PASADENA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of pregame expectations, the Indiana Hoosiers delivered a commanding and complete performance to dismantle the Alabama Crimson Tide 38 to 3 on Thursday at the Rose Bowl, capping a perfect season and stamping their authority on the national stage.

A sun-splashed New Year’s Day crowd of 90,278 at the historic stadium witnessed not the close contest many forecasters predicted, but a systematic deconstruction of a traditional powerhouse. The Hoosiers, finishing their season with 14 wins and no losses, dominated in all phases, while Alabama, which saw its record fall to 11 wins and 4 losses, was rendered ineffective offensively and worn down defensively by Indiana’s relentless attack.

The game’s pivotal shift, and its most important sequence, began late in the first half. After a first quarter that saw both teams struggle to find offensive traction, the contest was knotted at 3 to 3 following a 31-yard field goal by Indiana’s Nico Radicic early in the second quarter. Alabama’s defense, led by linebacker Bray Hubbard’s eight tackles and a sack, had managed to contain the Hoosiers early, recording three sacks on quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

The tide turned decisively in the final minutes of the half. With the score still 10 to 3 in Indiana’s favor after a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to Charlie Becker, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson fumbled while scrambling near midfield. Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones recovered at the Hoosiers’ 42-yard line with just over three minutes remaining.

What followed was a masterclass in two-minute offense and physical dominance. Indiana embarked on a 10-play, 58-yard drive that consumed all but 17 seconds of the clock. The Hoosiers eschewed the pass for a punishing ground game, handing the ball to running back Roman Hemby on six consecutive plays. Hemby, who finished with 89 yards on 18 carries, gashed the Alabama front for gains of 4, 3, 8, and 7 yards, moving the chains relentlessly.

When Indiana did go to the air, it was lethally efficient. Mendoza connected with running back Kaelon Black for an 11-yard gain and found fullback Riley Nowakowski for a 5-yard completion to the Alabama 10-yard line. After a 5-yard run by Black set up first-and-goal, Mendoza delivered the knockout blow before halftime. On second down from the 1-yard line, he fired a quick pass to the left to Omar Cooper Jr., who secured the catch for a touchdown with 17 seconds left. The score, followed by Radicic’s extra point, sent Indiana into the locker room with a 17 to 3 lead and all momentum.

The drive was emblematic of the entire contest: methodical, physical, and perfectly executed. It demoralized an Alabama defense that had held firm for much of the half and gave the Hoosiers a two-score cushion they would only expand after the break.

Any hope of an Alabama comeback was extinguished quickly in the third quarter. Indiana received the second-half kickoff and marched 78 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 24-yard touchdown strike from Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt. The score extended the lead to 24 to 3 and showcased Mendoza’s precision; he finished the game completing 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, adding 16 rushing yards on eight carries. He was the undisputed top star for Indiana.

Alabama’s only response was a 28-yard field goal from Conor Talty later in the third quarter, set up by a 34-yard completion from backup quarterback Austin Mack to Germie Bernard. That lone scoring drive was a brief respite in an otherwise frustrating day for the Crimson Tide offense, which cycled through Simpson and Mack at quarterback but could not sustain drives against a swarming Indiana defense.

The Hoosiers’ defensive unit, coordinated and aggressive, registered three sacks and consistently hurried Alabama passers. Linebackers Aiden Fisher and Devan Boykin each had seven tackles and a sack, while Rolijah Hardy added two quarterback hurries. They completely stifled the Alabama running game, holding the Crimson Tide to 35 net rushing yards.

Indiana put the final exclamation points on its victory in the fourth quarter. Black, who rushed for 99 yards on 15 carries, broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run early in the period. Hemby then added an 18-yard scoring run midway through the quarter to establish the final margin of 38 to 3. The Hoosiers closed out the game with reserve quarterback Alberto Mendoza taking kneel-downs, a celebratory conclusion to a flawless season.

The result defied most pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected an Alabama victory, 34 to 18, and while its ELO system gave Indiana a 54.6 percent probability to win, Alabama had been installed as a 7-point favorite by oddsmakers. The combined point total of 41 also fell well under the over/under line of 48.5, a testament to Alabama’s offensive struggles and Indiana’s defensive control.

For Indiana, the victory represents the pinnacle of a dream season, securing a national championship with an unblemished record. For Alabama, the defeat marks a second lopsided loss in its final three games, following a 28 to 7 defeat to Georgia in early December, and ends a season that showed promise but ultimately fell short on the biggest stage.