Rose Bowl First Look: Alabama Opens as Favorite vs. Indiana

PASADENA, Calif. — The 2025 college football season has delivered one of the most unlikely Playoff matchups in history. The perennial powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the ultimate Cinderella story, the Indiana Hoosiers, in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

Vegas has opened with Alabama as a 6.5-point favorite, reflecting the talent disparity on paper, but head coach Kalen DeBoer was quick to dismiss any notion that Indiana is just "happy to be here."

"They Earned This"

Speaking at his Tuesday press conference, DeBoer praised Curt Cignetti's squad, noting their disciplined play and explosive offense.

"You put on the tape and you see a team that doesn't beat themselves. They play hard, they execute at a high level, and they believe. We have to match that intensity. We can't rely on the logo on our helmet to win this game."

Matchup Analysis: Size vs. Speed

The narrative entering the week centers on the physical mismatch in the trenches. Alabama's offensive line, anchored by likely first-round picks, averages nearly 325 pounds. Indiana's defensive front relies on speed and stunts rather than brute force.

After pounding the rock for over 200 yards against Oklahoma in the first round, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan is expected to lean heavily on the ground game again.

Injury Report Updates

LT Overton remains the biggest question mark for the Tide. After missing the Oklahoma game with a lower-leg injury, his status for the Rose Bowl has been upgraded to "questionable." DeBoer indicated that Overton did some light running on Monday, a positive sign for his potential return.

"We're hopeful," DeBoer said. "He's fighting to get back out there. We'll know more later in the week, but having him back for the pass rush would be huge."