So, you're looking for the rose bowl game today time and probably feeling a bit of that "New Year, New Playoff" whiplash. It’s funny how a tradition that stood still for a century can suddenly feel like a moving target. If you’re checking your watch right now, here is the short answer: the 2026 Rose Bowl was played on January 1, 2026, and it kicked off at 1:00 p.m. PST (4:00 p.m. EST).
Wait, 1:00 p.m. local? Yeah, that’s not a typo.
For the longest time, the "Granddaddy of Them All" was synonymous with that 2:00 p.m. Pacific sunset start. You know the one—where the light hits the San Gabriel Mountains just right and everything turns gold. But the 112th Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential had to play nice with the new 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) format. Basically, because it was a quarterfinal matchup, the organizers bumped it up an hour to make sure the Sugar Bowl had its own window later that night.
Honestly, the schedule is a lot to keep track of these days. Between the early morning Rose Parade and the triple-header of playoff games, your couch probably saw more action than the 110 freeway.
Why the Rose Bowl Game Today Time Changed
The shift to a 1:00 p.m. PST kickoff wasn't just a random whim. It was a cold, calculated move for TV ratings. With the CFP expanding, the Rose Bowl is no longer just a Big Ten vs. Pac-12 (RIP) exhibition of pride; it’s a high-stakes bracket game.
ESPN, which holds the exclusive rights until basically the end of time, needed to fit three massive games into New Year’s Day. If the Rose Bowl had started at its traditional time, the second half would have bled right into the kickoff of the Sugar Bowl. Nobody wants to miss the start of a quarterfinal because of a long review in Pasadena.
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If you were at the stadium, this meant getting into your seat by 12:30 p.m. to catch the pre-game festivities. The Million Dollar Band from Alabama and Indiana’s Marching Hundred were both on-site, and you definitely didn't want to miss that "Magic of Teamwork" theme, especially with Magic Johnson himself out there for the coin toss.
The Matchup: Indiana vs. Alabama
This wasn't your father's Rose Bowl. Usually, you’d expect to see the Crimson Tide here, but seeing the Indiana Hoosiers as the #1 seed? That’s the kind of thing that would have sounded like a fever dream two years ago.
Indiana came into this game 13-0. Coach Curt Cignetti basically turned Bloomington into a football powerhouse overnight. They earned that first-round bye, while Alabama had to fight through a grueling first-round game against Oklahoma (a 34-24 win for Kalen DeBoer's squad) just to get to Pasadena.
- The Weather: It was a bit moody. About 60°F and cloudy.
- The Crowds: A sell-out. 90,278 fans packed the Arroyo Seco.
- The Stakes: A trip to the CFP Semifinals at the Peach Bowl.
A Game Nobody Expected
Most experts—and honestly, most of my friends—thought Alabama would do what Alabama does. They were the #9 seed, but they’re still Bama. They have the history. They have the 5-star depth.
Indiana had other plans.
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The Hoosiers didn't just win; they dismantled them. A 38-3 final score in the Rose Bowl is the kind of result that makes you check the scoreboard twice to make sure it’s not a glitch. Fernando Mendoza, the transfer QB from Cal, was surgically precise, completing 14 of 16 passes. Meanwhile, Alabama's offense looked stuck in the mud, manageing only 193 total yards.
It was the first Rose Bowl win in Indiana's history. Think about that for a second. A school known for hoops just walked into the most famous stadium in the world and held the Crimson Tide to a single field goal.
Navigating the Logistics: It Was a Mess
If you were trying to find the rose bowl game today time to actually attend the game, I hope you left your house before sunrise. Pasadena on New Year’s Day is a logistical nightmare.
Parking at the stadium was nearly $70 if you didn't prepay. Because of heavy rains leading up to the game, the grass lots (which are basically half the parking) were restricted. They actually had to set up a massive shuttle system from Dodger Stadium just to handle the overflow.
If you ever go in the future: take the Metro. The A Line (formerly the Gold Line) drops you at Memorial Park, and there's a free shuttle from Parsons that saves you about three hours of staring at someone’s bumper on the 134.
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Where to Watch if You Missed It
Since the game is over, you’re likely looking for highlights or the replay. ESPN and ESPN+ are the only places that have the full broadcast rights.
Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit were on the call, and while they tried to keep it competitive, the fourth quarter basically became a celebration of Indiana football. You can find the condensed "mini-game" on the ESPN app, which is usually about 20 minutes of just the plays.
What Happens Next?
Now that the Rose Bowl quarterfinal is in the books, the bracket moves fast.
- The Semifinal: Indiana moves on to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
- The Opponent: They'll face Oregon, who shut out Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.
- The Goal: The National Championship on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
It's a brave new world for college football. The "Granddaddy" has changed its face, but seeing the sunset over the stadium—even an hour earlier than usual—still feels like the real start of the sports year.
If you are tracking the rest of the playoff schedule, keep an eye on the start times for the semifinals. They aren't sticking to the traditional New Year's Day windows anymore. Most of the remaining games are night starts to accommodate the work week. Check your local listings for the Peach Bowl, as that Indiana vs. Oregon matchup is going to be the hottest ticket in the country.