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Key numbers behind Indiana-Alabama — one of the unlikeliest Rose Bowls
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Indiana coach Curt Cignetti talks about how he has motivated his team to fight hard in close games. (1:23)
Thursday's Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential will see No. 1-ranked Indiana face No. 9 Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, a matchup that would have been nearly impossible to predict a decade ago.
Indiana enters the game with a 13-0 record, while Alabama is 11-3 after defeating No. 8-seeded Oklahoma on the road in the first round.
The Hoosiers haven't played since Dec. 6 — a 13-10 Big Ten Championship victory over then-No. 1-ranked Ohio State. It marked the program's first victory over an AP No. 1 team and outright conference championship since 1945. A week later, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Hoosier to win the award, which was created in 1935.
Indiana vs. Alabama live updates, score: Follow College Football Playoff action
Welcome to college football in 2025. Indiana is the No. 1 team in the country and favored by a touchdown over No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl, which serves as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
And in a game that features the Heisman winner, not one person is surprised that player, QB Fernando Mendoza, plays for the Hoosiers and not the Crimson Tide.
Here’s how to watch all the College Football Playoff games (scroll for live updates).
It can’t be said often enough how Indiana made such a leap in Curt Cignetti’s first year and then got even better in his second year at the school. After a playoff appearance in 2024, Indiana simply beat everyone on its schedule in 2025.
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Alabama vs. Indiana weather forecast: Rain expected for Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl Game is one of the most iconic settings in sports, as the Southern California sunset hits the San Gabriel Mountains to create a beautiful New Year's Day visual as the game reaches its end.
However, it's not looking like that scenic moment will happen on Jan. 1, 2026.
The 2026 Rose Bowl features No. 1 Indiana taking on No. 9 Alabama in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup, and it will be a game unlike most with a storm coming as the new year begins. As a result, heavy rain is expected in Pasadena, California, which could not only ruin the views, but have a major impact on the game itself.
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