If you’re checking your phone or refreshing a browser to find out what is the alabama football score, you probably weren't expecting to see a blowout. But that is exactly what happened on New Year's Day. In a game that left Tuscaloosa stunned and the rest of the college football world rubbing its eyes in disbelief, the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide fell to the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers with a final score of 38-3.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a demolition.
The Rose Bowl, usually a place of prestige and tight contests, turned into a nightmare for Kalen DeBoer's squad. From the opening kickoff in Pasadena, the vibe felt off. Alabama looked slow, their offense felt stagnant, and the Indiana defense—led by a group that has played like they have a chip the size of a limestone quarry on their shoulder—simply didn't let the Tide breathe.
Breaking Down the 38-3 Disaster
The box score tells a grim story for Bama fans.
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner who has basically become a folk hero in Bloomington, didn't even need to be perfect. He was just efficient. He threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns, carving up an Alabama secondary that looked uncharacteristically lost. Meanwhile, Alabama's Ty Simpson struggled to find any rhythm. He finished with 103 yards passing, and the rushing game? It was nonexistent.
📖 Related: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
- First Quarter: 0-0. A defensive stalemate that gave Bama fans a false sense of security.
- Second Quarter: Indiana explodes for 17 points. Alabama goes into the half scoreless.
- Third Quarter: Alabama finally gets on the board with a field goal. Score: 24-3.
- Fourth Quarter: Indiana adds two more touchdowns to put the game out of reach. Final: 38-3.
Honestly, the score almost makes it look closer than it was. Indiana outgained Alabama 407 to 193 in total yardage. That’s a gap you rarely see at this level of the playoffs.
What is the Alabama Football Score and Why Did It Slide?
When people ask about the score, they usually follow it up with: "Wait, what happened to Bama?" To understand what is the alabama football score today, you have to look at the trend lines from the 2025 season. This wasn't a fluke; it was the culmination of issues that had been bubbling under the surface for months.
The Crimson Tide finished the season 11-4. For most programs, that's a dream. For Alabama? It feels like a rebuilding year. They lost their season opener to Florida State (who ended up being a seven-loss team), and they struggled to put away teams like Missouri and Auburn.
The most glaring issue was the run game. Alabama ranked 123rd in the nation in rushing offense. In the Rose Bowl, they only ran the ball 17 times. You can't win in the SEC—or against a top-seeded Indiana team—if you can't line up and move the pile.
👉 See also: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
The Playoff Path
Alabama actually earned their spot in the Rose Bowl by beating Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was a gutsy win that made people think the Tide had finally turned a corner.
But then they ran into the Indiana buzzsaw.
The Hoosiers are currently 14-0 and heading to the National Championship. They are the real deal. They play a brand of physical, disciplined football that used to be Alabama's trademark. Seeing it used against the Tide was a bit of a "mirror, mirror" moment for the fans in the stands.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While the Rose Bowl score is a tough pill to swallow, the 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s a gauntlet.
✨ Don't miss: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
- Sept 5: vs. East Carolina
- Sept 12: at Kentucky
- Sept 19: vs. Florida State (The Revenge Game)
- Oct 10: vs. Georgia (This will be the biggest game in Tuscaloosa all year)
- Nov 28: Iron Bowl vs. Auburn
The coaching staff has a massive task ahead. They need to fix the offensive line and find a way to bring back the "Bama Factor" that seemed missing in the Rose Bowl. Recruitment will be key. If they don't land some high-impact transfers in the trenches, the 2026 scores might look uncomfortably similar to the one we just saw in Pasadena.
For now, the score is 38-3. It’s etched in the history books. It’s a reminder that no matter how big your brand is, you still have to show up on Saturday (or New Year's Day) and play the game.
Actionable Takeaways for Bama Fans
Keep an eye on the transfer portal over the next few weeks. If Alabama doesn't land at least two starting-caliber offensive linemen, the rushing woes of 2025 will carry over into the 2026 opener against East Carolina. Also, watch the development of the younger quarterbacks; if Ty Simpson can't find more consistency, the coaching staff might be forced to look at their freshman depth earlier than expected.