2026 Rose Bowl Preview

The 2026 Rose Bowl features the 11-3 Alabama Crimson Tide and the 13-0 Indiana Hoosiers. Here is the 2026 Rose Bowl Preview.

Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3)

Alabama won 10 games and made the SEC Championship Game, which helped them make the CFP after they missed last season. Alabama defeated five bowl-eligible teams this regular season: Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee and LSU. Only one of their three losses was to a team that didn’t make a bowl game: Florida State. They erased a 17-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma in the first round. 

The Crimson Tide score 31.4 points per game, ranking 38th in the country. They rush for 109.9 yards (ranked 118th) and pass for 270.2 yards (ranked 22nd) per game. 

Ty Simpson has impressed at quarterback this season for the Crimson Tide and played well in the first round. He has passed for 3,500 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions on 64.1 percent completion. Five pass-catchers have over 300 receiving yards on the season. Germie Bernard has been the leading receiver with 60 catches for 802 yards and seven touchdowns. Ryan Williams has been a bit disappointing against his preseason expectations, as he has 43 catches for 636 yards and four touchdowns. 

Three running backs have at least 200 rushing yards on the season. Jam Miller has battled injuries, but has 504 yards and three touchdowns as Alabama’s leading rusher. Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley have helped out, too with 271 and 222 rushing yards, respectively. 

The Crimson Tide defense allows 17.86 points per game, ranking 13th in the country. They give up 120.6 rushing yards (ranked 30th) and 168.4 passing yards (ranked 10th) per game. Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson lead the team with 76 total tackles each. Yhonzae Pierre has the team-high with 6.5 sacks. Bray Hubbard has made some plays in the secondary with eight passes defended and four interceptions. 

Indiana Hoosiers (13-0)

Indiana went undefeated to make their second-straight CFP. They defeated seven bowl-eligible teams this season: Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State. Their undefeated record earned them the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. 

The Hoosiers score 41.9 points per game, ranking third in the nation. They pass for 251.6 yards (ranked 44th) and rush for 221.2 yards (ranked 10th) per game. 

Fernando Mendoza transferred in from Cal and had a great season for the Hoosiers, as he won the Heisman Trophy. He has passed for 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns and six interceptions on 71.5 percent completion. Five players have at least 300 receiving yards on the season for the Hoosiers. Omar Cooper has been the leading receiver with 58 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns. Elijah Sarratt missed some time, but still played well with 51 catches for 687 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Five running backs were able to rush for 200 yards on the season. Roman Hemby, a Maryland transfer, rushed for 918 yards and six touchdowns. Kaelon Black has created some big plays, rushing for 799 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Defensively, the Hoosiers allow 10.85 points per game, ranking second in the country. They give up 179.5 passing yards (ranked 18th) and 77.6 rushing yards (ranked third) per game. Rolijah Hardy leads the team with 87 total tackles and also has the team-high with eight sacks. Amare Ferrell has shown ball skills with six passes defended and four interceptions.

Prediction

Indiana has the more complete team this season. Alabama struggles to run the ball, which will make it hard to score against Indiana’s tough defense. The Hoosiers should be able to win a tough one against the Crimson Tide.

Indiana Hoosiers 24 Alabama Crimson Tide 21

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