CFP Quarterfinals Preview Alabama vs. Indiana
The University of Alabama will face No. 1 seed Indiana in the CFP quarterfinals. Does Alabama have what it takes to upset No. 1 Indiana?
The new year began with a bold reminder of the brave new world that college football is in.
In the sport’s most storied game, a program that until this season was the losingest program in FBS history not only defeated one of college football’s most decorated programs, it dominated it.
Watch CFP Quarterfinals Indiana vs. Alabama Live on Fubo (Free Trial)
Behind three touchdown passes from Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, No. 1 Indiana defeated No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 1.
The Hoosiers became the first team in the history of the 12-team playoffs to win the first round with a bye and win the quarterfinals. Teams in this ranking have had 0 wins and 6 losses so far, including 0 wins and 2 losses this season.
Indiana scored touchdowns on five of its final six full drives and outscored Alabama by a 407-193 margin.
A win would advance them to the playoff semifinals, where they will face No. 5 Oregon State in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on January 9th.
The Crimson Tide finished the season with an 11-4 record, marking the second time in the past few seasons that coach Karen DeBoer lost in four games. In the last 16 seasons under DeBoer’s predecessor, Nick Saban, Alabama only lost more than one game once.
USA TODAY Sports provided live updates of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Rose Bowl victory between Indiana University and the University of Alabama. Here are the highlights.
This section will be updated throughout the game.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Indiana | 0 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
Things are getting ugly for Karen DeBoer’s team in the Rose Bowl.
Indiana expanded its lead over Alabama to 38-3 with a relatively easy drive, gaining 65 yards in just five plays. With 10:33 remaining, Roman Hemby put the exclamation point on an 18-yard touchdown run through the middle of the Crimson Tide defense.
The Hoosiers have scored touchdowns on five of their past six possessions.
Indiana’s shutout victory is over, but its lead continues to grow.
The Hoosiers responded to Alabama’s field goal with a touchdown and easily moved up the field with a six-play, 75-yard drive. The march ended with Kaylon Black’s 25-yard touchdown run with 14 minutes, 21 seconds left in regulation, extending Indiana’s advantage to 31-3.
There were only 15 minutes left. Indiana had a first-and-10 at Alabama’s own 27-yard line, threatening to extend its lead to 21 points.
Austin Mack was impressive on his first drive as Alabama quarterback, driving the Crimson Tide 65 yards up the field into Indiana’s red zone. But possession eventually stalled, and Alabama made a 28-yard field goal by Connor Talty to make it 24-3 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.
Alabama lost 24-0 and changed quarterbacks. Ty Simpson was examined by a team trainer after a fumble in the second quarter, but was put on for the Crimson Tide on the first drive of the second half. However, he will not play on the second possession, and redshirt sophomore Austin Mack will be the quarterback.
Simpson finished the day with 12 of 16 yards and 17 rushing yards.
He’s slowly moving toward an explosion at the Rose Bowl.
After Alabama forced a punt, Indiana marched 79 yards up the field and on third-and-1 Fernando Mendoza punctuated the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Surratt. It was the third touchdown pass of the day for the Heisman Trophy winner.
With the extra point, the Hoosiers led 24-0 with 7:46 left in the third quarter.
Alabama’s initial attempt to close the gap by 17 points failed, as the Crimson Tide went 3-and-out on its first attempt of the second half. The Crimson Tide punted and Indiana took over at its own 21-yard line.
The Hoosiers led Alabama 17-0 heading into halftime, with Alabama taking the opening kickoff of the second half.
Coach Curt Cignetti’s team defeated the Crimson Tide 179-93 in the opening 30 minutes, showing none of the rust that has plagued them in first-round byes during the 12-team playoff’s short existence.
Indiana is starting to pull away a little bit heading into halftime.
After Ty Simpson’s fumble, the Hoosiers moved the ball up the field, gaining 58 yards in 11 plays, and converted second-and-goal on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr. with 17 seconds left in the first half, extending Indiana’s lead to 17-0. It was Mendoza’s second touchdown pass of the game.
Alabama has been in this position before, although the quality of the opponent (and offensive line) is different. The Crimson Tide led Oklahoma 17-0 in the second quarter of the first round of the playoffs before going on to win 34-24. However, in that matchup, Alabama tied the game by halftime.
After being forced to punt at Indiana, Alabama had one of the most promising drives of the afternoon, with Ty Simpson set to pick up a first down inside the Hoosiers’ 45-yard line. But before he can fall, the ball is knocked out by D’Angelo Pons and Indiana falls on top of it.
With 3:09 left in the first half, the Hoosiers took the lead with 42 points on their own.
Looking down at a double-digit lead, Alabama was once again unmanned and unable to get beyond its own 38-yard line. Indiana’s Jonathan Brady punted a 36-yard punt with a 17-yard return, giving the Hoosiers the ball at their own 43 with 8:02 left in the first half.
Indiana was able to capitalize on the fourth-down stop when Fernando Mendoza connected with Charlie Becker in the end zone on a third-and-8 for a 21-yard touchdown pass, increasing the Hoosiers’ lead to 10-0 with 10:49 left in the second quarter. At first, Becker made an amazing catch on a throw that seemed high.
For the second time in a playoff game, Alabama has a double-digit deficit in the first half.
One of the first big decisions of the game came from Alabama’s Karen DeBoer, who scored on a fourth-and-one from the Crimson Tide’s own 34-yard line.
The gamble didn’t pay off, as a shovel pass from Daniel Hill to Jermie Bernard was stopped about a half-yard short of the sticks, allowing Indiana to take over at the Alabama 34.
Indiana entered the game first, with Niko Radic’s 31-yard field goal completing a 16-play, 84-yard drive with less than 8 minutes and 55 seconds to play.
It was a productive possession for the Hoosiers’ offense, which went 3-and-out on its previous drive, but could have easily ended up scoring more points. Indiana had a first-and-10 at the Alabama 13-yard line, but the drive stalled.
The first quarter ends scoreless for Indiana vs. Alabama, but that could quickly change as the Hoosiers line up for a 31-yard field goal to start the second quarter.
Despite a strong starting field, Alabama went scoreless on its first drive. The Crimson Tide had one first down, but Ty Simpson’s pass to Ryan Williams on third-and-14 from Indiana’s own 41-yard line fell incomplete.
Alabama forced Indiana to punt down deep in its own territory for three points.
Indiana takes the opening kickoff, but the offense, which was one of the most productive in the country during the regular season, was unable to gain much initial momentum.
The Hoosiers went 3-and-out and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was sacked twice, including on 3-and-4. Indiana followed this up with a short punt, and the kick traveled just 39 yards and was out at the Alabama 41-yard line.
before the game
According to CFP’s official availability report, Indiana’s injury status heading into the Rose Bowl vs. Alabama is as follows:
outside
- DL #8 Stephen Daly
- DL #13 Kellan Wyatt
- DB #24 Bryson Bonds
- RB #29 Lee Beebe Jr.
- K #35 Brendan Franke
According to CFP’s official availability report, Alabama’s injury status heading into the Rose Bowl vs. Indiana is as follows:
outside
- LB #20 Jermalien Latham
- DB #21 Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
- DL #92 Jeremiah Beeman
In-game decisions
It’s an unusually cold day in Pasadena, California today with cloudy skies and a high of 63 degrees. After rain early in the day, no precipitation is expected for the remainder of the afternoon and evening, with only an 11% chance of precipitation. Stadium staff were seen drying the field in the hours leading up to the game.
Hopefully the clouds will clear a little as the game progresses and fans across the country will get a chance to watch the famous sunset over the San Gabriel Mountains.
In his first full season as a starter at Alabama, Simpson completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 3,500 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
He is tied for ninth among all FBS players in passing touchdowns and 10th in passing yards.
What TV channel is Indiana vs. Alabama on today?
The Rose Bowl game between Indiana and Alabama will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit broadcasting the game from the booth, and Holly Rowe and Chris Budden reporting from the sidelines.
One streaming option for games is Fubo, which offers ESPN and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Indiana vs Alabama time today
- date: Thursday, January 1st
- time: 4:00 PM ET (1:00 PM PT)
- position: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Indiana vs. Alabama is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Indiana vs Alabama predictions, selections and odds
Odds provided by BetMGM, as of Wednesday, December 31st
- Spread: Indiana (-7)
- Top/Bottom: 48.5 points
- Money line: Indiana (-250) | Alabama (+200)
Prediction: Indiana 24, Alabama 19
We all saw what happened last season when a Big Ten team, after an extra week and a half of rest, took a coveted first-round victory in the Rose Bowl against a talented opponent with a struggling coach. However, this Alabama team is not last year’s Ohio State team. The offensive ingenuity of Karen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb will keep the Crimson Tide close, but the lack of a viable and consistent run game will leave them crushed by one of the best defenses in the country.
