Kalen DeBoer Gets Honest on Alabama's Loss to Indiana

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The Alabama Crimson Tide fell to the No. 1 seed Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl, 38-3. Indiana dominated the No. 9 seed Crimson Tide after a scoreless first quarter.

"Frustrated. Upset. It doesn't sit well with us. But after today, all we can do is move on," Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said after the loss.

The Crimson Tide came into the game with some momentum as they had a comeback victory over the No. 8 seed Oklahoma Sooners, 34-24, in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

However, Alabama did not have enough to get past the top-ranked Hoosiers. Projected number one overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza carved up the Crimson Tide's defense, completing 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Alabama's defense also struggled to stop the run, as Kaelon Black rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while Roman Hemby had 89 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

It wasn't any better for the Crimson Tide's offense, as they managed to put up a lone field goal in the third quarter.

Alabama did not convert either of its two fourth-down attempts. Quarterback Ty Simpson also lost a fumble on a play that took him out of the game with a fractured rib.

"On the fumble, took a helmet to the rib," Simpson said. "Cracked my rib. Tried to go back in the second half. Just felt like the best chance for us to win in the second half was Austin."

Austin Mack took over at quarterback for Simpson and completed 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards. The sophomore quarterback was unable to turn the offense around and lead a comeback.

Alabama now enters the offseason with much to improve upon for the 2026 season. The Crimson Tide were a contender every year under head coach Nick Saban, and have work to do to get to that point under DeBoer.

In DeBoer's first year as Alabama's head coach in 2024, the team went 9-4 and missed the College Football Playoff. This season, they finished 11-4, but didn't advance past the quarterfinals. 

DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will need to reset in the offseason as they look to return to the National Championship Game for the first time since Saban was the head coach.

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