Welcome to college football in 2025. Indiana is the No. 1 team in the country and favored by a touchdown over No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl, which serves as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
And in a game that features the Heisman winner, not one person is surprised that player, QB Fernando Mendoza, plays for the Hoosiers and not the Crimson Tide.
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Here’s how to watch all the College Football Playoff games (scroll for live updates).
No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama (4 p.m., ESPN)
It can’t be said often enough how Indiana made such a leap in Curt Cignetti’s first year and then got even better in his second year at the school. After a playoff appearance in 2024, Indiana simply beat everyone on its schedule in 2025.
Alabama was dominated by Georgia in the SEC title game and carried over that performance into the first 20 minutes of their first-round game at Oklahoma. But a blocked punt and a pick-6 got Alabama right back into things and the Tide rolled to a 34-24 win over the Sooners.
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By now, everyone knows Alabama can’t run the ball. Indiana, meanwhile, is incredibly good against the pass. Just how much can Indiana dare Alabama to attempt to run the ball?
Opposing QBs have thrown for 2,334 yards against the Hoosiers and tallied just seven touchdowns. Remarkably, those seven touchdowns have come over seven different games. Not one quarterback has thrown for multiple TDs against Indiana in 2025.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson is going to have to break that streak for Alabama to pull the upset. If he can have a big game, Alabama should at least hang around.
Live12 updatesThu, January 1, 2026 at 1:08 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:22 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Tide drove into Indiana territory but couldn’t quite get into field goal range. A nice punt pins Indiana at its own 3-yard line.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:15 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Another sack of Mendoza ends Indiana’s opening drive with a three-and-out. What a start for the Crimson Tide defense.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:14 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Alabama got after the Heisman-winning QB on the first play from scrimmage.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 1:11 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Indiana will receive the opening kickoff of the Rose Bowl.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:55 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
So far, all 6 teams with first-round byes have lost since the 12-team playoff format was adopted last season. No. 1 Indiana has a shot to end that skid with a win over No. 9 Alabama.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:45 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
After the Crimson Tide ruled over college football for so many years, it’s odd to seem them as a 7-point underdog to Indiana in this CFP quarterfinal. But Alabama players and coaches are leaning into it.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson is trying to lead his team to an upset win in the Rose Bowl. (AP Foto/Alonzo Adams)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ryan Young
The rain has stopped here in Pasadena, and the field appears to be in great shape after days of rough weather. Looks like that’ll be a non-factor today after all.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:34 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The No. 1 Hoosiers are 13-0 for the first time in program history. But this doesn’t seem like a fluke the way Curt Cignetti has built this program.
Yahoo’s Ryan Young has the story
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has his program rolling in his third year on the job. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:21 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
A century ago, Alabama was the upstart program that altered the course of college football history. Today, Alabama will face an Indiana team trying to do what the Crimson Tide did 100 years ago.
Read Jay Busbee’s full story
Alabama rallied to beat then undefeated Washington 20-19 to win the 1926 Rose Bowl. (Courtesy of the Paul W. Bryant Museum)
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
It was pouring earlier in the day but that’s let up at the moment and sun is starting to show itself. We’ll see if that holds by kickoff at 4p ET.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Here’s our full breakdown of the Rose Bowl showdown between Indiana and Alabama
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and now he’s looking to lead his team to a national title. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)