**Rose Bowl Preview: No. 1 Indiana vs.
No. 9 Alabama - A Clash of Power and Purpose**
The College Football Playoff Quarterfinals are here, and the Rose Bowl is delivering a heavyweight showdown. On January 1st, the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers will face off against the No.
9 Alabama Crimson Tide in Pasadena, with a trip to the CFP Semifinals on the line. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM ET on ESPN, and with Indiana favored by 6.5 points and an over/under set at 48.5 (FanDuel), this one has all the makings of a high-stakes chess match between two very different football identities.
Let’s start with the headliner: the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers - and yes, that’s still taking some getting used to.
Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers: From Underdogs to Unshakable
When Curt Cignetti took the reins in Bloomington in November 2023, Indiana football was more of a punchline than a powerhouse. Fast forward just over a year, and the Hoosiers are undefeated, Big Ten champions for the first time in over six decades, and the top seed in the first full iteration of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Cignetti’s overall record now stands at 42-6, with a remarkable 24-2 mark at Indiana. What he’s done in such a short time is nothing short of transformative.
After an 11-1 campaign in 2024 that ended in a first-round playoff loss to Notre Dame, most wrote off the Hoosiers as a one-year wonder. But this season, Indiana didn’t just prove the doubters wrong - they dominated.
They ran the table in the regular season, earned a first-round bye, and hoisted the Big Ten trophy for the first time since the Eisenhower administration. This isn’t a Cinderella story anymore. It’s a statement.
Offensive Identity: Balanced, Efficient, Dangerous
Mike Shanahan, now in his second season as offensive coordinator, has built an attack that’s not just productive - it’s surgical.
At quarterback, Fernando Mendoza has been the steady hand guiding the ship. He’s completed over 71% of his passes (226-of-316) for 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
That’s good for a 181.4 passer rating - elite territory by any standard. Mendoza isn’t just managing games; he’s elevating Indiana’s offense with poise and precision.
But what makes this Hoosiers offense hum is its depth in the backfield. Roman Hemby leads the way with 918 yards on 176 carries (5.2 YPC) and six touchdowns, but he’s far from alone.
Kaelon Black has added 799 yards and seven scores at an even more efficient 5.6 yards per carry, while Khobie Martin has chipped in 452 yards at a blistering 6.5 YPC clip with six touchdowns of his own. Even Mendoza has six rushing scores, showing his ability to contribute in the red zone and on designed keepers.
This isn’t a team that leans on one guy to carry the load. It’s a committee approach that wears down defenses and keeps fresh legs on the field. And when Indiana gets rolling, it’s hard to slow them down - they’re averaging nearly 10 yards per pass attempt and over five yards per carry across the board.
Defensive Identity: Quietly Dominant
Bryant Haines, also in his second year as defensive coordinator, has crafted a unit that doesn’t always grab headlines - but it gets the job done. Indiana’s defense has been opportunistic, disciplined, and physical at the point of attack.
While the numbers weren’t detailed here, the Hoosiers’ defense has played complementary football all season long. They’ve allowed Mendoza and the offense to play with leads, get into rhythm, and control tempo. It’s a group that may not be stacked with household names, but they’re fundamentally sound and confident in their assignments.
The Big Picture
Indiana enters the Rose Bowl with momentum, confidence, and a chance to rewrite the program’s football legacy. This isn’t just a feel-good story anymore. It’s a legitimate national title push.
They’ll face a battle-tested Alabama squad that knows a thing or two about big stages. But Indiana, with its balanced offense, strong leadership, and a defense that’s quietly been one of the most consistent in the country, isn’t just showing up to the party - they’re ready to take over the dance floor.
The Rose Bowl is set. The Hoosiers are ready.
And the rest of the college football world? They’re watching, wondering if Indiana’s magical run is about to reach even greater heights.