Alabama football CFP quarterfinal opponent preview: Indiana Hoosiers

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Alabama football CFP quarterfinal opponent preview: Indiana Hoosiers

For the first time this season, the Alabama Crimson Tide are set to face the No. 1 ranked team in college football.

That team is the Indiana Hoosiers, an opponent which Alabama has never faced before in football, with the game set to take place on about as big a stage the sport has to offer, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Also part of the CFP quarterfinal round, Indiana has been the talk across college football this season, with a massive reason as to why being the fact that the Hoosiers are led by the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. However, Indiana as a team is much more than that though, as the Hoosiers are among the most talented in the nation, and have certainly backed that up on the field this season with their performance.

Following is everything you need to know about Alabama’s CFP quarterfinal opponent, the Indiana Hoosiers.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 team overview

Oct 21, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of a Indiana Hoosiers helmet on the field prior to a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

  • Conference: Big Ten
  • Stadium: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
  • Record: 13-0 overall (9-0 Big Ten)
  • Ranking: No. 1 in CFP Rankings, No. 1 in US LBM Coaches Poll, No. 1 in AP Poll

Indiana enters the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl as the nation’s No. 1 team across the board, and are currently undefeated at 13-0 overall. The Hoosiers are also the Big Ten champions after an undefeated 9-0 record against their conference opponents, and have a resume that is headlined by a road win at Oregon, as well as Ohio State in Indianapolis.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 coaching staff

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks the sideline Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

  • Head Coach: Curt Cignetti
  • Offensive Coordinator: Mike Shanahan
  • Defensive Coordinator: Bryant Haines

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers is a familiar face to Alabama fans in Curt Cignetti, who was an assistant in Tuscaloosa under Nick Saban from 2007-11. In his second season in Bloomington, Indiana owns a combined 24-2 overall record under Cignetti with two CFP appearances.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 offensive stats

Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. (3) during the Indiana versus Old Dominion football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

  • Points Per Game: 41.9 (No. 4 in FBS)
  • Total Yards Per Game: 472.8
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 251.6
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 221.2

Indiana’s offense ranks No. 4 nationally with an average of 41.9 points per game offensively, and are also averaging 472.8 total yards a contest, both of which rank No. 1 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers also led the Big Ten by posting an average of 221.2 rushing yards per game, while also ranking among the top of the conference in passing yards per contest.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 defensive stats

Nov 1, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (7) celebrates with linebacker Isaiah Jones (46) after intercepting a pass during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

  • Points Per Game Allowed: 10.8 (No. 2 in FBS)
  • Total Yards Per Game Allowed: 257.2
  • Passing Yards Per Game Allowed: 179.5
  • Rushing Yards Per Game Allowed: 77.6

Indiana’s defense also ranks Top 10 nationally with only 10.8 points per game allowed to opponents, a number which ranks No. 2 nationally, as well as second in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers’ defense also ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten with an average of 77.6 rushing yards allowed per game.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 offensive players to know

Dec 6, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) looks to pass in the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

  • Fernando Mendoza, Quarterback, Redshirt Junior
  • Omar Cooper Jr., Wide Receiver, Redshirt Junior
  • Roman Hemby, Running Back, Redshirt Senior
  • Elijah Sarratt, Wide Receiver, Senior
  • Kaelon Black, Running Back, Redshirt Senior

Undoubtedly the name to know offensively for Indiana is quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner who is currently leading the Big Ten with 33 passing touchdowns this season. Elijah Sarratt also leads the Big Ten with 12 receiving touchdowns this season, while Charlie Becker is also a name to know, leading the Big Ten with an average of 19.8 yards per catch.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 defensive players to know

Dec 6, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Rolijah Hardy (21) reacts in the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

  • Rolijah Hardy, Linebacker, Sophomore
  • Louis Moore, Defensive Back, Redshirt Senior
  • Isaiah Jones, Linebacker, Redshirt Junior
  • Aiden Fisher, Linebacker, Senior
  • Tyrique Tucker, Defensive Line, Redshirt Junior

Concluding with a look at Indiana’s defensive names to know, the Hoosiers have many difference makers at the linebacker position in particular via the likes of leading tackler Rolijah Hardy, Isaiah Jones, and Aiden Fisher. In addition to the offense, Indiana’s defense is also very experienced, with another name to know in particular being Louis Moore, who leads the Big Ten with six interceptions.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football vs. Indiana Hoosiers CFP quarterfinal team preview

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