Indiana eliminated Alabama from the College Football Playoff in a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl.
Alabama’s inability to establish a running game was a key factor in its season-ending loss.
Costly mistakes, including a failed fourth-down conversion and a fumble, led to Indiana touchdowns.
For the third straight postseason game, the Crimson Tide fell behind by double digits in the first half.
PASADENA, CA — A hundred years to the day after Alabama football upset Washington in the Rose Bowl to win its first national championship, the Crimson Tide’s season ended with a thud in the very same place. Indiana eliminated Alabama from the College Football Playoff with a 38-3 win in quarterfinal action.
Here are a few quick thoughts from the outcome:
Talking points
1) Alabama’s utter inability to run the ball offensively finally caught up with it in a season-ending way. That was always going to be the flaw that prevented the Crimson Tide from winning a national championship − it’s too basic a requirement for playoff football − the only question being when it would become UA’s undoing. The answer came Thursday. It’s somewhat remarkable that the worst rushing Alabama team in my memory even reached a CFP quarterfinal, but it was only a matter of time before it bit Alabama where it hurts. Indiana had some balance in its attack, Alabama didn’t, and that was largely the difference in the Hoosiers’ victory.
2) Indiana’s defense made the first big stand of the afternoon, stuffing Alabama on a fourth-and-1 attempt from the Crimson Tide’s 35-yard line early in the second quarter. It was an ill-advised risk by the UA coach Kalen DeBoer, and one that would eventually come back to sting. Initially, UA came out in a punt formation, shifted to an offensive set, and tried to draw the Hoosiers offsides for a free first down. But when IU didn’t jump, Alabama called a timeout, then ran a jet sweep to Germie Bernard from the wildcat formation, and the play went nowhere. IU converted the short field into its first touchdown.
3) The lone turnover of the first half was a costly one for the Crimson Tide. Quarterback Ty Simpson fumbled at the end of a scramble that would have been good for a first down in IU territory. It killed a solid opportunity to get on the scoreboard. Instead, the Hoosiers, holding a 10-0 lead, took over at their own 42-yard line and posted another touchdown off the miscue.
4) For the third consecutive postseason game, Alabama fell behind by double digits in the first half. Georgia, Oklahoma and Indiana all built sizeable early leads, repeatedly testing the Crimson Tide’s comeback mettle. UA was blown out by the Bulldogs in Atlanta, responded with a comeback against OU, but couldn’t come from behind in Pasadena.
Turning point
Fernando Mendoza’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. opened up a 17-0 lead just before halftime, putting Alabama in desperation mode. Earlier in the drive, Mendoza converted a key third down with a 7-yard run and calmly completed all three of his passes on the possession. Indiana’s score right before the half put Alabama in too deep a hole for its struggling offense to overcome.
By the numbers
15 – The Alabama running back tandem of Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley combined for just 15 yards on eight carries. Senior Jam Miller? Nary a carry.
What I liked
Alabama’s pass rush was surprisingly effective, sacking Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza three times. The pressure came early, as Yhonzae Pierre and Bray Hubbard came up with sacks on two of IU’s first three offensive snaps. Pierre would later add a sack midway through the second quarter. This effectiveness came against Indiana pass protection that had allowed Mendoza to be sacked just 18 times in 13 previous games.
What I didn’t like
Alabama’s defense lost its edge in the second half. It’s hard to hang the loss on Kane Wommack’s unit when the offense did absolutely nothing to help, but IU made easy work of Alabama’s defense in the second half, going on touchdown marches of 79 and 75 yards to complete the blowout.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.