PASADENA, Calif. — No. 1 Indiana made a statement Thursday in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl, rolling to a 38-3 win over No. 9 Alabama. The Hoosiers will face No. 5 Oregon in the CFP semifinals at the Peach Bowl next week with a spot in the national championship game on the line.
Indiana became the first team in the 12-team CFP format to win a quarterfinal game after receiving a first-round bye. Teams were previously 0-6 following byes, including Ohio State (loss to Miami) and Texas Tech (loss to Oregon) earlier this season.
Curt Cignetti also made history as just the second FBS coach to win at least 25 games in his first two seasons at a school. Ironically, he joined Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, who accomplished the same feat at Washington before arriving in Tuscaloosa following Nick Saban’s retirement.
Indiana’s victory also guaranteed the Big Ten a representative in the national title game for the third consecutive season. Michigan won the championship over Washington in 2023, and Ohio State defeated Notre Dame last year in the first 12-team CFP.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza finished 14 of 16 for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson exited in the third quarter after completing 12 of 16 passes for just 67 yards and was replaced by Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from Washington to Alabama in 2024.
The loss marked Alabama’s worst since 2000. The Crimson Tide previously lost by 28 points to Clemson in the 2018 national championship game. With the defeat, Alabama’s title drought will now reach five seasons after winning six championships in 12 years under Saban.
By the numbers
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35 points — Margin of victory, tied for the sixth-largest in Rose Bowl history. Largest since 2014.
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First CFP quarterfinal win by a team receiving a first-round bye (teams were 0-6 entering the game).
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First CFP semifinal matchup between teams from the same conference.
Indiana
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14-0 — most wins in a season in school history.
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14-game win streak — Longest active streak in the FBS.
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First CFP win and first CFP semifinal appearance in school history.
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Will face No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9.
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First Rose Bowl win in program history (1-1 all time).
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First bowl win since the 1991 Copper Bowl vs. Baylor.
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First January win in school history (previously 0-4).
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Four wins vs. ranked teams — Most in program history.
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215 rushing yards — More than Alabama’s 193 total yards.
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Curt Cignetti: 25-2 in his first two seasons.
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Second FBS coach to win 25-plus games in his first two seasons at a school.
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Joins Kalen DeBoer (Washington, 2022–23).
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Fernando Mendoza: 14-of-16, 194 yards, three touchdowns.
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More touchdown passes (3) than incompletions (2).
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Tied for the most passing touchdowns in a bowl game in school history.
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First Heisman Trophy winner to reach the CFP semifinals since Bryce Young (2021).
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Big Ten: Will have a team in the national championship game for the third straight season.
Alabama
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Five straight seasons without a national championship.
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35-point loss — Largest bowl loss in program history.
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Largest loss overall since a 36-point defeat at Arkansas in 1998.
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Four-plus losses in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006–07.
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Three straight bowl losses for the first time since 1971–74.
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1-3 in the last four CFP games after going 9-3 in the first 12.
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Kalen DeBoer (first two seasons)
Scroll down below for live updates, highlights and analysis from Indiana’s dominant statement victory over Alabama and a look ahead to the Hoosiers’ rematch with the Ducks.
