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Pasadena Awaits: Setting the Stage for Indiana vs Alabama

12by: CoachGriff5512/22/25X.com/HoosierTailgate

Indiana football has reached a moment that few outside the program ever imagined — and yet, inside the building, it feels earned.

After Alabama’s win over Oklahoma in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, the path forward is now clear. Indiana will face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, one of the most iconic settings in all of sports, at Rose Bowl Stadium.

Tonight’s episode of Hoosier Tailgate Live is about setting the table.

This is not yet the deep schematic breakdown or the position-by-position chess match — those conversations are coming. Instead, this show focuses on context: understanding Alabama as an opponent, reviewing the College Football Playoff results that brought us here, and examining how the bracket has narrowed as the postseason intensifies.

An Introduction to Alabama

Alabama’s presence in the College Football Playoff is nothing new. Their program is built for moments like this — physical football, depth across the roster, and a standard that has been forged over decades of postseason success.

But this matchup is not about reputation alone.

Indiana enters the Rose Bowl as a program that has evolved — disciplined, prepared, and confident in its identity. Head coach Curt Cignetti has consistently emphasized preparation over perception, and that approach has guided Indiana to this stage.

Tonight’s show offers an introduction to Alabama from a high-level perspective: who they are, how they play, and why this matchup matters — without rushing ahead to tactical conclusions.

CFP Scores, Momentum, and the Bracket

The opening round of the College Football Playoff delivered clarity.

Alabama, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Miami advanced, and now the margin for error has vanished.

As the bracket tightens, the national conversation shifts from who belongs to who can handle the moment. Indiana is no longer watching the playoff unfold — the Hoosiers are very much part of it.

Tonight’s discussion walks through the CFP results, what stood out nationally, and how the remaining field is shaping the road ahead.

The Portal Reality During Playoff Prep

Complicating everything is the modern reality of college football.

The transfer portal opens January 2 through January 16 — directly overlapping with playoff preparation. That reality requires discipline, organization, and leadership from the top down.

Earlier this week, we broke down Indiana’s potential portal needs and roster considerations. Tonight’s show provides context: how playoff teams manage focus, protect culture, and maintain momentum while roster movement swirls in the background.

For programs competing at the highest level, the portal isn’t just about the future — it’s about stability in the present.

The Journey Continues

Indiana is headed to Pasadena not as a novelty, not as a feel-good story, but as a program with opportunity in front of it.

Tonight’s episode of Hoosier Tailgate Live sets the stage for Rose Bowl week — introducing the opponent, framing the playoff landscape, and preparing fans for what comes next.

The deeper breakdowns are coming.

The spotlight is here.

And the journey continues.

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