The Alabama Crimson Tide were overwhelmed as the Indiana Hoosiers controlled the game on both sides of the ball, rolling to a 38-3 win in the College Football Playoff Rose Bowl on January 1.
The opening quarter ended without a point on the board, but the game quickly swung in the Hoosiers’ favor. Once the offense found a rhythm, Fernando Mendoza and Co. broke through with 17 points in the second quarter, then came out of halftime firing and added another 21 to put the game out of reach.
Moreover, head Kalen DeBoer made his mark in Alabama history for all the wrong reasons, as the Rose Bowl loss to Indiana became the program’s worst postseason defeat, per ESPN Insight.
Starting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson left the game midway due to injury, prompting backup Austin Mack to take over as the starter. What could go wrong for the Crimson Tide went wrong as it was a miserable contest for head coach Kalen DeBoer and his team.
Following the loss, DeBoer explained why he decided to keep Simpson out of the game after the injury.
“Ty Simpson had an injury and really wanted to go out there,” DeBoer said (h/t Alabama Crimson Tide on SI). “He feels like he let down the team and there’s no way that’s the case. He went out there and tried to battle. Austin Mack being ready to go did some nice things out there but was put in a tough spot. I’m proud of all our team, but that was the situation with Ty.”
Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer Doesn’t Hold Back on CFP Loss
DeBoer also shared his thoughts on his team’s brutal performance, as the contest was never close outside the first quarter.
“Yeah, got to give a tip of the hat to Indiana and everything they did today,” DeBoer added. “For us, it’s a lot of emotions right now. We can be upset because losing doesn’t sit well with us. We can be frustrated about it. That’s what our program’s going to be. We’ve got to use that emotion moving forward, but we’re also proud. Proud of what we accomplished.
Fernando Mendoza Earns Praise from Alabama Coach
DeBoer also praised Mendoza for his standout performance, noting that Alabama’s defense struggled to contain the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. The Indiana quarterback completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
“They’re very good,” DeBoer added. “Their trigger man made all the throws and they continued to wear us down. They executed at a high level on both sides of the ball. You’ve got to tip your cap to coach Cignetti. They’re all aligned in execution and that’s what they did today.”
The Hoosiers didn’t have to lean heavily on Mendoza, as the Crimson Tide also struggled to stop the run game. Indiana recorded 215 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, too.
It will be interesting to see how Alabama improves this offseason as they look to find their way back to the College Football Playoff and redeem themselves after their performance in the 2026 Rose Bowl.
Kalen DeBoer Makes Alabama History After CFP Loss to Indiana