Rose Bowl quarterfinal sets up first-ever Indiana-Alabama matchup

INDIANAPOLIS. -- The Rose Bowl will host a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Year’s Day, with No. 1 Indiana facing No. 9 Alabama in the first-ever meeting between the programs. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET in Pasadena, California.

It is also a historic return for the Hoosiers as they are playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 58 years and arrive with a perfect 13-0 record.

Indiana has been dominant on both sides of the ball, scoring 41.9 points per game while allowing 10.8. The Hoosiers have also created chaos on defense, with 39 sacks and 17 interceptions this season.

The catalyst is Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions. Indiana could also get a boost in the passing game with wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., the team’s leading receiver, now reported as available.

Across the field is a familiar playoff presence. Alabama is making its ninth CFP appearance and advanced after a first-round win at Oklahoma. Quarterback Ty Simpson has put up big numbers of his own, with about 3,500 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said execution will be key against an Alabama defense that can disrupt timing.

“Schematically they’ve done some things to try and throw you off rhythm, so we got to go in with a sound plan,” Cignetti said. “But at the end of the day it’s all about execution — left tackle doing his job, running backs and receivers and Fernando being on point.”

The biggest question heading into Pasadena: Which staff can force the other team to play uncomfortable? For Indiana, the path is clear — make Simpson uneasy, win the turnover battle, control the clock and lean on the run game to stay ahead of the chains.

Because if Alabama settles in and plays a clean, comfortable playoff game, Indiana’s margin for error gets very small.