If you’re checking your phone or asking your friends did Alabama win the football game, the answer is going to sting for the Crimson Tide faithful. Honestly, it wasn't even close. On January 1, 2026, at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide didn’t just lose—they were systematically dismantled by the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers.
The final score was 38-3.
Yes, you read that right. Three points. For a program built on the "Lombardi of college football" reputation, scoring only a single field goal in a College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal is almost unthinkable. But that’s exactly what happened under the Southern California sun.
What Really Happened with the Alabama Football Game
Usually, when people ask did Alabama win the football game, they expect a story of a late-game heroic drive or a defensive stand. This time? It was a tidal wave of cream and crimson, but not the kind Alabama fans like. Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, looked like the powerhouse everyone usually assumes Alabama is.
The game started as a defensive struggle, which kept things tense for the first fifteen minutes. Nobody scored in the first quarter. It felt like a classic slugfest. But once the second quarter hit, the wheels completely fell off for Kalen DeBoer's squad. Indiana kicker Nico Radicic opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal, and then the floodgates just... opened.
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Mendoza was surgical. He finished the day with three touchdown passes, connecting with Charlie Becker, Omar Cooper Jr., and Elijah Sarratt. By halftime, it was 17-0. Alabama looked shell-shocked.
The Quarterback Situation and the Offensive Collapse
Ty Simpson started the game for the Tide, but he struggled to find any rhythm against a Hoosier defense that seemed to be living in the backfield. He only managed 67 passing yards. If you want to know why the offense felt so stagnant, look at the rushing stats. Alabama finished with a measly 23 rushing yards. You simply cannot win playoff games when your ground game is non-existent.
Coach DeBoer actually pulled Simpson in the third quarter, turning to backup Austin Mack to try and spark some life. Mack did manage to lead a 65-yard drive that resulted in Alabama’s only points—a 28-yard field goal by Conor Talty.
But Indiana didn't blink. They responded with two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby both finding the end zone on the ground. By the time the clock hit zero, Indiana had outgained Alabama 407 to 193 in total yardage.
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Why This Rose Bowl Loss Still Matters
This wasn't just another loss in the record books. This was a historic beatdown. It marked the largest bowl loss in the history of Alabama football. Think about that for a second. Through the Bear Bryant years, the Gene Stallings era, and the Nick Saban dynasty, the Tide had never been embarrassed like this in a bowl setting.
It also highlighted a massive shift in the college football landscape. Indiana, a program that was once considered a "basketball school," entered the game as the No. 1 seed and the only undefeated team in the country. They proved that their 14-0 record wasn't a fluke.
- The Mendoza Factor: Fernando Mendoza didn't just throw touchdowns; he managed the game perfectly, completing 14 of 16 passes.
- The Trench War: Indiana’s offensive line bullied Alabama’s front seven, paving the way for 215 rushing yards.
- Defensive Mastery: The Hoosiers forced a crucial fumble by Ty Simpson and stuffed Alabama on a pivotal fourth-and-1 in the second quarter.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
While the playoff run ended in heartbreak at the Rose Bowl, the Tide has to turn the page quickly. The 2026 regular-season schedule is already out, and it’s a gauntlet. Alabama will open the season on September 5, 2026, against East Carolina in Tuscaloosa.
The rest of the 2026 slate looks like this:
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- Sept. 12: at Kentucky
- Sept. 19: Florida State
- Sept. 26: South Carolina
- Oct. 10: Georgia (A massive early-season test)
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee
- Oct. 24: Texas A&M
- Nov. 7: at LSU
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 21: Chattanooga
- Nov. 28: Auburn (The Iron Bowl)
The question on everyone's mind now is whether Kalen DeBoer can recruit and adjust fast enough to erase the memory of the 38-3 Rose Bowl disaster. The pressure in Tuscaloosa is always high, but after a loss of that magnitude, the temperature is definitely rising.
Actionable Steps for Alabama Fans
If you're still processing the fact that the answer to did Alabama win the football game is a resounding "no," here is what you can do to stay updated as the program tries to rebuild:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: With a blowout loss like this, expect some roster movement. Keep an eye on which key players stay and who decides to look for new opportunities.
- Track the 2026 Recruiting Class: Alabama's strength has always been talent depth. See if Coach DeBoer can land the elite defensive linemen needed to compete with physical teams like Indiana.
- Review the Spring Game: The annual A-Day game in April 2026 will be the first chance to see how the team responds to the Rose Bowl loss and who wins the starting quarterback battle between Austin Mack and any new contenders.
The era of Indiana dominance in 2026 might be the new reality, or it might be a wake-up call for an Alabama program that isn't used to being the underdog. Either way, the Rose Bowl result is one that won't be forgotten anytime soon.