The matchup was billed as "History vs. Destiny." Destiny won by a landslide. In one of the most shocking results in Rose Bowl history, the #1 Indiana Hoosiers dismantled the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3, ending Alabama's season and stamping their ticket to the CFP Semifinals.
For Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, it was a harsh reality check after a season of resilience. The Tide (11-4) simply had no answer for Curt Cignetti's machine-like squad, which remains undefeated at 14-0.
Game Summary
- Final Score: Indiana 38, Alabama 3
- Total Yards: Indiana 455, Alabama 212
- Turnovers: Alabama 3, Indiana 0
Complete Domination
From the opening kickoff, Indiana looked faster, stronger, and more prepared. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke carved up the Alabama secondary, throwing for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Hoosiers' defense, often overlooked, stifled Jalen Milroe and the Tide offense, holding them to a single field goal in the second quarter.
"First of all, you just have to give a tip of the hat to Indiana," DeBoer said postgame. "Everything that they did today in the game... we came up short of our goal."
The Cignetti Factor
The storyline all week focused on Cignetti's time as a Saban assistant. He used that familiarity to his advantage.
"You've got to tip your cap to coach Cignetti," DeBoer added. "They're all aligned in execution, and that's what they did today."
Season Context
Despite the bitter ending, Alabama's 2025 season will be remembered for its gritty turnaround and a sixth consecutive Iron Bowl victory. However, the 35-point loss—the worst in Alabama's postseason history—signals that the gap between the Tide and the new national elite (led by Indiana and Oregon) is real.