Top-ranked Indiana will square off against the winner of the College Football Playoff first-round match between Oklahoma and Alabama in the prestigious Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025. This highly anticipated game is set to kick off at 13:00 local time, one hour earlier than its traditional start. The Rose Bowl, now in its 112th edition, will serve as a quarterfinal in the College Football Playoff.
Indiana earned its top ranking in both the College Football Playoff and the Associated Press polls for the first time in school history after a landmark victory over previously undefeated and defending national champion Ohio State. The Hoosiers triumphed 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game, held in Indianapolis on Saturday night. This victory secured them a first-round bye and a coveted berth in the Rose Bowl.
Historic Achievements for Indiana
The win marked Indiana’s first outright conference championship since 1945. Previously, the Hoosiers shared the conference title in 1967 with Minnesota and Purdue, but their Rose Bowl appearance was decided through a vote of the athletic directors since they had never participated in the game before. At that time, Purdue was ineligible due to the Big Ten’s “no repeat” rule. Indiana’s only previous appearance in the Rose Bowl was on January 1, 1968, where they faced USC and lost 14-3.
Indiana’s journey to this point reflects a remarkable transformation within the program, highlighting their rise to prominence in college football. The Hoosiers concluded the season with an impressive record of 13-0, further establishing themselves as a formidable contender on the national stage.
Playoff Matchup Details
Oklahoma, seeded eighth in the College Football Playoff bracket, will host ninth-seeded Alabama in a first-round game on December 19, 2024, at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The winner of this matchup will then advance to face Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
As anticipation builds for the Rose Bowl, fans will be eager to see which team will emerge from the Oklahoma-Alabama clash. The winner will not only vie for a chance at the national title but also carry the legacy of their respective programs into one of college football’s most celebrated venues.
The upcoming Rose Bowl promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Indiana aiming to secure its first victory in the event, while Oklahoma and Alabama each seek to add another chapter to their storied histories. With the game set to take place in Pasadena, California, the atmosphere is expected to be electric, drawing fans from across the country to witness this monumental clash of football titans.