Rose Bowl Looms as Indiana Awaits Winner of Oklahoma-Alabama Rematch
Indiana football is in wait-and-see mode, with a 26-day gap between games and a Rose Bowl date circled on the calendar. The Hoosiers will head to Pasadena on January 1 to face either No.
8 Oklahoma or No. 9 Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
That matchup will be decided Friday night when the Sooners and Crimson Tide square off in Norman at 8 p.m. ET.
Both teams bring plenty of storylines into this one - from quarterback questions to defensive dominance - and Indiana will be watching closely to see which team emerges from what promises to be a hard-fought showdown.
Oklahoma’s Offense: Searching for Rhythm with Mateer Under Center
At the start of the season, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer looked like a Heisman contender. But a broken bone in his throwing hand back in September changed the trajectory of his year. Since returning from surgery, the redshirt junior has struggled to recapture his early-season form.
Mateer has played seven games post-injury, completing just 58.6% of his passes for 1,363 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Those numbers tell the story - he's been inconsistent, and the Sooners' offense has felt it. Oklahoma’s scoring average has dipped to just 21.4 points per game during that stretch.
There is some optimism, though. Mateer practiced Monday without the wrap he’s worn on his hand since the injury, and head coach Brent Venables noted the quarterback is gripping the ball better than he has in weeks. Still, Venables admitted Mateer isn’t completely pain-free, which could be a factor Friday night.
Even with the offensive struggles, Oklahoma has managed to string together four straight wins to close the regular season - including tough road victories over Tennessee and Alabama. That grit could be crucial in a playoff atmosphere.
Defense Leads the Way for the Sooners
Under Brent Venables, Oklahoma has undergone a defensive transformation. Once known for lighting up the scoreboard and giving up just as many points, the Sooners have flipped the script - and then some.
Venables took over defensive play-calling duties this season, and the results have been impressive. Oklahoma ranks seventh nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 13.9 points per game. They’re also limiting opponents to 273.6 total yards per contest.
One of the few blemishes came in their November win over Alabama, when the Crimson Tide racked up 406 yards of offense. But Oklahoma still walked out of Tuscaloosa with a 23-21 victory - thanks in large part to a defense that forced three turnovers, including a pick-6.
The Sooners also managed that late-season run without one of their top defensive playmakers. Junior edge rusher R Mason Thomas missed the final stretch after injuring his hamstring on a scoop-and-score against Tennessee.
He’s back at practice now and off the availability report, which is a big boost. Thomas has 9.5 tackles for loss this season and brings real juice off the edge.
Ground Game a Question Mark for Both Sides
If you’re looking for dominant rushing attacks, this isn’t the game for you. Neither Oklahoma nor Alabama has consistently established the run this season.
The Sooners have leaned on a trio of backs - freshman Tory Blaylock, sophomore Xavier Robinson, and Mateer himself - all of whom have topped 400 rushing yards. But there hasn’t been a true feature back or rhythm on the ground.
Alabama’s situation isn’t much different. Senior back Jam Miller leads the team with 493 rushing yards, averaging four yards per carry. Solid, but not game-breaking.
When these teams met earlier this season, the running games were nearly nonexistent - Oklahoma managed just 74 rushing yards, Alabama only 80. If that trend holds, this one could come down to which quarterback can deliver under pressure.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson: Talented, but Tested
Ty Simpson’s season began with a thud - a rough first start against Florida State where he completed just 53.5% of his passes. But since then, the redshirt junior has grown into one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks and is now projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Simpson finished the regular season with 3,268 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, completing 64.3% of his throws. He’s shown poise, accuracy, and the ability to make plays downfield.
But the SEC Championship Game was a step back. Against Georgia, Simpson completed under 50% of his passes and threw a costly interception in a lopsided 21-point loss. That performance raised questions heading into the playoff - especially with a rematch against an Oklahoma defense that already picked him off once and forced two fumbles in their last meeting.
Turnovers Could Be the Deciding Factor
When Oklahoma beat Alabama last month, it didn’t dominate the stat sheet. In fact, the Crimson Tide had the edge in most categories - total yards, time of possession, first downs. But turnovers told the story.
Simpson threw a pick-6, and Alabama fumbled twice. That was the difference in a tight 23-21 game. Oklahoma’s defense capitalized on mistakes, and Alabama couldn’t recover despite outgaining the Sooners.
Now, the stakes are even higher. And if Oklahoma can force a few more turnovers, they have a chance to do something no team has done since 1893 - beat Alabama twice in the same season.
Plenty of Indiana Ties on Alabama’s Sideline
There’s no shortage of Indiana flavor on the Alabama coaching staff. After Nick Saban retired following the 2023 season, the Crimson Tide hired Kalen DeBoer - who served as Indiana’s offensive coordinator in 2019 - to take over the program.
DeBoer brought several familiar faces with him. Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan also held the OC role in Bloomington.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack led Indiana’s defense in 2019 and 2020. And Alabama’s director of sports performance, David Ballou, spent two seasons in the same role at Indiana.
On the other side, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has his own Alabama connection. He was on Saban’s staff from 2007 to 2011, giving him a close-up view of the program’s rise to national dominance.
What’s Next
Friday night’s showdown kicks off at 8 p.m. ET from Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. It’ll be broadcast on ABC and ESPN, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call.
For Indiana, this is more than just scouting - it’s about preparation. Whether it’s the defensive-minded Sooners or the battle-tested Crimson Tide, the Hoosiers will face a serious test on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl.