No. 9 Alabama and No. 1 Indiana will square off for the first time in the history of the two schools when the two programs meet in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday.
This will be the ninth time the Crimson Tide have appeared in the Rose Bowl with a 5-2-1 record.
Here are a few things to watch in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs.
- Limit the Run
Indiana is a run-first team, passing on less than 40% of its plays. The team's success relies on its rushing attack to set up Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers like to run a balanced attack, so early-down success for the Crimson Tide defense will be huge. Stopping the early down runs and forcing Indiana into third-down passing situations will be a major priority in the game.
- Key Players Get Healthy
According to Kalen DeBoer, this is the healthiest that Alabama has been in a long time. The Crimson Tide have battled all season long against a brutal SEC schedule that has left many of its players banged up and bruised. With a little extra time off between the first round and quarterfinals, Alabama has healed up, and some key players are returning from injury. Edge rusher LT Overton is the most significant of the returning players as he is crucial in both stopping the run and rushing the passer. Tight end Josh Cuevas gave it a go in the first round but has now fully recovered from a broken foot and is good to go.
- Can Alabama Get to Mendoza?
The Crimson Tide have struggled to generate consistent pressure this year, ranking as the sixth-worst pass-rushing unit in the FBS according to Pro Football Focus grades. There is optimism as Alabama will be returning, who is second on the team with four sacks on the year. Overton allows Alabama to generate a pass rush without having to rely on blitzes from the second level. Putting the Indiana quarterback under pressure will be key to disrupting the Heisman Trophy winner’s passing attack.
- Rain at the Rose Bowl?
Rain is in the forecast for the 2026 Rose Bowl, which is something that doesn’t happen that often. In fact, the last time there was significant rain at the Rose Bowl was back in 1955. If the weather forecasters are right and it rains, it could affect both offenses. Rain could force these offenses to play more conservatively, and ball security will be a must.
- Give Simpson Time
Ty Simpson has been sacked 29 times so far this year. Alabama must avoid pressuring Simpson so he has time to get the ball to his receivers. This will be a tough task as Indiana’s defense is tied for sixth in the nation with 39 sacks. Indiana’s star defensive end Stephen Daley could make the job easier on the Crimson Tide offensive line.
Alabama will face No. 1 Indiana in a quarterfinals matchup in the Rose Bowl at 3 p.m. on New Year’s Day. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
