Hoosier History: Indiana’s Relentless Defense Dismantles Alabama in the Rose Bowl

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In a performance that signaled a true changing of the guard in college football, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (14–0) delivered a historic 38–3 thrashing of the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (11–4). While the Cotton Bowl earlier in the week saw Miami upset Ohio State, the spotlight shifted to Pasadena on New Year’s Day for what many expected to be a heavyweight bout. Instead, it became a one-sided masterclass. Under the pristine skies of the Rose Bowl, Curt Cignetti’s squad didn’t just win; they systematically dismantled a program that has defined the sport’s elite tier for decades, securing Indiana’s first-ever Rose Bowl victory and its first bowl win of any kind since 1991.

The afternoon belonged to Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who played with the surgical precision of a veteran in the biggest game of his life. After a tense, scoreless first quarter that featured heavy defensive pressure from both sides, Mendoza ignited the Indiana offense with a rhythmic 16-play, 84-yard drive that milked nearly nine minutes off the clock. Following a short field goal by Nicolas Radicic, the floodgates opened. Mendoza finished the game with a stat line of 14-of-16 for 192 yards and three touchdowns, remarkably ending the day with more touchdown passes than incompletions. His ability to extend plays with his legs and find receivers like Charlie Becker and Elijah Sarratt in tight windows left the Crimson Tide secondary searching for answers all afternoon.

While Mendoza provided the spark, it was the Indiana offensive line that provided the fuel. In a rare and symbolic move, center Pat Coogan was named the game’s Offensive MVP, a testament to a front five that physically manhandled Alabama’s defensive line. This dominance allowed a balanced rushing attack to flourish, with Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby combining for nearly 200 yards on the ground. As the game moved into the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers’ physicality became overwhelming, punctuated by a 25-yard touchdown burst from Black and an 18-yard power run from Hemby that turned a comfortable lead into a record-breaking rout.

Defensively, the Hoosiers were nothing short of a nightmare for Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide. Indiana held Alabama to just 193 total yards, the program’s least productive offensive outing in years. The pressure on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was relentless, eventually forcing a fumble that Indiana converted into a back-breaking touchdown just before halftime. Simpson was eventually replaced by Austin Mack in the third quarter after struggling to move the chains against a secondary that blanketed Alabama’s star receivers. By the time the clock hit zero, the Indiana faithful had filled the air with chants of “Hoosier Daddy,” celebrating a 35-point margin of victory that stands as the largest bowl defeat in Alabama history.

This victory is a milestone not just for the 2025 season, but for the trajectory of the entire program. Indiana has now become the first team in the 12-team playoff format to successfully win a quarterfinal game following a first-round bye, shattering a trend of rust-heavy performances by top seeds. For Curt Cignetti, a coach who arrived in Bloomington promising to change the culture, the 14-0 start and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals represent one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history. The Hoosiers now move on to the Peach Bowl on January 9th, where a high-stakes rematch with the Oregon Ducks awaits, with a spot in the National Championship on the line.

Final Score: #1 Indiana 38, #9 Alabama 3

Category	#9 Alabama	#1 Indiana
First Downs	12	22
Total Yards	193	407
Rushing Yards	23	215
Passing Yards	170	192
Turnovers	1 (Fumble)	0
Sacks By	1	3
Time of Possession	25:30	34:30

Individual Standouts (Indiana):

Passing: Fernando Mendoza (14-of-16, 192 Yds, 3 TD)
Rushing: Kaelon Black (15 carries, 99 Yds, 1 TD); Roman Hemby (18 carries, 89 Yds, 1 TD)
Receiving: Elijah Sarratt (67 Yds, 1 TD); Charlie Becker (42 Yds, 1 TD)
Defense: Aiden Fisher (11 Tackles); Isaiah Jones (Fumble Recovery)