When the Indiana Hoosiers face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game my eyes will be drawn to the matchup between the Crimson Tide’s talented receivers and the Hoosiers tough secondary.
With Alabama’s struggles running the ball all season and the plethora of talent they have at receiver with Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams and Isaiah Horton the Hoosiers have to be focused on stopping the passing game. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has thrown for 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns and looks to be at full health.
Williams came into 2025 as one of the best receivers in the sport behind maybe only Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State. While Williams has 43 catches and over 600 yards receiving he has 10 dropped passes according to Pro Football Focus with a drop rate of 18.9-percent this season. The good news for the Crimson Tide is that they have plenty of talent at the position. Bernard has become the go-to option with 60 receptions for 802 yards and seven touchdowns while Horton has caught eight touchdown passes. True freshman Lotzier Brooks has played well in the back half of the year as well.
Needless to say IU will have their work cut out for them, but the Hoosiers will not be helpless. All-American corner D’Angelo Ponds has been excellent all season and has gone against the oppositions’ best wide receiver for the last two seasons in Bloomington. But who does Bryant Haines sic Ponds on? Will it be Williams, Bernard, Horton?
“I think it’s very important to keep that same mentality. They have talented players just as well as we do, they do have a great quarterback and great receivers as well, but I feel like we match up pretty well with them.” Ponds said ahead of the game.
Besides Ponds, IU secondary has been rock solid. Safeties Amare Ferrell and Louis Moore have combined for 10 interceptions and Jamari Sharpe has been excellent opposite Ponds. Devan Boykin has been tremendous in the rover roll as he is able to help in coverage and rush the passer.
Moore has played at an All-American level after a clouded start to the season as he battled the NCAA to keep his eligibility.
“He had that NCAA thing hanging over his head during fall camp and the first three or four games of the season. So I’m sure that was a distraction. Once he got that behind him, boy, he really came on.” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said. “And he’s got great ball skills and football instincts. And he’s been a huge part of our defensive success.”
The Hoosiers were the fourth best team nationally in pass coverage (91.6) according to PFF and the Rose Bowl may be their toughest test to date.