Roll Tide Wire's takeaways from CFP quarterfinal loss vs. Indiana

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Alabama was defeated 38-3 by a superior team Thursday afternoon at the Rose Bowl.

They were outcoached and outplayed on every level. Alabama needs to get back to the drawing board to figure out how to replenish their program to make a run for the title next season.

Alabama did some great things this year, but there were holes in the team that got exposed. Maybe Indiana goes on to win the national championship, maybe they don’t, but they did expose where Alabama needs to get better to be crowned at the end of the season.

Let’s take a look at some takeaways from Alabama’s loss to the Hoosiers in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.

Indiana is a fantastic team

Alabama was outclassed Thursday on virtually every level, especially in the trenches where the Indiana offensive line cleared running lanes all day long. Indiana ran for 215 yards on 50 carries. They dominated time of possession by nearly nine minutes. They had 22 first downs to Alabama’s 11. Alabama is a Top 15 team in the country. Indiana could possibly be the best team in the country.

Alabama needs a running game next season

Alabama ran for 23 yards Thursday. It is very difficult to control the clock when you only ran for 23 yards. Granted, Alabama did find a way to win time of possession in most games. However, when you play a team that can run the football, they will control the clock if you cannot.

Eventually this caught up to Alabama when they played an elite team. Alabama will likely be looking for running backs and offensive linemen in the portal this offseason. For Ryan Grubb’s offense to thrive, there has to be balance.

It’s a different era of college football

Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State….out! Indiana, Ole Miss, Miami…in! What we have seen in the last couple days is phenomenal. We have seen a shakeup in the establishment of college football. No longer are the days of elite programs stockpiling four and five-star players class after class, and dominating college football.

The new age of NIL/transfer portal has really taken shape. Recruiting is far more wide open than it was. Championship teams can be built in one season. The acquisition of players for a one-year run is underway. The teams that are adapting to the NIL/transfer portal the best are the ones building championship level teams. The coaching staffs/programs that are best built to handle this will wind up thriving in this era.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football takeaways from Rose Bowl loss vs. Indiana

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