PASADENA, Calif. — Curt Cignetti walks down the black asphalt path toward No. 1 Indiana football’s locker room inside the Rose Bowl a little more than 2 hours before kickoff.
The Hoosiers’ second-year head coach’s eyes don’t veer off the path. His team follows behind with the same mentality.
Cignetti and the Hoosiers carried that mindset throughout their contest against No. 9 University of Alabama on Thursday. No matter the score, the Cream and Crimson were relentless, earning a 38-3 victory for the program’s first Rose Bowl victory.
And as many college football fans have exclaimed their squad wants ‘Bama, the Hoosiers got them — and they throttled them. Indiana now advances to play Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinals Jan. 9 in Atlanta.
The Hoosiers’ offense struggled on the game’s opening drive, giving up two sacks during their three-and-out. The Crimson Tide gained two first downs on their first possession before punting.
Indiana then put together a 16-play, 84-yard drive that spanned nearly nine minutes. However, the Cream and Crimson only managed to convert a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb opted for extreme aggression on the Crimson Tide’s next drive. After both squads called timeouts in what turned into a chess match, Alabama failed to convert fourth-and-1 at its own 34-yard line, giving Indiana prime field position.
And the Hoosiers took advantage. Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza found sophomore receiver Charlie Becker for a 21-yard score.
Over Alabama’s final two drives of the first half, it fumbled and punted. Although Indiana also punted once, Mendoza connected with redshirt junior receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Hoosiers a 17-0 halftime lead.
While Alabama began the second half with the ball, it went three-and-out once more. Indiana responded with a 10-play, 79-yard touchdown drive, as Mendoza found senior receiver Elijah Sarratt for a 24-yard touchdown.
Alabama redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Mack relieved redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson midway through the third quarter due to an apparent injury. Mack led the Crimson Tide to the red zone, but they managed to score just a field goal.
The Hoosiers essentially sealed the victory on their ensuing possession, as sixth-year senior running back Kaelon Black ran into the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown. Indiana held a 31-3 lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter, as Hoosier fans sang “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers.
Redshirt senior running back Roman Hemby tacked on a 18-yard score in the fourth quarter as the Hoosiers cruised to victory.
Mendoza finished 14 for 16 for 192 yards and three touchdowns in the win while Indiana’s defense suffocated Alabama’s offense. The Hoosiers allowed just 193 yards while gaining 407.
Indiana will now face Oregon in the Peach Bowl at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Hoosiers previously defeated the Ducks in the regular season and must do so again to advance to the national championship.
CORRECTION: This story was updated to correct a statistic.
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.
