How to watch the 2026 Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana faces No. 9 Alabama in College Football Playoffs
- - How to watch the 2026 Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana faces No. 9 Alabama in College Football Playoffs
Greg RosensteinJanuary 1, 2026 at 11:05 AM
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The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (Ringo Chiu / SOPA/Sipa USA via AP)
The 112th Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, takes place New Years Day in Pasadena, California, featuring one of the most unusual matchups the sport can offer.
No. 1 seed Indiana, a program that entered this season with the most losses in history, went 13-0 behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers will face No. 9 seed Alabama (11-3), the school with the third-most wins ever.
Who will come out on top in "The Granddaddy of Them All" and continue its march toward a national championship? Here's what you .
112th Rose Bowl
Date: Dec. 31, 2026
Time: 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT
Location: Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.
How to watch: ESPN or stream on ESPN+
Key players to watch
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza: Mendoza, a Cal transfer who signed with the Hoosiers in the offseason, has been nothing short of remarkable. He threw for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and only six interceptions while leading the team to an undefeated season and the top overall seed. Mendoza is expected to be a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL draft.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper: The 6-foot wideout — who had the catch of the year against Penn State this season — leads the Hoosiers with 58 receptions for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns. There was a chance he would miss this game because of a lower-body injury he sustained in the Big Ten title game, but he's expected to play.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson: Like Mendoza, Simpson is a potential first-round pick who lit up college football this season. He passed for 3,500 yards with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Consistency will be important: He struggled in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia but bounced back with a huge performance in a road win against Oklahoma last week.
Alabama left tackle Kaden Proctor: With rain in the forecast making it harder to pass, expect a heavy dose of rushing from both squads. Proctor, known as one of the best offensive linemen in the country, will have a huge role in helping the Crimson Tide's running backs find holes in the Hoosiers' tough defensive line.
Source: “AOL Sports”
