Overview
- No. 1 Indiana (13-0) meets No. 9 Alabama (11-3) today in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
- With heavy rain expected, the Rose Bowl field was tarped and Alabama moved its walkthrough indoors as the National Weather Service forecast rain and possible thunderstorms.
- Indiana’s Curt Cignetti called recent travel and the first on-site practice “fairly disruptive” and demanded urgency to clean up “loose ends” before kickoff.
- Indiana’s transfer-driven roster pairs elite third-down efficiency with a top defense, while Alabama’s recent third-down issues could test QB Ty Simpson.
- Nick Saban warned that a one-dimensional game for Simpson would be dangerous against Indiana’s balanced attack, and sportsbooks have Indiana favored by roughly seven points.