If you were looking for a close game, the 112th Rose Bowl definitely wasn't it. Honestly, it was a bit of a shocker for anyone who has followed the Crimson Tide over the last decade. On January 1, 2026, the Alabama football game score ended in a lopsided 38-3 loss to the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers.
It was brutal.
Seeing Alabama struggle to get anything going on offense felt like a glitch in the matrix. Pasadena is usually a place of triumph for the Tide, but this time, the "Granddaddy of Them All" belonged entirely to Curt Cignetti’s squad.
The Breakdown: Why the Alabama Football Game Score Was So One-Sided
A lot of folks are asking how a program with 67 blue-chip recruits could lose by 35 points to a team with seven. It’s a fair question. Basically, Indiana out-muscled Bama at the line of scrimmage from the second quarter onward.
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The first quarter was actually a scoreless stalemate. You might’ve thought we were in for a defensive classic. Then the wheels came off. Indiana put up 17 points in the second quarter alone, fueled by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza’s precision passing and a defense that simply wouldn't budge.
Key stats from the Rose Bowl blowout:
- Total Yards: Indiana 407, Alabama 193
- Rushing Yards: Indiana 214, Alabama 42
- Turnovers: Alabama 2, Indiana 0
- Time of Possession: Indiana 37:12, Alabama 22:48
Alabama's starting quarterback, Ty Simpson, was having a rough go even before he got hurt. He managed only 67 yards through the air before a cracked rib forced him out late in the first half. When backup Austin Mack stepped in during the third quarter, there was a brief spark—a 65-yard drive that led to Bama’s only points of the game, a short field goal. But that was the end of the magic. Indiana responded with two soul-crushing touchdown drives that effectively ended the night.
Is This the New Normal for the Tide?
It’s kinda wild to think about, but Alabama has now had consecutive four-loss seasons. That hasn't happened since the 2006-2007 transition era. For a fan base used to Nick Saban’s relentless consistency, Kalen DeBoer’s current trajectory is sparking a lot of heated debates on message boards.
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Critics point to the fact that Alabama has been outrushed significantly in their last three big games. In the Rose Bowl, they were manhandled. Indiana’s offensive line, led by MVP Drew Coogan, played like they were the ones with the five-star pedigree.
The reality? Alabama finished the 2025-2026 season with an 11-4 record. While most programs would kill for 11 wins and a playoff quarterfinal appearance, the "Bama Standard" is different. This was the Tide's worst bowl loss in history. It was also their worst overall loss since falling 42-6 to Arkansas back in 1998.
What’s Next for Alabama Football?
With the season officially over after that Rose Bowl exit, the focus shifts immediately to the roster and the 2026 schedule. Ty Simpson has already announced he’s heading to the NFL Draft, leaving a massive void at the quarterback position.
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The 2026 schedule is already out, and it doesn't look easy. They open at home against East Carolina on September 5, but things ramp up quickly with a road trip to Kentucky and a home rematch against Florida State—the team that handed them an early-season loss last year.
Here is the immediate checklist for Bama fans to watch:
- The Transfer Portal: DeBoer needs to find immediate help on the defensive line. The way Indiana ran through them was a wake-up call.
- Quarterback Battle: Keep an eye on Austin Mack. He showed flashes in the Rose Bowl, but he’ll have to compete with incoming freshmen and potentially a high-profile transfer.
- Coaching Adjustments: There’s already talk about potential staff changes on the defensive side of the ball.
The "Hoosier Daddy?" chants ringing through the Rose Bowl in the final minutes will likely be the primary motivation in the Tuscaloosa weight room all summer. Alabama isn't used to being the underdog, but after a 38-3 drubbing, they'll have to earn their respect back from scratch in 2026.
If you're tracking the basketball team to wash out the bitter taste of the Rose Bowl, the news is better there. The #18 Alabama men's hoops team recently rallied from 14 down to beat Mississippi State 97-82, led by Labaron Philon Jr.’s 32 points. At least one Tide team knows how to finish a comeback.
To stay ahead of the next season, start tracking the spring practice reports in March. That's when we'll see if the physical identity of this team is actually changing or if the Rose Bowl was just a nightmare in the desert.