PASADENA, Calif. — In one of the most lopsided College Football Playoff quarterfinals in recent history, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers dismantled No. 9 Alabama 38–3 in the 112th Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, advancing to the CFP semifinals with a statement victory. Indiana’s balanced attack and suffocating defense never allowed the Crimson Tide into the game, marking the program’s first Rose Bowl win and its first bowl victory since 1991.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza led the charge, completing 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns en route to a historic performance. The Hoosiers struck first and often, building a 24–0 lead before adding two fourth-quarter rushing scores from Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby to seal the win. Indiana outgained Alabama 407–193 and controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish.
Defensively, Indiana forced turnovers, generated pressure, and limited Alabama’s offense to just a lone field goal. The Tide managed only 23 rushing yards on the afternoon and never threatened in the second half. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson exited the game with an injury in the second quarter, and backup Austin Mack later led the Crimson Tide’s only scoring possession.
This 35-point victory stands as Alabama’s largest postseason defeat in program history and underscores a dominant performance from a Hoosier team that has steadily risen to the top of the national landscape. Indiana now prepares for a semifinal rematch against Oregon in the Peach Bowl on January 9, one of the final steps toward the College Football Playoff National Championship.