The Ghost of The Process: Saban's Imprint on the 2026 Rose Bowl
Curt Cignetti spent four years watching Nick Saban build a dynasty. Now, in the biggest game of his life, he brings those lessons to the Rose Bowl to face the program he entered as an assistant nearly two decades ago.
LOS ANGELES — When the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers meet in Pasadena on New Year's Day, storylines will abound. Cinderella vs. Blue Blood. Kalen DeBoer vs. his former employer. But looming over it all is the shadow of Nick Saban.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, the architect of the most shocking turnaround in college football history, is a disciple of "The Process." He served as Alabama's wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2007 to 2010—the foundational years of the Saban dynasty.
"He Changed My Life"
In recent press conferences, Cignetti hasn't shied away from the connection. "There's no Indiana football as it exists today without those four years in Tuscaloosa," Cignetti said on Friday. "Coach Saban taught me that winning isn't an accident. It's an infrastructure. We built that infrastructure in Bloomington."
The similarities are striking. Indiana plays with a discipline and physicality rarely seen in the Big Ten outside of Columbus or Ann Arbor. They don't beat themselves—a hallmark of Saban-coached teams.
Injury Update: Overton "Likely"
Beyond the narrative, the on-field matchup received a major update on Sunday. Alabama defensive star LT Overton, who missed the first round against Oklahoma, is now considered "likely" to play in the Rose Bowl.
"He's been moving great in practice," Kalen DeBoer confirmed. "Unless there's a setback, we expect #4 to be wreaking havoc on New Year's Day."
Overton's return is critical. Indiana's offense relies on timing and diverse looks. Disrupting that rhythm with a four-man rush is the only way to slow down the Hoosier machine without exposing the secondary.
Kicker Confidence
Another quiet development has been the resurgence of kicker Conor Talty. After a shaky mid-season, Talty has been perfect in December. In a game that oddsmakers have as a one-score affair (Alabama -4.5), special teams could be the difference between a National Championship appearance and a flight home.
Prediction
This game feels destined to be a classic. Indiana has the magic, but Alabama has the muscle. With Overton back and the running game clicking after putting up 200+ yards on Oklahoma, the Tide's depth might just be the kryptonite to Indiana's Superman season.
Iron Bowl History Staff
Documenting the Rivalry 365 Days a Year