Postgame Notes: Alabama

Postgame Notes
Alabama vs. Indiana
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal - The Rose Bowl Game
Jan. 1, 2026

TEAM
• Indiana is now 1-0 all-time against Alabama and improved to 35-29-3 against the current alignment of the SEC.

• The Hoosiers improve to 1-1 in the College Football Playoff and 1-1 in the Rose Bowl Game.

• Indiana is the first top-four seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff era (2024-present) to win a game in the tournament. Previously, the top four seeds had been 0-5

• The Offensive MVP of the game was the Indiana offensive line and Defensive MVP was DB D'Angelo Ponds.

• Indiana's game captains were: OL Pat Coogan, LB Aiden Fisher, TE Riley Nowakowski
WR Elijah Sarratt.

• Alabama won the coin toss and deferred the opening kickoff. Indiana received the opening kick.

• The Hoosiers are 45-27-1 all-time as a ranked team, which includes a 2-3 record on a neutral site.

• WRs Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt each caught a touchdown in the Rose Bowl Game and now have touchdown catches in the same game on six occasions in 2025. They have each hauled in a scoring pass against Kennesaw State, Illinois, at Iowa, Michigan State, at Purdue and versus Alabama.

• Since 2024, Indiana has multiple rushing touchdowns in 21 of 26 games and owns a 20-1 record in those contests. IU has multiple scores on the ground in 10 of 14 games in 2025.

• IU moved its season yards rushing total to 3,090 for its second-ever 3,000-yard rushing season in program history. The only other 3,000-yard season was in 2014 when it finished with 3,163 yards behind Tevin Coleman's 2,036-yard season.

• With 3.0 sacks in the game, IU moved its season total to 41.0 and produced just the second 40-sack season in IU history.

• Indiana's first scoring drive was the longest of the season in terms of plays (16) and time of possession (8:55). The previous long was a 15-play drive lasting 8:38 at Penn State that also ended in a second-quarter field goal by Nico Radicic.

• The Indiana postseason offensive record books added the following records:

Completion Percentage - .875 (14-of-16)
Touchdown Passes - 3 (Tied; Duke, 2015 Pinstripe Bowl)

• With 38 points, Indiana scored the second-most points in a postseason game in program history, just behind the 41 points against Duke in the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl.

• The Indiana postseason defensive record books added the following records:

Fewest First Downs Allowed - 11
Fewest Rushing Attempts - 17

• The three points allowed are the second-fewest points allowed by an IU team in a postseason game, behind the 1991 Cooper Bowl shutout of Baylor.

• Alabama's 193 yards of total offense are the second-fewest allowed in a postseason game by Indiana and the fewest since the 1988 Liberty Bowl versus South Carolina (153).

Omar Cooper Jr. | WR | R-Jr.
• His 1-yard touchdown reception from Fernando Mendoza in the second quarter moved his career total to 21 and is tied with Elijah Sarratt for No. 3 on the career list. He trails Jade Butcher (30; 1967-69).
• The score puts his season total at 12 and into sole possession of No. 4 on the single-season charts. He trails Elijah Sarratt (13; 2025) and Ernie Jones (13; 1987).

Charlie Becker | WR | So.
• Had his third career touchdown reception on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza in the second quarter.

Kaelon Black | LB | R-Sr.
• Rushed for his 15th career touchdown on a 25-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Devan Boykin | DB | R-Sr.+
• Logged a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss as part of a 7-tackle effort.

Roman Hemby | RB | R-Sr.
• Became the 20th Hoosier running back with 1,000 yards rushing in a season with his 89 yards on the ground. He now has 1,007 yards on the season to sit No. 19 on the list, as he passed Mike Karkrader (1,003; 1976).
• He is the first 1,000-yard rusher since Stevie Scott III in 2018 (1,137).
• Rushed for his 29th career touchdown on an 18-yard rush in the fourth quarter.

Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Jr.
• Had his first career fumble recovery when he picked up the ball on D'Angelo Ponds' strip of Alabama's Ty Simpson in the second quarter.

Mikail Kamara | DL | R-Sr.
• Owns at least one tackle in 49 of 51 career games played.

Fernando Mendoza | QB | R-Jr.
• Had a 14-for-16 passing day with 192 yards and three touchdowns.
• His 87.5% completion percentage (min. 10 attempts) set the record for the highest completion percentage in Rose Bowl Game history. The previous high was 88.3% (25-of-30) by Mac Jones of Alabama against Notre Dame (1/1/2021).
• Mendoza's 250.2 passer rating set the record for best passer rating in Rose Bowl Game history. The previous high was 223.8 by C.J. Stroud of Ohio State (1/1/2022).
• His three touchdown passes extended his program record for touchdowns in a season (36).
• His 36th passing touchdown on the season are now No. 6 on the Big Ten single-season charts, he is now one behind C.J. Stroud of Ohio State for No. 5. (37; 2022).
• His three passing scores improved his standing to No. 6 on the career list, passing Steve Bradley (35; 1983-85) and Richard Lagow (34; 2016-17). He trails Peyton Ramsey (42; 2016-19) and Antwaan Randle El (42; 1998-2001) for No. 4.
• The 192 yards passing increased his season total to 3,172 and into No. 4 on the single-season charts, passing Kellen Lewis (3,043; 2007) and Kurtis Rourke (3,042; 2024). He trails Ben Chappell (3,295; 2010) for No. 3.
• His 3,172 yards improved his career standing to No. 16, passing John Paci (3,119; 1991-94) and Kurtis Rourke (3,042; 2024). He trails Chris Dittoe (3,240; 1993-96) for No. 15.

D'Angelo Ponds | DB | Jr.
• Had his first career forced fumble when he stripped the ball out from Alabama's Ty Simpson and Isaiah Jones recovered it in the second quarter.

Nico Radicic | K | R-So.
• With 147 consecutive extra points made, Radicic's streak now sits No. 3 in Big Ten history. No. 2 on the list is Wisconsin's Rafael Gaglianone at 167 (2014-2018).
• His eight points against the Crimson Tide pushed his season total to 124 and into No. 3 on the single-season charts, passing Griffin Oakes (125; 2015). He trails Anthony Thompson (154; 1989) for No. 2.
• The eight total points improved his career total to 228 to pass Bill Manolopoulos (226; 1993-96) for the program's No. 10 spot. He trails LeVron Williams (230; 1998-2001).
• His 5-for-5 effort on extra points against Alabama pushed his season total to 76 which extends his own school record.
• The five extra points improved his career total to 147 and is now tied for No. 2 on the career list with Griffin Oakes (147; 2014-17).

Elijah Sarratt | WR | Sr.
• His 24-yard touchdown reception from Fernando Mendoza in the third quarter put his career total at 21 and is tied with Omar Cooper Jr. for No. 3 on the career list. He trails Jade Butcher (30; 1967-69) for No. 2.
• The score puts his season total at 13 and is now tied with Ernie Jones (13; 1987) for No. 2 on the list. He trails James Hardy (16; 2007).

Indiana University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Charlie Becker

Kaelon Black

Devan Boykin

Pat Coogan

Omar Cooper Jr.

Aiden Fisher

Roman Hemby

Isaiah Jones

Mikail Kamara

Fernando Mendoza

Riley Nowakowski

D'Angelo Ponds

Nico Radicic

Elijah Sarratt

Related Videos