On New Year’s Day the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (13-0) will take on the No. 9 Alabama Crimson (11-3) Tide in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game. Let’s take a week-by-week look at how each team found their way to Pasadena.
Game 1
Indiana 27 Old Dominion 14
Indiana controlled the game against Old Dominion, but two long runs by ODU’s Colton Joseph raised concern with some outlets and fans. IU actually dropped in the polls after this game.
The Hoosiers got a punt return touchdown from Jonathan Brady to spark them to the win and rode the running backs and defense (outside of two long runs) to victory
While IU started the season slow in 2024 as well, people seemingly just went into panic mode after a game IU dominated on the stat sheet, but not the score board.
Old Dominion finished the season 10-3 and beat South Florida in the Cure Bowl.
Florida State 31 Alabama 17
In one of the season’s biggest shockers in week one a preseason top-10 Alabama team went to Florida State and were convincingly beaten. The Seminoles ran for 230 yards and four touchdowns and the Crimson Tide’s issues were made apparent early in the year as Ty Simpson was just 23/43 passing and Alabama’s offense ran for 87 yards on 30 carries.
Florida State would finish the year 5-7 and in 13th place in the ACC.
Game 2
Indiana 56 Kennesaw State 9
The Hoosiers started to look like the team that could make another run at the College Football Playoff. Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns and the defense racked up 14 tackles for loss.
Alabama 73 ULM 0
This was the type of game everyone expected to see from this Crimson Tide team. An efficient passing game mixed with a dominant rushing attack to go along with a defense that had 12 tackles for loss.
Game 3
Indiana 73 Indiana State 0
The Hoosiers ran the Sycamores out the building and Mendoza was nearly flawless in his passing game. The Hoosiers did lose Lee Bebee for the season this game, but IU found out what redshirt freshman Khobie Martin could do.
Alabama 38 Wisconsin 14
The only common opponent between this two teams (we’ll get to IU’s side later) was Wisconsin and Alabama dominated what would ultimately be an underwhelming Big Ten foe. Ty Simpson picked apart the Badgers completing 24-29 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns. He also was the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher with just 25 yards on the ground. Ryan Williams had a huge game with 165 yards and two scores.
Game 4
Indiana 63 Illinois 10
The national media had this game circled as a prove it game for the Hoosiers against then-No.9 Illinois. IU proved they belong and then the national media discounted it by asking if Illinois was really that good. IU dominated from start to finish and in all facets of the game.
Alabama 24 Georgia 21
The season opening loss to Florida State looked like a fluke as Bama went into Athens and upset the No.5 Georgia Bulldogs. While it was an impressive victory, the cracks in the Tide that showed early and then late in the season started to show on offense. Simpson was just 24-38 passing and Alabama ran for just 117 yards on 38 carries. However, October Bama looked like they were a top five team in the nation.
Game 5
Indiana 20 Iowa 15
The Hoosiers moved onto their next “prove it” game and while they won 20-15 there were still some doubters. IU probably should have lost in Iowa City. It’s a very tough place to go win a game. Iowa made some mistakes and like great teams do, when they are given a chance they take advantage of it. A hard hit on Fernando Mendoza as he was trying to get a first down sparked a shoving match that may have galvanized this squad. The Hoosiers proved at Iowa that they can go into a hostile environment against a physical team and win, even when faced with a fourth quarter deficit.
Alabama 30 Vanderbilt 14
After suffering one of the more shocking losses in recent college football history, Alabama got their revenge on Vanderbilt and Diego Pavia. The Tide defense played extremely well against an offense that was really good holding the Commodores to just 333 total yards. They also forced two Vandy turnovers and turned them over on downs as well. At this point in time, Alabama looked nearly invincible.
Game 6
Indiana 30 Oregon 20
Another week where the “experts” picked the Hoosiers to head back to earth. Another week Indiana beat a very good team on the road. Indiana dominated both lines of scrimmage and took over in the second half. After throwing a game-tying pick six, Fernando Mendoza marched down field to find Elijah Sarratt for the game-winning touchdown. IU’s defense would shut down a good Ducks offense and IU would knock off the No.3 Ducks in Eugene where the Hoosiers are 2-0.
Alabama 27 Missouri 24
Alabama was put on upset alert heading to COMO, but came away with a huge win over then No. 14 Mizzou. Simpson threw for three touchdowns and defensive lineman LT Overton had 1.5 sacks.
Game 7
Indiana 38 Michigan State 13
The Hoosiers returned home for the first time in three weeks and avoided a letdown game. Michigan State controlled the clock early, but Indiana was incredibly efficient with the first three possessions. A brief weather delay started the second late, but IU went to work after that to keep the Old Brass Spittoon in Bloomington. The bad news for the Hoosiers, defensive end Kellan Wyatt was lost for the season.
Alabama 37 Tennessee 20
A 99-yard pick six by Zabien Brown turned what may have been a 16-14 game into a 23-7 Bama lead that never was in doubt after that. Brown has a knack for the game-changing play and it showed up again later in the season in the playoff game at Oklahoma.
Game 8
Indiana 56 UCLA 6
The Bruins came into Bloomington with momentum and again the national media thought IU should be on upset alert. That alert was over two plays into the game when Aiden Fisher returned an interception for a touchdown and IU never really looked back. IU would lose Drew Evans for a few games during this game as injuries start to mount three games into a stretch of six straight games.
Alabama 29 South Carolina 22
The Crimson Tide escaped Columbia with a narrow win and needed a small miracle to do so. The Gamecocks led by eight with 10 minutes left. After tying the game at 22, the Alabama defense gave their offense the ball at the SC 38-yard line with a fumble recovery. Alabama’s run game struggled mightily and Simpson only averaged 5.9 yards per pass attempt. The cloak of invincibility was seemingly wilting for the Crimson Tide.
Game 9
Indiana 55 Maryland 10
The Hoosiers started slow and Elijah Sarratt was hurt early in the game. This was Charlie Becker’s introduction to Hoosier Nation as he filled in well for Sarratt. The defense carried the water for a slow starting offense with five turnovers created.
Alabama 20 LSU 9
A rivalry win is a rivalry win, but let’s not pretend this was some great LSU team. The Tigers had just fired Brian Kelly and this was a one score game at home with five minutes left.
Game 10
Indiana 27 Penn State 24
Yes, Penn State was 3-5 coming into the game. Yes, they fired James Franklin and Drew Allar was out. Indiana should have won this game going away, but they did not put the Lions away when they should’ve after an interception set up IU with great field position to start the second half. IU settled for three and a 20-7 lead. Penn State would roar back to take a 24-20 lead and IU would have to have a drive for the ages to pull it out.
With Sarratt out, Charlie Becker put together a 100-yard game and Omar Cooper had the catch of the season. It was a wild win that propelled a tired Hoosiers team into the last two games of the season.
Oklahoma 23 Alabama 21
Statistically Alabama dominated this game, but the Tide turned the ball over and allowed a punt return for a touchdown. The cracks in Alabama’s armor were showing and their playoff future would be in doubt
Game 11
Indiana 31 Wisconsin 7
This game was ugly and it was clear IU was running on fumes after playing six-straight weeks. The Hoosiers capped off another undefeated season at home and would head into the bye week 11-0 with a chance to clinch a Big Ten Championship Game berth with a win over Purdue in week 14.
Alabama 56 Eastern Illinois 0
FCS week for the SEC was a roaring success for the Tide as they headed to Auburn with the coaching staff’s future in doubt.
Game 12
Indiana 56 Purdue 3
The Hoosiers looked a little rusty in the pass game, or it could have been the cold. However, they looked healthier and put the screws to Purdue and clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship game.
Alabama 27 Auburn 20
There was plenty of talk that this game was a must-win for Kalen DeBoer as his seat was heating up. The Tide also needed the win to get into the SEC Championship game. Alabama had a 17-0 lead and Auburn, who also fired their coach earlier in the season, roared back. Alabama needed a fourth down touchdown and a fumble on Auburn’s final possession to pull it out.
Conference Championship Week
Indiana 13 Ohio State 10
In an under-hyped No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup the Hoosiers ended a 30-game losing streak to Ohio State and won an outright Big Ten title for the first time since 1945. The Hoosiers defense carried the day as each team missed critical field goals. Fernando Mendoza shook off a violent hit on the first play of the game and Charlie Becker’s 126 yards receiving off set the loss of Omar Cooper.
Georgia 28 Alabama 7
Georgia avenged their earlier loss to the Crimson Tide as they dominated Alabama. The Bulldogs limited Alabama to minus-three yards rushing, held Ty Simpson to under 50-percent on completing passes. They held the ball for over 36 minutes as well.
College Football Playoff First Round
Indiana- First Round Bye
The Hoosiers earned a bye through the first round of the CFP as the top seed.
Alabama 34 Oklahoma 24
The Crimson Tide avenged their loss to OU earlier in the season and did so after falling behind 17-0 on the road. While they did not run the ball well, Ty Simpson was efficient and the defense looked good. They took advantage of Oklahoma’s critical errors and earned their way to the Rose Bowl. As time goes on Alabama will get healthier and maybe back to full strength.