Rose Bowl Showdown: Indiana Prepares for Alabama’s Grit and Resilience
The Rose Bowl is always special. But this year, it’s got a little extra juice.
On New Year’s Day, undefeated Indiana (13-0) will square off against Alabama (11-3) in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal that promises to test every ounce of the Hoosiers’ mettle. And if Indiana players didn’t already know what kind of challenge they’re facing, Alabama’s latest performance made it crystal clear.
The Crimson Tide didn’t just win their playoff opener against Oklahoma - they clawed their way back from a 17-point deficit in enemy territory, in front of more than 83,000 fans, and turned the game on its head. That comeback tied for the largest in College Football Playoff history. But for Indiana, it wasn’t the stats or the scoreboard that stood out - it was the culture behind the comeback.
“I think it shows more of the team, the culture we are about to play,” said IU starting center Pat Coogan. And he's not wrong.
Alabama’s start against Oklahoma was rough. The Tide were outgained 118-12 in the first quarter and went three-and-out on each of their first three possessions.
But then came the response - the kind of response that defines elite programs. Alabama rattled off 27 unanswered points, and they did it with all three phases of the game stepping up in big moments.
Quarterback Ty Simpson threw two touchdown passes to spark the offense. On defense, Zabien Brown delivered a momentum-swinging pick-six. And special teams got in on the act too - Tim Keenan blocked a punt near midfield, setting up a field goal that helped close the gap before halftime.
That’s the kind of complete-team performance that turns a 17-point hole into a playoff win. And it’s exactly what Indiana is preparing for.
“Being down 17-0 anywhere against a quality opponent is tough, but especially away in a College Football Playoff game - that is really tough,” Coogan said. “It’s a credit to them and their ability to stay locked in and come back and win. I think it shows the type of culture that they have down there and how big of a challenge it’s going to be for us.”
Indiana has authored its own incredible story this season, going undefeated and earning the No. 1 seed in the expanded playoff. But now comes the biggest test yet - not just in terms of talent, but in facing a team that’s proven it won’t fold, even when the odds are stacked against it.
Coogan put it best: when Alabama had to “push all their chips to the middle,” they didn’t blink. That kind of mental toughness is what separates good teams from great ones - and it’s the kind of challenge that demands Indiana bring its best, from the opening whistle to the final snap.
The Rose Bowl stage is set. One team’s perfect season.
Another’s championship pedigree. And no lead - as Indiana has now seen firsthand - will be safe.