Quick thoughts on IU football’s 38-3 win against Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in front of 90,278 fans:
Key moments in IU’s win
Radicic field goal puts the Hoosiers on the board
Indiana’s second possession began deep inside its own territory at the three-yard line. Fernando Mendoza got things going with the pass game – he was 6-for-6 on the drive – and Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black complemented the passing attack on the ground. The Hoosiers ate up 8:55 of game time, going 16 plays for 84 yards and finishing with a 31-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic. The drive stalled in the red zone after it appeared IU had headset communication issues.
Alabama’s fourth down gamble leads to IU’s first touchdown
The Crimson Tide opted to go for it on 4th and 1 on their second possession from their own 34 with 12:44 remaining in the second quarter. The Hoosiers, however, got a stop as Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy tackled Germie Bernard short of the first down. Indiana picked up a first down on a 21-yard run by Roman Hemby and then Mendoza hooked up with Charlie Becker for a 21-yard touchdown pass on a 3rd and 8 with 10:55 left in the second quarter.
Fernando Mendoza finds Charlie Becker, touchdown Hoosiers! ? pic.twitter.com/YIMkuhFJdJ
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2026
D’Angelo Ponds forces Ty Simpson fumble
The Crimson Tide picked up a pair of first downs on a drive that started at their own 15-yard line and nearly had a third first down. As quarterback Ty Simpson scrambled for nine yards, he was hit by D’Angelo Ponds, dislodging the ball, and Isaiah Jones recovered the ball at its own 42-yard line.
TY SIMPSON TAKES A MASSIVE SHOT FROM PONDS
FUMBLE
THAT’S INDIANA FOOTBALL #PMSCFP pic.twitter.com/dX5KhV1H9R
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 1, 2026
Mendoza finds Cooper for second touchdown
After taking over from the Simpson fumble with 3:09 to play in the second quarter, Indiana went 58 yards on 11 plays for its second touchdown-scoring drive. Mendoza found Omar Cooper Jr. for his first catch of the game with 20 seconds left in the half. Radicic made the extra point to make it 17-0 Hoosiers.
Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza can’t be stopped against Alabama ? pic.twitter.com/qMHuzeZN77
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2026
Mendoza connects with Sarratt for third passing touchdown
The Crimson Tide went three and out to begin the second half and Indiana needed just under six minutes to go 79 yards for a touchdown. The 10-play drive was capped off by Mendoza’s third passing touchdown of the game, a 24-yard strike to extend the lead to 24-0. Mendoza had three scrambles on the drive, totaling 28 yards.
Black breaks free for 25-yard touchdown
Alabama got on the board with a field goal after backup quarterback Austin Mack guided the Crimson Tide into the red zone to make it 24-3. The Hoosiers, however, answered with a six-play, 75-yard drive over 3:23 that was punctuated by a 25-yard touchdown run by Kaelon Black. That run stretched the IU lead to 31-3 with 14:27 remaining in the game.
KAELON BLACK BREAKS FREE
TOUCHDOWN HOOSIERS #PMSCFP pic.twitter.com/WJ6G0QCoqR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 1, 2026
Hemby’s rushing touchdown extends the lead to 35 points
The Crimson Tide went three and out early in the fourth quarter and the Hoosiers marched 63 yards over 2:44 for another touchdown. This time it was Roman Hemby from 18 yards to finish off a five-play drive with 10:39 left.
IU offensive standouts
Mendoza completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Black rushed 15 times for 99 yards and a touchdown and Hemby rushed 18 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Sarratt had four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown, Cooper Jr. had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown and Becker had two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Riley Nowakowski had three catches for 36 yards.
IU defensive standouts
Aiden Fisher had seven tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. Ponds also had a forced fumble and three tackles.
Devan Boykin had seven tackles, including three tackles for a loss.
The Hoosier defense held Alabama to 193 yards.
What’s next for the Hoosiers
Indiana will be back in action on Friday, January 9, in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, against Oregon. The CFP semifinal will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
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