Alabama vs. Indiana live score, updates, highlights from 2026 College Football Playoff quarterfinals

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Alabama vs. Indiana live score, updates, highlights from 2026 College Football Playoff quarterfinals

Alabama vs. Indiana live score, updates, highlights from 2026 College Football Playoff quarterfinals originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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If anyone had suggested back in 2021 that the Indiana Hoosiers, the perennial basketball school, would one day enter the Rose Bowl as the College Football Playoff’s undefeated No. 1 seed and a favorite over the 3-loss Alabama Crimson Tide, it would have been dismissed as absolute fantasy. Alabama — the program that defined a dynasty for multiple generations — an underdog? Indiana — a team that hadn't won an outright conference title in 80 years before 2025 — the behemoth? It’s a parallel universe warped by the sheer force of the Hoosiers' ascendance, and yet, here we stand in Pasadena, preparing for the most upside-down clash the Granddaddy of Them All has ever hosted.

The landscape of college football has been altered by the arrival of Curt Cignetti in Bloomington, who, in a shockingly short period, has turned the Hoosiers into a national power. Cignetti’s 26-2 record in just two seasons has shattered every previous standard for coaching success in Bloomington. Behind the play of Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Indiana didn't just win the Big Ten; they steamrolled it, capping their 13-0 run with a defensive masterpiece against the reigning national champion Ohio State. This is a program with an elite defense, a dominating rushing attack, and a self-assured belief that they are three precious victories away from the first national title in school history.

For Alabama, head coach Kalen DeBoer — who inherited the impossible task of succeeding Nick Saban — has guided the Crimson Tide through a season of uncharacteristic struggles. Alabama scraped its way into the Playoff with three losses, proving its championship mettle in a first-round victory over Oklahoma where the Tide came back from down 17-0 on the road. Yet, the prevailing whisper in Pasadena remains: you can never count out the Tide, no matter the circumstances.

When the College Football Playoff quarterfinal kicks off on Thursday at the Rose Bowl, the stunning reality will finally sink in: The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers are the gatekeepers to the national semifinals. Standing in their way, playing the role of spoiler and proving that the Tide still rolls, are the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide. 

This is not just a game, but a cultural collision. The football blue blood of the South, synonymous with unparalleled gridiron excellence, faces off against the basketball blue blood of the Midwest, which now finds itself as the newest college football powerhouse. This is a clash of legacies, a battle of coaches, and a dizzying moment of truth for a sport that has not witnessed a disruption quite like the Hoosiers’ takeover. 

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Alabama vs. Indiana football score

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Alabama vs. Indiana live updates, highlights from 2026 College Football Playoff

All times ET.

5:15 p.m.: Alabama is across the 30 after two Simpson completions followed up by a Hill run.

On 2nd & 5, Simpson bullets one to Williams, who gets lit up on the catch but holds on. It's a first down on a 13-yard completion.

5:13 p.m.: After a commercial break, Mendoza tries finding Riley Nowakowski down the seam but the receiver can't hold on. It's an incomplete pass, forcing Indiana to punt.

The Crimson Tide will start their next drive at the 15. 

5:08 p.m.: To open up the Indiana drive, Mendoza gets sacked by Yhonze Pierre — who leads the Tide in sacks — for a loss of nine yards. Black picks up seven, setting up a 3rd & 12.

5:04 p.m.: On 3rd & 10, Simpson has nobody downfield and gets swallowed up trying to scramble. It forces Alabama to punt for the second time today. It's the first sack for the Indiana defense, which led the nation in pressure rate in 2025.

Mendoza and Indiana have the ball back, and so far, this game has been dominated by Indiana.

5:02 p.m.: The Tide move the chains fast, with Simpson hitting Williams and Bernard to move the chains. The pass to Bernard goes 18 yards all the way up to the 37.

Indiana 10, Alabama 0

4:57 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Indiana capitalizes on the short field and has the first touchdown of the game.

On 3rd & 8, Mendoza drops back and launches to Becker, who leaps up for a catch in the end zone. It's a four-play, 34-yard touchdown drive and Indiana is up 10-0.

It's Mendoza's 40th total touchdown of the season, and it goes to "Charlie B, from Nashville Tennessee," as Gus Johnson would say.

4:55 p.m.: After a penalty that made it a 1st & 20, Hemby bounces a carry outside and takes it 21 yards all the way to the Alabama 23. It's immediately a first down and the Hoosiers are threatening again.

4:52 p.m.: Alabama tried drawing the Hoosiers offsides, but the disciplined Indiana defense didn't move. It forced a timeout by Kalen DeBoer, and Alabama rolls out the offense again on 4th & 1 inside their own 40.

Simpson flips the ball to Germie Bernard, and the receiver gets lit up right before the first down marker and the Indiana defense gets a huge stop.

With it, the Hoosiers have the ball, up 3-0, on the Alabama 34.

4:46 p.m.: Two carries by Kelvin Riley set up a 3rd & 8 for the Crimson Tide. Though, Simpson is able to scramble right to the line to gain, but falls up just short because of where he started his slide. It's now a 4th & 1.

A note: Jam Miller, Alabama's starting running back who is active today, has not had a carry yet.

Indiana 3, Alabama 0

4:42 p.m. FIELD GOAL: Indiana strikes first behind a Nicolas Radicic 31-yard field goal.

The Hoosiers go 16 plays for 84 yards, but it ends in only three points. Though, Indiana has the first lead of the game.

End of the first quarter: Alabama 0, Indiana 0

4:38 p.m.: Now on 3rd & 9 inside the red zone, Mendoza hands it off to Hemby but the Tide defense suffocates him.

The clock winds down to the end of the first quarter, and the first play of the second will be an Indiana field goal.

But, for now, we're scoreless.

4:31 p.m.: Indiana's physicality is coming through as the Hoosiers are inside the red zone.

Once again, Black takes a carry up the middle and the pile is pushed all the way to the 13. 

4:30 p.m.: The Hoosiers are inside the 30. Black has had some plus carries to open the game, and he has a six-yarder to get another first down.

4:29 p.m.: We have our first big play of the game.

On first down, Mendoza looks deep downfield and finds his roommate, Charlie Becker, on the right sideline for 30 yards.

It goes down to the Alabama 40 and the Hoosiers are moving.

4:27 p.m.: On 3rd & 1, Roman Hemby takes his second carry of the game two yards, but it's enough to move the sticks. 

4:25 p.m.: Indiana moves the chains for the first time in the game. On 3rd & 2, Mendoza rolls out right and hits his favorite receiver, Elijah Sarratt. It goes for seven yards to the Indiana 15 and the Hoosiers have a new set of downs.

4:24 p.m.: It wouldn't be a Kirk Herbstreit game without a Peter Herbstreit appearance.

4:20 p.m.: After the Indiana defense tackles hill behind the line of scrimmage, Simpson throws one deep for Ryan Williams but it is almost intercepted by an Indiana defender. It sets up a fourth down.

Though they showed promise, the Crimson Tide have to punt on the first drive. It remains 0-0 as Mendoza and co. take over inside their own 10.

4:18 p.m.: The Tide keep on moving and are inside the 40. 

Hill takes a run six yards across the chains as Alabama looks to draw first blood.

4:17 p.m.: On their first drive, Simpson and Alabama get a third down conversion. He hits freshman running back Daniel Hill on an angle route, and the Tide are across midfield.

4:14 p.m.: On the first play, Mendoza gets brought down by the Alabama pass rush. 

Two plays later on a 3rd & short, the quarterback gets sacked again. This time, it's Bray Hubbard, and the Crimson Tide have two sacks on drive one. Indiana has to punt.

Mitch McCarthy shanks the punt, though, and Alabama will start just behind midfield.

4:12 p.m.: The Crimson Tide have kicked off and the Rose Bowl is underway.

Here comes Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana offense.

4:11 p.m.: Alabama has won the kickoff and has deferred.

Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana offense will get the ball first.

4:08 p.m.: The teams have taken the field for the 112th edition of the Rose Bowl.

Indiana and Alabama are fighting for a spot in the Peach Bowl, where Oregon awaits.

4:01 p.m.: Kickoff at the Rose Bowl is moments away, with the No. 9 Tide looking to shock the college football world.

Teams with a bye are 0-6 after Oregon's win vs. Texas Tech. Will the Hoosiers beat the trend?

3:55 p.m.: Ryan Williams burst onto the scene in 2024, but took a step back in 2025. He had 43 receptions for 636 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.

For Alabama to win tonight, he'll need to be a factor.

3:43 p.m.: Fernando Mendoza led the country in passing touchdowns during the 2025 regular season, throwing for a national-best 33 touchdown passes en route to the first Heisman in Indiana history.

His 33 passing touchdowns established a new school record for the Indiana Hoosiers, a major factor in the program's historic 13-0 season and his Heisman Trophy win. Mendoza was also among the national leaders in total touchdowns accounted for, adding another 6 touchdowns on the ground for a combined total of 39 scores.

3:27 p.m.: Fans are piling into the Rose Bowl, and it's a sea of red.

3:14 p.m.: We're getting closer to kickoff

Will the No. 1 Hoosiers advance to 14-0?

2:57 p.m.: Some sun is starting to come through in Pasadena.

2:43 p.m.: Imagine three years ago if someone said Alabama would be playing Indiana in the Rose Bowl.

Well, here we are. It's real.

2:27 p.m.: Curt Cignetti, Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers have arrived at the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1968.

Indiana's 2025 season has been nothing short of legendary, culminating in the program's first Big Ten title since 1967 and their highest-ever national ranking at No. 1. The Hoosiers marched through their schedule with an improbable 13-0 record, earning them a coveted first-round bye. Mendoza has been the face of this historic turnaround, which has been called the greatest in college football history given the program's long past of struggle.

2:15 p.m.: The Alabama Crimson Tide have arrived at the Rose Bowl.

The Tide, one of the winningest programs in college football history, finds itself as an unfamiliar underdog against the No. 1 Hoosiers.

2:04 p.m.: Indiana was in the basement of college football for the longest time, but that all changed when Curt Cignetti came to town. Now, the Hoosiers are playing in their Rose Bowl since 1968.

Look how much it means to the Indiana faithful.

2:02 p.m.: For the first time in a LONG time, it won't be a sunny Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Forecasts project heavy rain throughout the day in California, setting up an unusual game at the Grandaddy of Them All.

Off the bat, this favors Indiana, the superior rushing team with a more dominant defensive front. Alabama has struggled to run the ball consistently, especially against Georgia in the SEC Championship. 

MORE ALABAMA-INDIANA NEWS:

Where to watch the Rose Bowl today

Alabama vs. Indiana start time

  • Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
  • Time: 4p.m. ET, 1 p.m. local time

The Grandaddy of them all will take place on New Year's Day, as it does every year, maintaining its century-old tradition as the oldest and most iconic bowl game.

The 112th edition between Alabama and Indiana will kick off at 4:00 p.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. local time.

What channel is Alabama vs. Indiana on?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream:Fubo

The Rose Bowl will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. ESPN's No. 1 crew will be on-site, with Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (color commentator) on the call. Holly Rowe will provide updates on the sidelines.

Fans looking to stream the game can via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.

MORE: Full 2025 CFP bracket, final rankings, schedule

College Football Playoff schedule 2026

Dec. 19

GameMatchup
First-Round CFP gameAlabama 34, Oklahoma 24

Dec. 20

GameMatchup
First-Round CFP gameMiami 10, Texas A&M 3
First-Round CFP gameOle Miss 41, Tulane 10
First-Round CFP gameOregon 51, James Madison 34

Dec. 31 

GameMatchup
Cotton Bowl Classic (quarterfinal)Miami 24, Ohio State 14 

Jan. 1

GameMatchupTime (ET)TV
Capital One Orange Bowl (quarterfinal)Oregon vs. Texas Tech12 p.m.ESPN
Rose Bowl Game (quarterfinal)Alabama vs. Indiana vs4 p.m.ESPN
Allstate Sugar Bowl (quarterfinal)Ole Miss vs. Georgia 8 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 8

GameMatchupTime (ET)TV
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (semifinal)TBD7:30 p.m.ESPN

Jan. 9

GameMatchupTime (ET)TV
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (semifinal)TBD7:30 p.m.ESPN

Jan. 19

GameMatchupTime (ET)TV
CFP National championshipTBD7:30 p.m.ESPN

BENDER: Ranking the 8 remaining teams in the College Football Playoff

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