Indiana vs. Alabama in Rose Bowl: Start Time and CFP Schedule
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is heating up as Indiana, ranked No. 1, gets ready to face No. 9 seed Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
This matchup is part of the newly expanded 12-team bracket, and honestly, it feels like the excitement level is off the charts for college football fans.
Indiana enjoyed a perfect regular season. Alabama just beat Oklahoma, so the stage is set for a showdown in Pasadena, California.
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Indiana’s Road to the Rose Bowl
Indiana’s football team has had a stellar season and earned the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.
This gave them a first-round bye, so the Hoosiers advanced right to the quarterfinals.
Indiana’s perfect regular season featured strong performances and some key wins. They’re a tough opponent, no question about it.
Indiana’s Key Players
Several standout players have fueled Indiana’s success this year.
Their offense is led by a dynamic quarterback who’s delivered under pressure again and again.
The defense? Rock-solid. They’ve shut down some of the best offenses in college football.
These key players will have to be sharp to get past Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
Alabama’s Journey and Recent Victory
Alabama, seeded No. 9, had a challenging season but managed to secure their spot in the quarterfinals after defeating No. 8 seed Oklahoma 34-24.
That win really showed Alabama’s resilience and knack for performing in high-stakes games.
The Crimson Tide will be looking to ride that momentum as they head into their matchup with Indiana.
Alabama’s Strengths
Alabama’s success comes from their balanced team, which is strong on both offense and defense.
Their quarterback has been a huge part of their victories, making smart decisions and throwing with accuracy.
On defense, Alabama has been great at forcing turnovers and stopping teams when it matters most.
College Football Playoff Bracket Overview
The 2025-2026 College Football Playoff features a 12-team bracket, which is a pretty big jump from previous years.
The top four seeds get a first-round bye, while teams seeded No. 5-12 battle it out in the first round.
After that, it’s quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship game. Every stage brings its own kind of drama.
First-Round Results
The first round of the CFP had some wild matchups:
- No. 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) – Texas A&M came out on top, showing plenty of grit.
- No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1) – Ole Miss won and moved on to the next stage.
- No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1) – Oregon locked up their spot in the quarterfinals with a convincing win.
Quarterfinal Matchups
The quarterfinals look just as wild, with these matchups on deck:
- No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) vs. Texas A&M-Miami winner in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
- No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. Oregon-James Madison winner in the Orange Bowl in Miami, at noon ET on Thursday, Jan. 1.
- No. 9 Alabama (11-3) vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0) in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 1.
- No. 3 Georgia (12-1) vs. Ole Miss-Tulane winner in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Looking Ahead: Semifinals and Championship
The winners of the quarterfinals will move on to the semifinals, set for Jan. 8-9, 2026.
The semifinal games will be played in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
The championship game, which will crown the national champion, is coming up later in January.
Semifinal Matchups
The actual matchups for the semifinals depend on who wins in the quarterfinals.
The highest-ranked teams get preferential placement for the semifinal bowl assignments, which is supposed to keep things fair and competitive. We’ll see how it shakes out.
Anticipation Builds for the Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl is almost here, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel the buzz. Indiana and Alabama are both hungry for a shot at the semifinals.
Indiana’s riding high on a perfect season. Alabama just pulled off an impressive win, so they’re coming in with momentum.
There’s a sense this game could be something special—fast-paced, unpredictable, and maybe even legendary. Fans are in for a wild ride, no doubt about it.
For more info and the latest on the College Football Playoff, check out the IndyStar.
