Any hope Alabama had of springing an upset in the Rose Bowl was quickly extinguished by a much better, more physical, and better-coached Indiana team in Pasadena.
The Hoosiers broke out to a 17-0 lead at halftime, and never lifted their foot from the gas en route to a 38-3 win over the Crimson Tide. For Alabama, it was the program's worst loss in over 27 years. The Crimson Tide got routed by Arkansas 42-6 in 1998.
It was a humiliating and humbling defeat for Alabama, no doubt about it. It was exasperated by an injury to QB Ty Simpson, which knocked him out of the game early in the second half and ended any realistic chance Alabama had of mounting any sort of comeback.
The loss leaves Kalen DeBoer and Alabama with plenty of question marks moving forward into the 2026 season.
The most jarring observations from Alabama's blowout loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl
1. Alabama's lack of offensive balance was the team's inevitable undoing
It was always going to be the thing that ultimately ended Alabama's season. Against an elite defense like Indiana's, Alabama needed to find some semblance of offensive balance. It couldn't, which was the case for the majority of the season.
With a struggling offensive line and a running back room bereft of a true difference maker, Alabama couldn't get anything going on the ground in the Rose Bowl. The Tide finished with 23 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
It was the same undoing that led to a blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
It was a curious gameplan from the jump. A 100% healthy Jam Miller didn't receive a single carry. Daniel Hill was the clear RB1, with Kevin Riley, who missed the last three games with a broken jaw, being the only other RB to receive a carry.
And just to be clear: Indiana was the better team here. They were the better team all season long. Offensive balance probably doesn't change the result, but it is what led to such a lopsided score.
2. The game swung for good on Ty Simpson's fumble late in the second quarter
A lot has been said about DeBoer's (foolish) decision to go for a 4th-and-1 early in the second quarter in Alabama's own territory, but a turnover late in the second quarter proved to be even more consequential.
It'll be lost in the fact that the score was so lopsided, but late in the first half, Alabama only trailed 10-0 and had a real chance to trim into the lead before the end of the second quarter. With the Tide getting the ball to open the third quarter, points before halftime could have built some much-needed momentum for Alabama.
And the drive started with some promise. Alabama moved the ball near midfield in six plays and looked to have a chance to at least grab a field goal before halftime. On a 3rd-and-long, Simpson took off on a scramble and picked up the first down in Indiana territory, but took a big shot in his back and coughed up the football.
Indiana recovered, and then went on an 11-play, 58-yard touchdown drive to take a 17-0 lead into the locker room. Even worse, the hit Simpson took that led to the fumble also ultimately knocked him out of the game and forced DeBoer to turn to the inexperienced Austin Mack for the bulk of the second half.
That play was the ball game, even if it didn't immediately feel like it.
3. Kane Wommack's defense got gashed on the ground
Even with the inconsistencies offensively, Alabama was able to stay afloat most of the season thanks to elite play by the defense. Unfortunately, the dam broke for Kane Wommack's unit in the Rose Bowl, and the more physical Hoosiers punished the Crimson Tide's defense.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza only threw 16 passes because Indiana was able to dominate the game on the ground. Alabama sacked Mendoza twice on the opening drive and was able to get more pressure than most pundits figured, but Indiana's ability to run the football effectively meant they didn't have to throw the ball often, which limited Alabama's ability to create negative plays.
While Alabama couldn't muster anything, Indiana put up 215 yards on 50 attempts.
Indiana's offense is death by a thousand paper cuts. And Alabama died a slow, painful defensive death because they couldn't consistently stop the run.
4. Indiana was simply the better football team
We can opine as to why it was the case, but Indiana was better than Alabama this season. Plain and simple.
In reality, the Hoosiers might be better than everyone else. Those wins over Oregon and Ohio State didn't happen by accident. Indiana came into the game ranked No. 2 in SP+ (probably No. 1 now), while Alabama was just 15th. That proved pretty prophetic, as did a bigger spread than many assumed.
Credit to Curt Cignetti and Indiana for a remarkable turnaround. From being one of the laughingstocks of college football to maybe the best team in the country in just two years is simply remarkable.
As frustrating as the butt-kicking was, it might just say more about Indiana than it did Alabama.
5. Kalen DeBoer faces some tough questions this offseason
Kalen DeBoer will be Alabama's head coach in 2026, regardless of what the vocal minority in the fanbase might prefer. But some changes have to be made for the Crimson Tide to have an opportunity to get back to being an elite football team.
They were well short of elite this season. They scraped and clawed their way to 11 wins and one College Football Playoff win, but this team was never a realistic threat to win the National Championship.
Staff changes feel imminent. In the very last, a new special teams coordinator and a new offensive line coach are a must.
Alabama's offensive line massively underachieved from a talent perspective. DeBoer needs to move on from Chris Kapilovic. There's an argument to be made that the RB development has stagnated to a point that replacing Robert Gillespie is a conversation that needs to be had, regardless of how popular he is in the locker room.
I doubt DeBoer will make a change at OC with Ryan Grubb, though the offensive coordinator has drawn heavy criticism from fans. But Grubb coached most of the season with one hand tied behind his back due to poor offensive line play and no real difference-maker at RB.
He's likely to be retained, but DeBoer has to make some changes so Alabama can take the next step and become legitimate National Championship contenders once again. Because that's the standard of excellence you are held to in Tuscaloosa, and it has not been met during his two seasons on the sideline.