It was a historic New Year’s afternoon in Pasadena, one that Indiana fans will never forget. For the first time in program history, the Hoosiers stood atop college football’s grandest stage, capturing a Rose Bowl victory and earning their first-ever College Football Playoff win. Despite entering the postseason 13-0, skeptics still questioned whether Indiana had truly been tested. Against one of the sport’s most decorated programs, the Hoosiers delivered a resounding answer, overwhelming Alabama in a stunning 38-3 blowout.
The win was historic beyond the final score. Prior to the Rose Bowl, teams receiving a first-round bye in the new 12-team playoff format were 0-6. Indiana snapped that streak emphatically, becoming the first team to capitalize on the advantage. At the center of that breakthrough was an offense that imposed its will from start to finish, led by a quarterback performance that bordered on flawless.
“He was on point,” offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan said postgame. “There were a couple things early in the game, really that first drive, that were a little bit new, so it took a little while to see it. But after that he was dialed in, he saw the coverages, he was disciplined. Checked the ball down a couple times and let guys run after the catch. He’s been playing like that all year long. Today was no different.”
After a shaky opening possession that ended with two sacks and a three-and-out, Fernando Mendoza quickly flipped the script. The Hoosiers responded with a methodical nine-minute, 16-play march that covered 84 yards and ended in points, setting the tone for the rest of the night. From that moment on, Alabama’s defense struggled to slow Indiana’s rhythm. The Hoosiers punted just twice all game, both coming in the first half, as the offense consistently moved the chains and controlled the tempo.
While Indiana’s attack was explosive across the board, the night belonged to the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza carved up the Crimson Tide, finishing with 192 yards and three touchdowns while completing 14 of his 16 pass attempts. He threw more touchdown passes than incompletions, an efficiency that placed his name in Rose Bowl history. His 87.5 percent completion rate set a new single-game Rose Bowl record, and his passer rating of 250.2 now stands as the best ever in the game.
“Fernando’s a very special guy,” head coach Curt Cignetti said. “He’s very unique. He’s selfless. He’s the ultimate team guy.”
That mindset is exactly what makes Mendoza the kind of leader coaches trust and teammates rally behind. He lives and breathes football, pouring everything he has into preparation and execution, always with the team’s success as the priority. While he has guided Indiana through some of its biggest wins this season, Mendoza is quick to deflect the spotlight. For him, individual accolades mean little without collective belief, effort, and accountability.
“I’m very confident the way the team is playing,” Mendoza said following the game. “It’s not just myself, I think our entire team and our coaching staff really enjoy football, and I think that’s why we work so hard at it. We work really hard every single day because not only do we enjoy football, we also enjoy winning. And we know what that takes. So, every single day we’re always going to put our best foot forward.”
Indiana did exactly that in Pasadena. From explosive offensive execution to disciplined defense and physical play in the trenches, the Hoosiers left no doubt that they belong among the nation’s elite. Now, for the first time in program history, No. 1 Indiana advances to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The Hoosiers will head to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl on Friday, January 9, where a familiar opponent awaits in No. 5 Oregon. Indiana handed the Ducks a 30-20 loss in Eugene during Week 7 of the 2025 season, but the stakes are higher and the challenge greater this time around. Beating a top-tier opponent twice in one season is never easy, yet with Mendoza at the helm and Cignetti preparing his team, Indiana enters the next chapter of its historic run with confidence and momentum firmly on its side.