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If anyone had suggested back in 2021 that the Indiana Hoosiers, the perennial basketball school, would one day enter the Rose Bowl as the College Football Playoff’s undefeated No. 1 seed and a favorite over the 3-loss Alabama Crimson Tide, it would have been dismissed as absolute fantasy. Alabama — the program that defined a dynasty for multiple generations — an underdog? Indiana — a team that hadn’t won an outright conference title in 80 years before 2025 — the behemoth? It’s a parallel universe warped by the sheer force of the Hoosiers’ ascendance, and yet, here we stand in Pasadena, preparing for the most upside-down clash the Granddaddy of Them All has ever hosted.

The landscape of college football has been altered by the arrival of Curt Cignetti in Bloomington, who, in a shockingly short period, has turned the Hoosiers into a national power. Cignetti’s 26-2 record in just two seasons has shattered every previous standard for coaching success in Bloomington. Behind the play of Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Indiana didn’t just win the Big Ten; they steamrolled it, capping their 13-0 run with a defensive masterpiece against the reigning national champion Ohio State. This is a program with an elite defense, a dominating rushing attack, and a self-assured belief that they are three precious victories away from the first national title in school history.

For Alabama, head coach Kalen DeBoer — who inherited the impossible task of succeeding Nick Saban — has guided the Crimson Tide through a season of uncharacteristic struggles. Alabama scraped its way into the Playoff with three losses, proving its championship mettle in a first-round victory over Oklahoma where the Tide came back from down 17-0 on the road. Yet, the prevailing whisper in Pasadena remains: you can never count out the Tide, no matter the circumstances.

When the College Football Playoff quarterfinal kicks off on Thursday at the Rose Bowl, the stunning reality will finally sink in: The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers are the gatekeepers to the national semifinals. Standing in their way, playing the role of spoiler and proving that the Tide still rolls, are the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide. 

This is not just a game, but a cultural collision. The football blue blood of the South, synonymous with unparalleled gridiron excellence, faces off against the basketball blue blood of the Midwest, which now finds itself as the newest college football powerhouse. This is a clash of legacies, a battle of coaches, and a dizzying moment of truth for a sport that has not witnessed a disruption quite like the Hoosiers’ takeover. 

STREAM: Watch Alabama vs. Indiana live with Fubo (free trial)

Alabama vs. Indiana football score

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Alabama vs. Indiana live updates, highlights from 2026 College Football Playoff

All times ET.

3:27 p.m.: Fans are piling into the Rose Bowl, and it’s a sea of red.

People trying to get into the Rose Bowl 30 min before kickoff pic.twitter.com/6es3zv0dwi

— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) January 1, 2026

3:14 p.m.: We’re getting closer to kickoff

Cream & crimson on site. pic.twitter.com/DYQXoYMqIk

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) January 1, 2026

Will the No. 1 Hoosiers advance to 14-0?

2:57 p.m.: Some sun is starting to come through in Pasadena.

Rain subsiding out here in Pasadena. Been really bad last 48 hours-think we’re gonna be good for the game! 🤞🏼⁦@rosebowlgame⁩
4pm ET ⁦@espn⁩ pic.twitter.com/ggdtD33rdj

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) January 1, 2026

2:43 p.m.: Imagine three years ago if someone said Alabama would be playing Indiana in the Rose Bowl.

We should never lose sight of how truly remarkable it is to see the word “INDIANA” in one of the end zones at the Rose Bowl. pic.twitter.com/bHViqGPtrE

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) December 30, 2025

Well, here we are. It’s real.

2:27 p.m.: Curt Cignetti, Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers have arrived at the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1968.

Curt Cignetti and Fernando Mendoza arrive for Indiana’s first Rose Bowl since 1968 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fQ3RgM2qMQ

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 1, 2026

Indiana’s 2025 season has been nothing short of legendary, culminating in the program’s first Big Ten title since 1967 and their highest-ever national ranking at No. 1. The Hoosiers marched through their schedule with an improbable 13-0 record, earning them a coveted first-round bye. Mendoza has been the face of this historic turnaround, which has been called the greatest in college football history given the program’s long past of struggle.

2:15 p.m.: The Alabama Crimson Tide have arrived at the Rose Bowl.

The Tide have Arrived 😤#RoseBowl | #RollTide pic.twitter.com/odMvus9YYO

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 1, 2026

The Tide, one of the winningest programs in college football history, finds itself as an unfamiliar underdog against the No. 1 Hoosiers.

2:04 p.m.: Indiana was in the basement of college football for the longest time, but that all changed when Curt Cignetti came to town. Now, the Hoosiers are playing in their Rose Bowl since 1968.

“I talked to a woman who’s 80 years old and a gentleman who’s in his early 80s, they’re crying talking about being here at the Rose Bowl. … They never thought they’d live long enough to have their team play in this stadium.”@KirkHerbstreit to @PatMcAfeeShow about the… pic.twitter.com/dKXTtExCBw

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2026

Look how much it means to the Indiana faithful.

2:02 p.m.: For the first time in a LONG time, it won’t be a sunny Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The rain at the Rose Bowl 😱 ☔

(via @CollegeGameDay) pic.twitter.com/R5cmw5jeeQ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2026

Forecasts project heavy rain throughout the day in California, setting up an unusual game at the Grandaddy of Them All.

Off the bat, this favors Indiana, the superior rushing team with a more dominant defensive front. Alabama has struggled to run the ball consistently, especially against Georgia in the SEC Championship. 

MORE ALABAMA-INDIANA NEWS:

Where to watch the Rose Bowl today

Alabama vs. Indiana start time

• Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
• Time: 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. local time

The Grandaddy of them all will take place on New Year’s Day, as it does every year, maintaining its century-old tradition as the oldest and most iconic bowl game.

The 112th edition between Alabama and Indiana will kick off at 4:00 p.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. local time.

What channel is Alabama vs. Indiana on?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream: Fubo 

The Rose Bowl will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. ESPN’s No. 1 crew will be on-site, with Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (color commentator) on the call. Holly Rowe will provide updates on the sidelines.

Fans looking to stream the game can via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.

MORE: Full 2025 CFP bracket, final rankings, schedule

College Football Playoff schedule 2026

Dec. 19

Dec. 20

Dec. 31 

Jan. 1

Jan. 8

Jan. 9

Jan. 19

BENDER: Ranking the 8 remaining teams in the College Football Playoff