It hasn't been the senior season Jam Miller envisioned for himself. The Alabama running back came into the year as the unquestioned No.1 back for the Crimson Tide, but has battled injuries and general ineffectiveness throughout 2025.
Miller missed the first three games of the season after suffering a dislocated collarbone in Alabama's final scrimmage of fall camp. He also suffered a concussion against Missouri and injured his ankle against Auburn. He's never quite been able to find his stride as a result.
For the season, Miller has produced only 504 yards on 3.9 yards per carry. The senior runner has had spurts of effectiveness, but every time it feels like he's turning the corner, he's suffered another injury that has slowed him down.
But with a couple more weeks to rest after Alabama's win over Oklahoma to open the College Football Playoff, Miller should be as healthy as he has been in a few weeks when the Crimson Tide battles No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Thursday.
"I'm good now. I'm 100% healthy," Miller told reporters on Saturday.
A healthy Jam Miller could make a difference for Alabama against Indiana
Miller has had spurts of effectiveness this season. After returning from his preseason injury and struggling against Georgia, he had back-to-back good games. He ran for a season-high 136 yards in Alabama's win over Vanderbilt, and followed that up with 85 yards on 20 carries against a then-No. 1 ranked run defense of Missouri the following week before getting knocked from the game with a concussion in the fourth quarter.
The next four games were a struggle following the concussion. Miller rushed for just 81 yards on 39 attempts combined against Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, and Oklahoma.
He found his stride against Eastern Illinois the next week, producing 62 yards on 11 attempts. He carried that over into the Iron Bowl, and Alabama had one of its better overall rushing performances against a stout Auburn front seven. Miller led the charge with 83 yards on 15 attempts before once again being knocked out of the game with a fourth-quarter injury.
Miller missed the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, and then managed just 11 rushing yards on seven attempts against Oklahoma in Norman.
Alabama will have to find some offensive balance against Indiana in the Rose Bowl. The game cannot be put squarely on the shoulders of Ty Simpson. The Hoosiers' defense is too stout.
Indiana ranks No. 3 in the country in run defense, giving up just over 80 yards per game. Facing a stingy run defense is nothing new for Miller and the Crimson Tide. Alabama has faced No. 2 (Oklahoma), No. 4 (Georgia), No. 8 (Auburn), No. 11 Missouri), No. 16 (Wisconsin), and No. 18 (Vanderbilt) this season.
As bad as Alabama has been running the ball, there have been promising moments against some of the best run-stopping defenses in college football. There were bright spots against Oklahoma (regular season meeting), Auburn, Missouri, and Vanderbilt.
In three of those four games, a healthy Miller was at the forefront of the relative success Alabama had on the ground.
Alabama doesn't have to run the ball for 150 yards against Indiana to win the game. It doesn't even have to eclipse 100 yards. It just needs the threat of the run game to open things up for Simpson and the Tide's play-action passing game.
Miller back to 100%, along with a steady diet of redshirt freshman Daniel Hill, gives Alabama its best chance of doing that.