Rose Bowl Breakdown: Why Fernando Mendoza’s Legs Might Be the Key to Indiana Beating Alabama
The Rose Bowl is always a stage for college football’s brightest stars-and this year is no different. No. 1 seed Indiana is set to face off against Alabama in a College Football Playoff showdown that’s rich with tradition, talent, and stakes.
The winner punches a ticket to Atlanta for the national semifinal, where Oregon or Texas Tech will be waiting. But before we get ahead of ourselves, Indiana has a serious task in front of them: take down Alabama, arguably the most storied program in the sport’s history.
Now, on paper, Indiana is still favored. But if we’ve learned anything from past playoff matchups, it’s that pedigree matters-and Alabama has that in spades. However, this Crimson Tide team has shown cracks in the armor, particularly in a spot that could play right into Indiana’s hands: defending explosive runs, especially against mobile quarterbacks.
Alabama’s Achilles’ Heel: Explosive Run Defense
Let’s dive into the numbers. Alabama ranks in the 28th percentile nationally in defending explosive runs.
That’s not just below average-it’s a real vulnerability. And while Indiana's rushing attack doesn’t exactly light up the stat sheet (sitting at the 51st percentile in explosive run rate), there’s a path here.
It’s not about being elite-it’s about exploiting the right matchup.
Enter Fernando Mendoza.
The Heisman-winning quarterback has made his mark as a passer, but don’t sleep on what he can do with his legs. He’s carried the ball 69 times this season for 240 yards and six touchdowns.
Sure, 3.5 yards per carry won’t make highlight reels, but Mendoza’s mobility isn’t about volume-it’s about timing. If he can pick his spots, extend drives, and keep Alabama’s defense honest, that could be the difference-maker.
Mendoza’s Mobility: More Than a Bonus
This isn’t about turning Mendoza into a run-first quarterback. It’s about leveraging his athleticism to keep Alabama off balance.
We’ve seen other quarterbacks find success against the Tide this season by doing just that-Gunner Stockton and John Mateer, for example, used their legs to open up the field and force Alabama’s front seven into uncomfortable situations. Even Tommy Castellanos at Florida State showed how a few well-timed scrambles can flip momentum.
Mendoza doesn’t need to run wild-he just needs to be a threat. That presence alone can freeze linebackers, create space for Indiana’s backs, and open up play-action opportunities downfield. It’s about keeping the chains moving and staying ahead of schedule.
The Ground Game Will Tell the Story
This game might ultimately come down to which team can establish the run-or at least make the other team respect it. Alabama’s own ground game has been inconsistent all year, and if Indiana’s front can bottle that up, it puts even more pressure on Alabama’s offense to be one-dimensional.
Meanwhile, Indiana doesn’t need to dominate on the ground-they just need to be effective. If Mendoza and the Hoosiers’ backfield can stay on schedule and avoid obvious passing downs, they’ll be in a great spot to control the tempo and flow of the game.
The Bottom Line
Alabama is still Alabama-deep, talented, and dangerous. But this version of the Crimson Tide has shown some vulnerability, especially against quarterbacks who can extend plays and turn broken situations into back-breaking gains. If Fernando Mendoza leans into his dual-threat ability, even just a little more than usual, Indiana could not only cover the spread-they could win outright and make a serious statement on the national stage.
The Hoosiers don’t need perfection. They need poise, balance, and a quarterback who’s willing to use every tool in the toolbox. If Mendoza does that, Indiana might just run their way into the next round.