Amid a 26-day break between games, Indiana football awaits its opponent in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.
The Hoosiers will play either the No. 8 University of Oklahoma or the No. 9 University of Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
The Sooners enter the first-round contest at 8 p.m. Friday on a four-game winning streak and holding a 10-2 overall record. Conversely, the Crimson Tide sit at 10-3, coming off a blowout loss to the University of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship game. Still, they became the first team to reach the CFP with three losses in the 12-team era.
Here’s what to know ahead of the first-round matchup Friday:
Oklahoma QB John Mateer
Redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer was a Heisman Trophy favorite throughout the first month of the season until he broke a bone in his throwing hand against the University of Auburn on Sept. 20 that required surgery.
Mateer missed just one game and returned to play against the University of Texas at Austin. However, he’s looked like a much different signal caller since his return. Across those seven games, Mateer has completed just 58.6% of his passes for 1,363 yards while tossing six touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said Wednesday that Mateer still has some soreness and isn’t pain-free. However, at practice Monday, Mateer did not wear a wrap between his thumb and index finger as he had since returning from the injury.
“From a stability standpoint, he's better than he's been gripping the ball,” Venables said.
Overall, Oklahoma’s offense hasn’t been impressive since Mateer’s return, averaging just 21.4 points per game. However, the Sooners scored enough to end their regular season on a four-game winning streak, including road victories over the University of Tennessee and Alabama.
The Sooners’ stifling defense
Oklahoma, which was known for its high-flying offense and lackluster defense under former head coach Lincoln Riley, has flipped the script in its fourth season under Venables.
Venables coordinates the defense alongside his head-coaching duties — a new move this season. The Sooners sit seventh-best nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13.9 points per game. They surrender 273.6 yards per game, but allowed the Crimson Tide to gain 406 yards in the Sooners’ 23-21 win Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa.
Not only did Oklahoma finish the season with four consecutive wins, but it did so without premier pass rusher R Mason Thomas. The junior defensive lineman suffered a hamstring injury while returning a fumble for a touchdown against Tennessee. He subsequently missed the remainder of the regular season.
However, Thomas has returned to practice and is no longer listed on the availability report, meaning he’s on track to play Friday. He’s made 9.5 tackles for loss this season.
An inability to run the ball
Neither Oklahoma nor Alabama has run the ball consistently this season. The Sooners have relied on freshman running back Tory Blaylock, sophomore running back Xavier Robinson and Mateer, as each have eclipsed 400 yards.
Senior running back Jam Miller leads the Crimson Tide’s backfield with 493 yards on four yards per carry this season.
Oklahoma gained just 74 yards rushing to Alabama’s 80 when the two teams met earlier this season. If neither squad can ignite a rushing attack Friday, each will likely need high-quality quarterback performances.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson
Redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson began the season with a rough performance in a loss to Florida State University, completing just 53.5% of his passes. But that was his first career start.
Simpson has solidified himself as one of the top signal callers in the SEC, as he’s a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Simpson completed 64.3% of his passes this season for 3,268 yards and 26 touchdowns against five interceptions. However, he struggled in the SEC Championship in a 21-point loss to Georgia — a team Alabama beat earlier this season — tossing an interception and a 48.7 completion percentage.
Turnovers
When Oklahoma defeated Alabama last month, it did so largely by winning the turnover battle. Simpson threw a pick-6 while the Crimson Tide fumbled twice.
Although Alabama had the upper hand in nearly every statistical category, it couldn’t overcome its turnovers.
Now, the two will meet again, as the Sooners look to become the first team to beat the Crimson Tide twice in a season since 1893.
Indiana familiarity within Alabama’s coaching staff
When former Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired after the 2023 season, the Crimson Tide hired Kalen DeBoer — who served as Indiana’s offensive coordinator in 2019 — as his replacement.
DeBoer brought co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan, also a former Hoosiers offensive coordinator, with him from Washington. DeBoer hired Kane Wommack — former Hoosiers defensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020 — as Alabama’s defensive coordinator.
Alabama director of sports performance David Ballou spent two seasons in the same position in Bloomington in 2018 and 2019.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is familiar with the Crimson Tide, as he spent 2007-2011 on Saban’s staff as an assistant.
The game
Friday’s contest is slated to kick off at 8 p.m. from Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The game will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call.
The winner will head to the Rose Bowl to face No. 1 Indiana at 4 p.m. EST Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
