- - Fernando Mendoza, No. 1 Indiana shut down No. 9 Alabama in historic win at the Rose Bowl to advance to CFP semifinals

Ryan Young January 2, 2026 at 3:03 AM

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PASADENA, Calif. — Finally, the team that was supposed to win did.

No. 1 Indiana shut down No. 9 Alabama and picked up a convincing 38-3 win at the Rose Bowl on Thursday afternoon. The Hoosiers, who are now a perfect 14-0 this season, will advance to the Peach Bowl next week to take on No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Indiana is now the first team in the expanded playoff’s history to win a postseason game after receiving a first-round bye. Entering Thursday’s contest in Southern California, teams who had received a bye were a combined 0-6.

After a bit of a slow start — this was the first Rose Bowl in 26 years to have a scoreless opening quarter — things quickly spiraled out of control for the Crimson Tide. Kalen DeBoer and Alabama, after a bit of failed trickery, opted to go for it on a short fourth down deep in their own territory early in the second quarter. It backfired completely. They tried a short pass to convert the fourth down, which set up Indiana with incredible field position after it didn’t work.

Just four plays later, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza found an open Charlie Becker in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. That put the Hoosiers up 10-0 at the time.

FERNANDO MENDOZA AND INDIANA FIND THE END ZONE FIRST 🎯(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/3CX3T4WUOQ

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 1, 2026

Indiana’s defense forced another turnover just before halftime, too, after Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson tried to scramble for a first down. He was hit hard by D’Angelo Ponds and lost the ball, which led to a 1-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. right before the break.

[Get more Hoosiers football news: Indiana team feed]

Indiana entered the locker room up by 17 points. Alabama, which trailed Oklahoma at halftime in the first round of the playoff, managed just 30 rushing yards and five first downs while averaging less than four yards per play in the opening 30 minutes of the game.

Whatever DeBoer said at halftime didn’t work. Alabama came back and had to punt the ball away about 90 seconds into the third quarter. Mendoza then quickly led Indiana down the field and hit Elijah Sarratt for a 24-yard touchdown. That put the game out of reach not even halfway through the third period.

A DART FROM MENDOZA FOR THE TD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ivhddNF2OQ

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2026

DeBoer even tried to switch quarterbacks after that, but it didn’t matter. Austin Mack came in to replace Simpson, who briefly went into the injury tent, and actually led Alabama on its first scoring drive of the game. He got them into scoring position on a few deep passes, and set up an easy field goal to avoid the shutout.

But Indiana, of course, kept piling on. Kaelon Black capped a six-play drive with a 25-yard touchdown run right away, and then Mendoza got them back into scoring position on their next drive to set up an 18-yard touchdown run from Roman Hemby.

ROMAN HEMBY TD pic.twitter.com/PuGyQ2fO71

— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) January 1, 2026

From there, the Hoosiers were on cruise control for the rest of the game.

The playoff win was the first in Indiana school history. The Hoosiers also made the playoff last season in Curt Cignetti’s first year with the team, but fell to Notre Dame in the opening round. Indiana is now an incredible 24-2 under Cignetti’s reign. The Hoosiers’ 14 wins this season marks a school record, which was set last year, and this is now the first time in program history that they’ve had back-to-back seasons with double digit wins.

Indiana will now take on Oregon next week in Georgia. The Ducks rolled past Texas Tech 23-0 in their quarterfinals matchup at the Orange Bowl earlier on Thursday. The winner of that contest will advance to the national championship game, a place Oregon hasn’t been to in over a decade. Indiana hasn’t even come close.

But now, with a playoff win finally under their belts, the Hoosiers have more than proven themselves as a real threat to win it all in just a few weeks.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER49 updates -

FeaturedFri, January 2, 2026 at 12:13 AM GMTYahoo Sports StaffIndiana wins to advance to CFP semifinals

The Hoosiers complete the 38-3 blowout of Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Next up for Indiana: No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 with a spot in the championship game on the line.

INDIANA DOMINATES ALABAMA 38-3 TO WIN THE ROSE BOWL 🌹The Hoosiers hand the Crimson Tide its worse playoff loss in program history 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mCbyXuIdbr

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 2, 2026

FeaturedThu, January 1, 2026 at 9:08 PM GMTYahoo Sports Staff

- Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:53 AM GMTYahoo Sports StaffTo the victor go the Rose petals

A rose petal shower fit for a Rose Bowl Champion, congratulations @indianafootball! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/8o6L6frGAR

— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) January 2, 2026

- Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:35 AM GMTYahoo Sports StaffOffensive lineman wins Rose Bowl MVP

How rare is this? Indiana OL Pat Coogan is voted Rose Bowl offensive MVP.

Rose Bowl MVP: Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Pat Coogan pic.twitter.com/dObAKwpiXw

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) January 2, 2026

- Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:31 AM GMTYahoo Sports StaffCurt Cignett says why not us?

The Indiana coach continues to pump his program as a legit powerhouse now. Hard to doubt him.

"Why should [the moment] be too big, because our name's Indiana?"Curt Cignetti knows no moment is too big for the Hoosiers 🌹 pic.twitter.com/dtJongrFvK

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 2, 2026

- Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:24 AM GMTYahoo Sports StaffIndiana opens as 4-point favorite in Peach Bowl

The Hoosiers are listed at -4 against Oregon in the CFP semifinals. They were 7-point favorite against Alabama.

Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM GMTNick BrombergIt's been nearly 30 years since Alabama lost by 30 points

Alabama’s last 30-point loss came in the 1998 Music City Bowl in a 38-7 defeat to Virginia Tech.

- Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:04 AM GMTYahoo Sports StaffAlabama turnover on downs

The Crimson Tide drove inside the Indiana 30 but Austin Mack takes a sack on 4th-and-4 to end the threat. Indiana takes over with under 6 minutes to play and the backups will take it home from here.

Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:53 PM GMTRyan YoungAlabama fans are out

There is a steady stream of Alabama fans pouring out of the Rose Bowl now. With Indiana up 38-3, it's hard to blame them.

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:52 PM GMTYahoo Sports StaffAnother Indiana TD

Roman Hemby hits an 18-yard touchdown run and now this has become a complete beatdown. Indiana just outclassing the Tide.

Indiana 38, Alabama 3

ROMAN HEMBY TD pic.twitter.com/PuGyQ2fO71

— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) January 1, 2026

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:52 PM GMTNick BrombergIndiana has 204 rushing yards

Alabama has 151 total yards

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:38 PM GMTYahoo Sports StaffTouchdown Indiana!

Kaelon Black breaks loose for a 25-yard run to the end zone, and the Hoosiers continue to pour it on in the Rose Bowl.

Indiana 31, Alabama 3

Kaelon Black putting the game to sleep pic.twitter.com/qO3NAbdKmq

— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) January 1, 2026

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:38 PM GMTNick BrombergHow does Alabama get more physical?

This is going to be oft-repeated over the next nine months, but it’s been jarring to see how Alabama has been bossed by both Georgia and Indiana over the last month. How do Alabama and Kalen DeBoer fix this for 2026 and beyond?

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:34 PM GMTYahoo Sports StaffEnd of 3rd

Indiana’s offense is on the move again. It’ll have a first-and-10 at the Alabama 42 to open the 4th quarter. The Hoosiers are on the cusp of putting this one on ice.

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:29 PM GMTRyan Young

Dixieland Delight is playing here at the Rose Bowl, and a huge chorus of boos is overpowering everything.

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:27 PM GMTYahoo Sports StaffAlabama on the board

We won’t have a second straight playoff shutout today. Alabama hits a 28-yard field goal for its first points.

Indiana 24, Alabama 3

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:25 PM GMTYahoo Sports StaffNew QB makes a big play

Right off the bat, new Alabama QB Austin Mack completes a 34-yard strike to Germie Bernard.

Austin Mack finds Bernard pic.twitter.com/4bRgOkTQ7p

— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) January 1, 2026

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:15 PM GMTRyan YoungTy Simpson's day is done

Alabama appears to be benching QB Ty Simpson here midway through the third quarter. With how things have gone so far, it’s hard to blame them. Simpson was also reportedly grimacing every time he threw the ball after taking a big hit in the first half, so that may have also been a factor.

Austin Mack is in the game now.

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:10 PM GMTYahoo Sports StaffTouchdown Indiana!

Fernando Mendoza tosses his third TD of the game, this time for 24 yards to Elijah Sarratt. Perfect start to the half for the Hoosiers.

Indiana 24, Alabama 0

Indiana is up 24-0 over Alabama😳(via ESPN) pic.twitter.com/w5yql6mDgK

— On3 (@On3sports) January 1, 2026

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:03 PM GMTYahoo Sports Staff3-and-out for Bama

So much for that needed spark. Alabama fails to get a first down to open the second half and punts it away.

- Thu, January 1, 2026 at 11:01 PM GMTRyan Young

It didn’t have the same impact, but we still got the B-2 Stealth Bomber flyover here at the Rose Bowl to start the second half. That, and plenty of other pregame festivities, were canceled due to rain.

The flyover at the Rose Bowl had Pat in awe 😮Watch the Field Pass with @PatMcAfeeShow on ESPN2 and the ESPN App 🏈 pic.twitter.com/Y7J8xQlyTr

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2026

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Source: “AOL Sports”