Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers are in the 2026 Rose Bowl.

This College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup pits the No. 9 seed Alabama (SEC) against the No. 1 seed Indiana (Big Ten) on January 1, 2026, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Game Background

Alabama advanced by defeating Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round, entering with an 11-3 record and a storied Rose Bowl history including five prior wins. Indiana, the Big Ten champions with a perfect 13-0 record, marks their second Rose Bowl appearance since 1968. This first-ever meeting between the teams highlights Indiana's resurgence under recent coaching changes.

Key Team Insights

  • Alabama Crimson Tide : Ninth Rose Bowl trip; last played in 2024 (lost to Michigan). Strong legacy with national titles, now coached post-Saban era.
  • Indiana Hoosiers : Undefeated regular season; media day buzz focused on depth and versatility in preparations against Alabama.

Recent Buzz

Pre-game coverage from December 2025 emphasized Indiana's offensive prep and player rotations, with diaries from IU Insider noting high stakes for the CFP semifinal advancement. Forums and schedules confirm the bracket setup post- selections on December 7, 2025.

TL;DR: Alabama vs. Indiana in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal—Hoosiers lead as top seed after dominant season.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.