Opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide
Location: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
Why They Played
The Hoosiers and Crimson Tide played in a Quarterfinal matchup in the College Football Playoff in the Rose Bowl Game.
What The Game Meant
For many Indiana fans this was a crown jewel of the 2025 season. The Rose Bowl means more than just a Playoff win for the Big Ten and especially IU. It also means that IU beat the pants off the gold standard of the SEC and advances to the CFP semifinal in the Peach Bowl.
Heartwork Brewing Players of the Game
Offense
Indiana Offensive Line- Center Pat Coogan won offensive MVP (not for his colorful language) as the Hoosiers bullied Alabama. Outside of three sacks and a holding call on Carter Smith, the line bulldozed their way to 237 non-sack rushing yards and kept Fernando Mendoza clean enough to toss three touchdowns. IU was the tougher team and maybe some national media will realize that now.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana– Mendoza set the Rose Bowl Game record for completion percentage. He completed 14-of-16 passes (87.5%) for 192 yards and three scores. Mendoza also got it done with his feet running for 38 (non-sack) yards and picked up a couple huge first downs.
Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, Indiana- The beneficiaries of the outstanding line play were running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. They had nearly identical stats. Black ran 15 times for 99 yards and a touchdown while Hemby ran 18 times for 89 yards and a score.
Defense
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana-.Ponds was named defensive MVP of the game and he had the play that basically ended any hope Alabama had of a comeback. His fumble-causing hit on quarterback Ty Simpson not only knocked the Alabama starting quarterback out of the game, it gave IU the ball at the 39-yard line with three minutes to go in the half. IU would score a touchdown to go up 17-0 at halftime. Ponds finished with three tackles and the forced fumble.
Devin Boykin, Rover, Indiana- Boykin’s performance is overshadowed by Ponds, but the NC State transfer had three tackles for loss and a sack to go along with seven total tackles. He put pressure on Simpson from the edge as well.
Bray Hubbard, DB, Alabama- Hubbard was productive for the Crimson Tide with eight tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Special Teams Performance
IU’s special teams played extremely well. Quinn Warren was excellent on kickoffs and the one kick that did get returned, the coverage team buried the returner at the 15-yard line. Nico Radicic made all five extra points and a field goal. Punter Mitch McCarty shanked his first punt, but had another inside the 20-yard line. Jonathan Brady had a 17-yard punt return as well.
The biggest special team play came when Alabama tried to fake a punt, which IU recognized and called time out. After that Alabama tried to get cute and draw IU offside and the Hoosiers didn’t flinch causing the IU fans to get louder and another classic Cig Face.
Key Stat(s)
215-23
Indiana was the tougher team, that was not a shock to ball knowers either. IU ran for 215 yards while the Hoosier defense stuffed the Crimson Tide rushing attack to just 28 yards.
Turning Point
Ponds’ play to force the fumble was huge, but for me IU stopping Alabama on the Tide 34-yard line on a fourth-and-one tilted the game in IU’s favor. The Hoosiers were just coming off a 16-play drive and Alabama didn’t want to give them the ball back, so they played around and tried to get IU to do something dumb. The Hoosiers just don’t bite for that stuff.
I Knew it Was Over When…
Fernando Mendoza hit Elijah Sarratt for a 24-yard touchdown to put the Hoosiers up 24-0 at the beginning of third quarter.
What I take away From the Game
I’ll be flat out honest here, I do not get nervous when Curt Cignetti is preparing this team for a game. The Hoosiers dominated from the second drive on. That second Hoosier drive set the tone for the day as IU took the ball from their own three-yard line down to Alabama’s nine and had to settle for a field goal. It struck the fear of God into Alabama though. The Hoosiers controlled the game from there on out and the party was on at the Rose Bowl.
The game started off a little alarming for IU’s offense as they allowed sacks on two of the three opening plays, but the defense got the ball back and IU went to work. The Crimson Tide was aggressive, sending blitzes and IU just threw gut punch after gut punch until they softened up Alabama’s marshmallow defense.
The Hoosiers used Daniel Ndukwe to replace Stephen Daley and the IU defense was as good as ever, just overwhelming Alabama’s offense. The put heat on Ty Simpson early and tackled well, not allowing Alabama’s athletes to run free. Each completion went for minimal yards and was met with a tackler immediately. There was no rust for the Hoosiers.
IU was up against a couple other trends and bad omens as well. The Hoosiers became the first and only team who earned a bye in the last two CFPs to win a game. IU also overcame adversity when Mendoza’s helmet communications were knocked out.
IU did not blink, Alabama did.
The Rose Bowl had an awesome atmosphere and the Hoosier faithful showed up in force as it seemed like 85-percent of the crowd was rooting for the Hoosiers. The team fed off the energy that the crowd provided as well.
What’s Next for Indiana
IU moves on to face the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl and CFP semifinal. It is a rematch from a game earlier this season when Indiana won 30-20 in Eugene.