Overview
- Lawson delivered the praise at Rose Bowl media day in Los Angeles, calling Mendoza the most elite quarterback Alabama has faced under Kalen DeBoer.
- No. 1 seed Indiana meets Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
- Mendoza, a transfer who won the Heisman Trophy, has thrown for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns on a 71.5% completion rate this season.
- Alabama brings a top defense into the matchup, ranking 13th nationally in scoring defense at 17.9 points allowed and 10th in passing yards allowed at 168.4 per game.
- Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson is coming off an 18-of-29, 232-yard, two-touchdown performance in the win over Oklahoma to reach Pasadena.