Overview
- Players and coaches from No. 9 Alabama say they respect Fernando Mendoza but are not intimidated as they prepare for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl.
- Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and Alabama defenders describe a strategy built on tight coverage and consistent pressure to generate turnovers, citing a unit with nine forced fumbles and 11 interceptions.
- Top-seeded Indiana arrives 13-0 behind Mendoza’s 2,980 passing yards and 33 touchdowns for an offense averaging 472.8 yards and 41.9 points per game.
- Indiana counters with a fourth-ranked defense allowing 257.2 yards per game, fewer than 85 rushing yards on average, and about 1.9 takeaways, and the Hoosiers emphasize containing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (3,500 yards, 28 TDs).
- Indiana reports key pieces trending back to near full strength, including lineman Drew Evans, after Mendoza briefly exited the Big Ten title game following a hit that raised a shoulder concern before he returned.