, the Sooners capitalized on Crimson Tide miscues - a pick-six, a couple of fumbles, and timely execution.
But in the playoff rematch, the roles reversed.
Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller mishandled a snap, gifting Alabama prime field position. The Tide turned that into a field goal.
Just minutes later, Mateer threw a pick-six that tied the game at 17. And in the fourth quarter, with the Sooners trying to claw back, Lou Groza Award winner Tate Sandell missed back-to-back field goals.
Alabama didn’t dominate every phase of the game. But they took advantage of every opportunity - and that was the difference.
Familiar Faces on the Sidelines
This Rose Bowl matchup between Alabama and No. 1 Indiana comes with a layer of familiarity - especially for the Crimson Tide coaching staff.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer spent the 2019 season as Indiana’s offensive coordinator, a year that helped spark one of the Hoosiers’ most promising stretches in recent memory. He still keeps tabs on the program and spoke highly of what head coach Curt Cignetti has built in a short time.
“Coach Cignetti has done a great job providing the spark,” DeBoer said. “As you get more people all in, you get the moments that you’re in right now.”
DeBoer isn’t the only Alabama coach with Indiana ties. Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan served in multiple roles at IU from 2017 to 2021.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was on staff from 2018 to 2020, including two seasons as DC. Assistant DBs coach Jason Jones coached Indiana’s safeties from 2020 to 2022.
Even Alabama’s director of sports performance, David Ballou, is a former Hoosier fullback who later led IU’s strength program.
So while the Rose Bowl is new territory for Indiana’s current players, it’s familiar ground for several on the Alabama sideline.
A Clash of College Football Worlds
Alabama’s résumé speaks for itself: 18 national championships, six of them since 2009. Indiana, on the other hand, has lost the second-most games in FBS history and hasn’t played in the Rose Bowl since 1968 - a loss to USC.
But this year, the Hoosiers are no underdog story. They’re favored by 6.5 points.
They’ve earned their place. And with a win, they’d punch a ticket to the CFP semifinals and take one massive step closer to delivering Bloomington its first-ever national title.
For Alabama, it’s a chance to prove that their inclusion in the playoff wasn’t just justified - it was necessary. For Indiana, it’s a shot at rewriting the program’s entire football identity.
The Rose Bowl is set. Two programs from opposite ends of the college football spectrum.
One game to decide who moves on. And if Alabama’s performance against Oklahoma is any indication, don’t count out the Crimson Tide just yet.