So, you’re looking for the score to Alabama football game. If you’re a Bama fan, I’m honestly sorry to be the one to remind you. It wasn't exactly a banner day for the Crimson Tide. On January 1, 2026, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Indiana beat Alabama 38–3.
Yeah. You read that right. Three points.
It was a College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinal matchup that basically nobody saw coming. Most people expected Kalen DeBoer's squad to handle the Hoosiers, especially after Bama had just knocked off Oklahoma 34–24 in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, the Tide got manhandled. It was the kind of game where nothing clicked. Ty Simpson was under fire all night, and the running game—which had been pretty solid all season—just evaporated. Indiana outgained Alabama 407 to 193. That’s a massive gap for a team with the level of talent Bama usually puts on the field.
Breaking Down the 2025-2026 Season Finale
If you missed the broadcast, the vibe was weird from the jump. The Rose Bowl crowd was heavily pro-Indiana, which felt strange in a stadium that usually sees a sea of crimson. Indiana’s defense was just... suffocating. Alabama’s only points came from a lone field goal. No touchdowns. For a program that prides itself on "The Standard," it was a jarring way to end the year.
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The season as a whole was a bit of a rollercoaster. Alabama finished 11–4. That’s a great record for almost anyone else, but in Tuscaloosa? It feels like a rebuilding year. They started the season with a tough loss at Florida State (31–17) but then went on a tear. They beat Georgia in the regular season 24–21, which had everyone thinking another natty was coming.
But then the SEC Championship happened. Georgia got their revenge in Atlanta, winning 28–7. That loss pushed Bama into the first round of the playoffs instead of a first-round bye.
Recent Results and Scores
If you're tracking the path to that final playoff game, here is how the back half of the season shook out:
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- Nov 15 vs. Oklahoma: L, 23–21. A heartbreaker at home.
- Nov 22 vs. Eastern Illinois: W, 56–0. A total blowout to get the confidence back.
- Nov 29 at Auburn: W, 27–20. The Iron Bowl is always stressful, but Bama got it done.
- Dec 6 vs. Georgia (SEC Championship): L, 28–7. The offense just stalled out in the Benz.
- Dec 19 at Oklahoma (CFP First Round): W, 34–24. A massive road win to stay alive.
- Jan 1 vs. Indiana (Rose Bowl): L, 38–3. The season-ender.
What Went Wrong for the Tide?
Honestly, the biggest issue was consistency. Ty Simpson had moments where he looked like a future Heisman winner, like when he threw for 340 yards against Vanderbilt earlier in the year. But against Indiana, he was held to just 17 rushing yards and the passing game never found a rhythm.
Injuries played a role, sure. But the real story was the offensive line. They struggled to protect Simpson against elite pass rushes. When you can't run the ball—and Bama only had 13 rushing yards in that Vanderbilt win (which they still won, somehow)—you put way too much pressure on the QB. In the Rose Bowl, that pressure finally broke them.
The defense, led by guys like Deontae Lawson and Tim Keenan III, was actually pretty great for most of the year. They held LSU to 9 points and shut out Eastern Illinois. But by the time they got to January, they looked gassed. Indiana's "hard-nosed" style just wore them down.
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Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s a gauntlet. If you’re planning your Saturdays for next fall, here is what the early season looks like:
- Sept 5: East Carolina (Home)
- Sept 12: at Kentucky (Away)
- Sept 19: Florida State (Home) – This is a massive revenge game.
- Sept 26: South Carolina (Home)
Expect Kalen DeBoer to be active in the transfer portal this spring. They need depth on the O-line and maybe another playmaker at receiver to help out Ryan Williams, who was a bright spot as a freshman.
The era of Nick Saban is over, and while DeBoer has shown he can win big games, the Rose Bowl loss showed there’s still a gap between Bama and the very top of the new 12-team playoff format.
If you want to keep up with the team during the offseason, keep an eye on the A-Day spring game. That’s usually the first real look at how the roster is shifting. For now, the 38–3 score is going to be bulletin board material for every player in that locker room.
Next Steps for Bama Fans:
Check the official Alabama Athletics site for updates on the 2026 spring practice schedule. You'll also want to track the "underclassmen tracker" to see who is staying for another year and who is heading to the NFL Draft. Most experts expect a heavy defensive presence from Alabama in the early rounds of the draft this April.