Former Alabama Crimson Tide player and current Ohio State Buckeyes Caleb Downs shared his verdict on the upcoming College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Indiana Hoosiers. Downs played one season for Alabama in 2023 under legendary coach Nick Saban.
The Hoosiers won the Big Ten championship and went undefeated in the regular season, securing the top seed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Alabama qualified through at-large spots after losing the SEC championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Ahead of the game, Downs, whose Buckeyes took a defeat against Indiana in the Big Ten championship game, wished they could get a rematch against the Hoosiers before saying that the Roll Tide will win the matchup.
“I want get back, but I do think…..Roll Tide,” Downs said.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is taking Alabama against Indiana despite wanting a rematch against the Hoosiers.
“I want get back, but I do think…..Roll Tide,” Downs said.
Downs played for Alabama for one season in 2023 under Nick Saban. pic.twitter.com/eL82RGKgFz
— Crimson Coverage (@CrimsonCoverage) December 24, 2025
The matchup will also be the 2026 Rose Bowl game, scheduled for January 1, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. Currently, Indiana is favored by 6-7 points on betting lines.
Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer Full Of Praise For Indiana Ahead Of Rose Bowl
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer shared his praise for Indiana, where he worked as an offensive coordinator in 2019. He gave a shout out to Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti for turning around the program in the last two years.
“We understand we’ve got a great football team with Indiana,” DeBoer said. “Coach Cignetti, just what he’s done is amazing here these last two years, just building the program as quickly as he’s done to the level it’s at.”
DeBoer also highlighted that Indiana’s offensive line is one of its biggest assets during the game:
“Still diving into it, but I think the thing that jumps out at me with the first glance here the last day or so, is how well they work together, the offensive line, in particular, and just everyone being in sync. They’re always moving forward. And the opposite end, the defense, has the tackles for losses and is physical as well.”
DeBoer also had warm words for Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza:
“But I just think with obviously Mendoza winning the Heisman, that doesn’t happen by accident. You put a whole season of film together, of games and stringing them each and every week and you end up undefeated because a trigger man can make some plays and do his things at an extremely high level.”
DeBoer finds Indiana a great challenge and it remains to be seen if his team is prepared to upset them in the quarterfinal.
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