Alabama’s season is over, and it ended with a thud.
After a comeback win over Oklahoma in the opening round of the College Football Playoff inspired hope the Crimson Tide could upset top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl and take a major step toward a championship, Kalen DeBoer’s team was brutalized in every way on Thursday, suffering a 38-3 defeat.
While Alabama was hardly alone in getting burned by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the Tide didn’t come close to stopping Indiana’s rushing attack, letting both Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black run wild.
Compared to the Nick Saban era, the loss puts DeBoer in uncharted territory.
Here’s a look at how Alabama’s 35-point defeat ranks against the program’s worst losses this century.
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Alabama’s worst losses this century
| Season | Opponent | Margin | Final Score | Coach |
| 2025 | Indiana (CFP semifinals) | 35 | 38-3 | Kalen DeBoer |
| 2018 | Clemson (CFP championship) | 28 | 44-16 | Nick Saban |
| 2003 | LSU | 24 | 27-3 | Mike Shula |
| 2000 | Mississippi State | 22 | 29-7 | Mike DuBose |
| 2000 | Southern Miss | 21 | 21-0 | Mike DuBose |
| 2024 | Oklahoma | 21 | 24-3 | Kalen DeBoer |
| 2025 | Georgia (SEC championship) | 21 | 28-7 | Kalen DeBoer |
| 2004 | Arkansas | 17 | 27-10 | Mike Shula |
| 2004 | South Carolina | 17 | 20-3 | Mike Shula |
| 2004 | LSU | 16 | 26-10 | Mike Shula |
| 2003 | Ole Miss | 15 | 43-28 | Mike Shula |
| 2006 | Florida | 15 | 28-13 | Mike Shula |
| 2021 | Georgia (CFP championship) | 15 | 33-18 | Nick Saban |
Alabama’s 38-3 loss is the program’s widest margin since a 42-6 loss to Arkansas in 1998.
Before Thursday, Alabama only had six losses of 20 or more points since the start of the 21st century, with only one of those losses coming under the legendary Nick Saban.
In just two seasons as head coach, Kalen DeBoer now owns three of Alabama’s seven 20-point losses since 2000. The Crimson Tide suffered a 24-3 defeat to Oklahoma in 2024 and lost 28-7 to Georgia in the SEC championship game this season. By losing 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, DeBoer now has a loss by a wider margin than any defeat during the Saban era.
The blowout loss to Indiana made the last FBS team to take a 30-point loss in the 21st century.
Entering today, every team currently in the FBS had suffered at least one 30-point loss in the 21st century – except for Alabama.@IndianaFootball put an end to that today. pic.twitter.com/YnjkPP4YIO
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 2, 2026
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What is Alabama’s worst loss ever?
In this era of college football, Alabama probably isn’t going to match its worst loss in program history. The Crimson Tide fell 78-0 at the hands of Vanderbilt in 1906, a mark that hasn’t been matched since.
While 78-0 might have been tough to swallow, Alabama’s 38-3 Rose Bowl defeat will leave quite a sting as well for a program that perennially competed for national championships not long ago.
