It is only a few days removed from Christmas, but Indiana football is already locked in on the biggest game in program history. The Hoosiers are just days away from their second-ever Rose Bowl appearance, with a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal matchup against Alabama waiting on New Year’s Day. A win would not only mark Indiana’s first CFP victory but also send the Hoosiers to their first semifinal appearance in the Peach Bowl. Before any of that becomes reality, Indiana’s focus remains singular, handling business against one of college football’s most storied programs.
Indiana enters the Rose Bowl as the No. 1 seed in the playoff and with the luxury of an extra week of preparation. The Hoosiers have not taken the field since their 13–10 victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 6. By kickoff in Pasadena, nearly a month will have passed since their last game. While extended layoffs have raised concerns across the sport, especially after last season saw every top-four seed with a first-round bye fall in the quarterfinals, Indiana’s staff remains confident that rust will not define their postseason run.
Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Mike Shanahan believes the Hoosiers are embracing the moment rather than worrying about the calendar.
“I do feel like our guys will be ready to play,” Shanahan said in Saturday’s Rose Bowl press conference. “Shoot, we’re playing in the Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff game against a great opponent. There might be a slight adjustment early in the game, but I feel like our guys will be ready to go. The experience in our group will help us as well.”
That experience has been shaped in large part by Shanahan himself. Now in his second season as Indiana’s offensive coordinator, Shanahan has played a key role in the Hoosiers’ rise, building an offense that has consistently risen to the moment. From his early days working alongside Curt Cignetti at Elon and James Madison to now preparing for a CFP showdown, Shanahan has earned a reputation for detailed preparation. With extra time to fine-tune the game plan, he is confident Indiana’s offense will be ready the moment they step foot in Pasadena.
Indiana and Alabama arrive in Pasadena having taken very different paths to the same destination. The Crimson Tide were forced to respond quickly after a 28–9 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship on Dec. 6, turning around to play a first-round CFP game on the road in Norman, Oklahoma. After falling into a 17-point hole, Alabama’s offense ignited a second-half surge to earn a 34–24 comeback victory. That early playoff test has given the Tide a chance to knock off any rust, and they will look to carry that momentum while limiting early mistakes in the Rose Bowl.
Indiana, meanwhile, has used the extended break as an opportunity rather than a concern. With Alabama’s first-round game now on film, Shanahan and head coach Curt Cignetti have spent the extra time dissecting tendencies and searching for ways to create explosive plays against the Crimson Tide defense. Just as important, the Hoosiers have been able to prioritize recovery. Indiana has not only had nearly three and a half weeks since the Big Ten Championship, but also benefited from a bye week prior to its regular-season finale against Purdue. The result has been a healthier roster entering the postseason.
Shanahan credits much of Indiana’s readiness to the work done behind the scenes by the scout team, which has helped replicate the physicality and speed that Indiana should likely expect to see on New Year’s Day.
“Our scout team gives us really good looks and those guys are capable at all three levels,” Shanahan said. “You’ve got a lot of good young players over there that are doing a great job pushing us. We’re getting a lot of different looks and they’re doing a good job executing it.”
That daily competition has only sharpened the offense as preparations have continued. While nothing can perfectly simulate facing Alabama, the consistency and execution of the scout team has allowed Indiana’s offense to refine its timing and decision-making. Even before knowing whether they would face Oklahoma or Alabama, Cignetti and his staff were already studying both teams, searching for vulnerabilities and building adaptable game plans. With several days still remaining before kickoff, every meeting and practice has been approached with intention as the Hoosiers look to stack productive moments and maximize their chances of advancing.
“As far as on the field, I think the guys do a really good job of understanding that what we do in practice is going to carry over to the games,” Shanahan said Saturday. “The proof is in the pudding throughout the year. I feel like that’s been the edge that we’ve had. We put good days together, stack good meetings, good practices, and next think you know, we are where we are in the season. So, just taking it one day at a time.”
Indiana will continue that day-by-day approach until they finally takes the field on Thursday, Jan. 1. The Rose Bowl sets the stage for a marquee matchup between two talented teams, explosive offenses, and dynamic quarterbacks. After experiencing postseason disappointment against Notre Dame in last year’s CFP, the Hoosiers enter Pasadena determined to apply those lessons and seize the moment when it matters most.