There was a lot of hype for the Rose Bowl matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Indiana Hoosiers, only for the latter to put what the fans like to call “belt to as*.” The Hoosiers won 38-3 and dominated the game from beginning to end.
The game started slow, with both teams going scoreless in the first quarter. Alabama couldn’t have imagined the onslaught that was coming from the second quarter until the end of the game.
Indiana controlled the game on both sides, not allowing the Alabama offense to put a dent on the board while their own offense destroyed everything the Crimson Tide defense had planned for them.
It looked like a typical matchup between a number-one team against a number-nine team. Although the difference between them wasn’t as stark, the results tell a different story. The Indiana fans must’ve had a field day with the final scoreboard.
But they weren’t the only ones enjoying the dominant performance that the Hoosiers showcased today. Booger McFarland, ESPN analyst, also joined in, poking fun at the Alabama Crimson Tide for not even putting up a challenge.
“Belt to A** in Pasadena Indiana way more physical than Alabama,” he wrote on X.
Belt to Ass in Pasadena Indiana way more physical than Alabama
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) January 1, 2026
Losing a game by a 35-point margin is unheard of for Alabama. This became the worst loss by the program this century. Prior to that, their worst loss, with a 28-point margin, happened in 2018 against Clemson.
When Kalen DeBoer became the head coach of the program after the glorious era of Nick Saban, many people had their doubts about it. Even though he had a good run this season, not by Alabama standards, this loss validates those claims against him.
Stephen A. Smith Wanted Kalen DeBoer Fired Months Before the Rose Bowl
Stephen A. Smith was vocal about Alabama not having a future with DeBoer. He had expressed his true feelings about the head coach. Although SAS believed in his abilities as a coach, he didn’t think DeBoer was the man to take over after Saban.
In September, after Alabama was being called out by fans and even some players for being weak after Saban, Smith stated that they should fire him and find a better replacement.
“Who would’ve ever thought that somebody would have the audacity, the unmitigated goal to call out Nick Saban,” Smith said (11:09). “They would never. But they did it, why? Because Kalen DeBoer is coaching them…The days of Alabama with Nick Saban are gone.”
The next time Stephen A. speaks about Alabama, he might circle back to his previous comment and boast about being right. The worst loss for the Alabama Crimson Tide this century supports his argument.
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