Alabama Rallies Past Oklahoma, Sets Sights on Rose Bowl Showdown with Indiana
Friday night in college football gave us one of those classic Alabama moments-gritty, imperfect, but undeniably resilient. The Crimson Tide, down 17-0 early to Oklahoma, clawed their way back and secured a season-saving win that keeps their College Football Playoff hopes alive. With that comeback, Alabama booked its ticket to Pasadena for a date with the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t Alabama at its cleanest. Kalen DeBoer’s squad looked out of sync early, and it took everything they had to flip the script against a tough Sooners team. But now, with the Rose Bowl set for January 1st, the Tide have time-time to regroup, to heal, and to prepare for what might be their toughest test of the season.
A New-Look Rose Bowl: Indiana Opens as the Favorite
When the matchup was locked in, oddsmakers wasted no time setting the line. Indiana opens as a 6.5-point favorite over Alabama, with the total points line sitting at 48.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Let that sink in for a second-Indiana, the top seed, is a clear favorite over one of college football’s most iconic programs. That’s not something we’ve seen often, and it speaks volumes about what Curt Cignetti has built in Bloomington.
His Hoosiers have been a model of consistency this season, showing few-if any-weaknesses along the way. They’ve earned every bit of that favorite status.
Rest vs. Rust: The Layoff Factor
Indiana’s biggest challenge heading into the Rose Bowl might not be Alabama-it might be the calendar. By the time they take the field in Pasadena, it will have been 26 days since their last game.
That kind of layoff can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives players time to rest, heal, and fine-tune the game plan.
On the other, it can disrupt rhythm, especially for a team that’s been firing on all cylinders.
Alabama, meanwhile, just came through a physical battle with Oklahoma. And while that game took a toll, it also kept them sharp. The Tide have been dealing with injuries to key contributors-most notably Jam Miller and Josh Cuevas, who saw limited action against the Sooners-but the break before the Rose Bowl could be exactly what they need to get closer to full strength.
What’s at Stake
This is more than just a semifinal. For Alabama, it’s a chance to prove they still belong at the top of the college football mountain, even in a season that’s tested their depth and resolve. For Indiana, it’s an opportunity to validate their No. 1 ranking and show the nation that their rise isn’t a fluke-it’s a new era.
Pasadena is set. The stakes are sky-high.
And if Friday night taught us anything, it’s that Alabama isn’t going quietly. But Indiana, rested and ready, won’t make it easy.