The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, has always been a stage for college football’s most storied moments, but on January 1, 2026, it became the scene of an Indiana Hoosiers breakthrough that will be remembered for generations. The top-seeded Hoosiers didn’t just defeat perennial powerhouse Alabama—they dismantled the Crimson Tide 38-3 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, notching their first Rose Bowl and CFP victory, and their first bowl win since the 1991 Copper Bowl. For a program once known as the losingest in college football, the scale and style of this triumph stunned the sporting world.
Leading the charge was Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, whose performance was nothing short of masterful. Mendoza completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, adding 16 yards on the ground with his legs. "It’s just a great conglomerate of individuals coming together and really forming complimentary football," Mendoza said after the game, his words echoing the unity and focus that defined Indiana’s approach. He was quick to praise head coach Curt Cignetti, who has transformed the Hoosiers in just two seasons, and the relentless offensive line—affectionately dubbed the “hoggies.”
"Shout out to the hoggies. The hoggies did fantastic today. Without them we wouldn’t be 38-3. I believe our hoggies are the best hoggies in the nation. Not only a great group of guys but a great group of football players," Mendoza told ESPN’s Holly Rowe in a postgame interview. The sentiment was shared by the entire locker room, and the statistics backed it up. Indiana’s offensive line dominated from start to finish, paving the way for running back Kaelon Black to rush for 99 yards and a touchdown and protecting Mendoza as he picked apart Alabama’s vaunted defense.
The accolades didn’t stop there. Center Pat Coogan was named the Rose Bowl’s most valuable player, a rare honor for an offensive lineman but one wholly deserved. The Hoosiers piled up 407 yards of total offense, including 215 yards on the ground from 50 carries. Coogan was mobbed by his teammates during the trophy presentation, a fitting tribute to the unsung heroes who set the tone in the trenches.
Indiana’s offense was a model of balance and efficiency. After a scoreless first quarter—a period marked by nerves and Alabama’s defensive pressure—the Hoosiers exploded for 24 unanswered points. Mendoza’s precision was on full display, connecting with Omar Cooper Jr. for a 38-yard gain and threading a 24-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt midway through the third quarter. Cooper, back from injury, also caught Indiana’s first touchdown on a 1-yard pass late in the first half. By halftime, Mendoza was 10-of-12 for 93 yards and two touchdowns, having been sacked three times but unfazed by the adversity.
Alabama, a program synonymous with postseason dominance, was held to just 11 first downs and a meager 3.9 yards per play. The Crimson Tide’s 35-point defeat was their worst since 1998, a staggering statistic considering their modern era of success. "I’m usually watching Alabama in these moments, and they dominate people," Cooper said. "So, the fact that we were able to come here and be able to be the team that beat Bama, it was a dream come true."
Coach Curt Cignetti, a former Alabama assistant under Nick Saban, seemed to relish the victory’s symbolic weight. "It takes a while. It doesn’t happen in the first quarter, second quarter. It happens in the second half at some point. Hopefully, we were able to achieve that goal," he said, referencing his team’s ability to "break their will"—a mantra borrowed from his days in Tuscaloosa. Cignetti’s attention to detail was evident throughout the week, as he challenged his team to stay sharp despite a 26-day layoff since their Big Ten title win. The Hoosiers responded with a focused walkthrough at SoFi Stadium and a performance that left no doubt about their readiness.
Indiana’s defense was equally impressive, stifling Alabama’s attack and forcing the Tide into one three-and-out after another. Defensive tackles coach Pat Kuntz highlighted the importance of staying fresh and fast, especially after the long break. "The advantage of not playing that extra game should be an ounce of recovery. You should have a little bit more freshness to you. Sometimes, there can be a lapse in your focus. ... You always think about, 'Is this going to be rusty?' Our big thing was play fast, play physical."
The victory was also a testament to the Hoosiers’ resilience and preparation. After a sluggish start, Indiana strung together four straight touchdown drives, each spanning at least 58 yards. Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan emphasized the importance of late-half execution: "We always take pride in being really good at the end of the second quarter, and the start of the third. Us scoring that touchdown at the end of the second quarter was huge."
For Mendoza, the journey to this moment has been remarkable. Born in Boston and raised in Miami, with Cuban roots on both sides of his family, he’s become a symbol of perseverance both on and off the field. Mendoza graduated from California’s Haas Business School in three years, maintains a 3.4 GPA, and, alongside his brother Alberto (who replaced him in the game’s closing minutes), has raised money for multiple sclerosis research in honor of their mother, Elsa. Mendoza’s collegiate career has been defined by excellence: a 71.5% completion rate, 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and six interceptions through the Big Ten title game, plus six rushing scores. He’s widely projected as a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the win, Indiana moves to within two victories of a national championship. Next up is a national semifinal showdown with Oregon at the Peach Bowl on January 9, 2026—a rematch of Indiana’s 30-20 win in Eugene earlier this season. The Hoosiers enter as 4.5-point favorites, an unfamiliar position for a team that once relished being the underdog. "We like being the underdogs," Kuntz said. "We like when people think that we’re just old Indiana. That’s all we need. Like, I hate it when we’re favored. I want us to be underdogs all the time. That’s our mentality, never satisfied."
As the confetti settled and the Hoosiers soaked in their moment, one thing was clear: Indiana football’s story is still being written. With another test looming against Oregon, the Hoosiers are riding a wave of momentum, unity, and belief that’s impossible to ignore. The nation is watching—can Indiana finish the job and claim college football’s ultimate prize?
