PASADENA— Its official, the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide earned its spot opposite undefeated No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal on Jan. 1, 2026, at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Alabama advanced after defeating No. 8 Oklahoma 34–24 in the CFP First Round on Friday, overcoming a 17–0 deficit with 27 unanswered points. The College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential will kick off at 1 p.m., one hour earlier than previous Rose Bowls.
Indiana (13–0), the Big Ten champion and No. 1 overall seed, is led by Head Coach Curt Cignetti and quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner.
Although it was an extremely controversial choice, selecting a program with three, count em 3 losses over Notre Dame.
Alabama (11–3), an SEC at–large qualifier, is led by Head Coach Kalen DeBoer. Quarterback Ty Simpson completed 18 of 29 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Oklahoma on the road in Norman.
The winner will advance to the CFP Semifinal at the Chick–fil–A Peach Bowl on Jan. 9. ESPN will broadcast the game.
DeBoer said after the Oklahoma win: “The key moments were what set this team apart from previous years. Our guys stepped up when it mattered most and made significant plays. The players breathe life into our efforts, and they certainly did that tonight.”
Upon receiving the ceremonial rose, he added: “Roll Tide!”
In any era, the concept of Indiana being a favorite over Alabama in such a high-stakes game would have been inconceivable. But it’s a new day for Indiana football, which has risen to prominence under second-year coach Curt Cignetti with a transfer-fueled run for the ages.
CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana. 1 p.m. ESPN
