Big layoff? No problem. How Indiana was more than ready for Alabama in Rose Bowl

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Big layoff? No problem. How Indiana was more than ready for Alabama in Rose Bowl

Big layoff? No problem. How Indiana was more than ready for Alabama in Rose Bowl

Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Fri, Jan 2, 2026 ·

4 min read

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PASADENA, CA — Indiana coach Curt Cignetti made it known prior to the 2026 Rose Bowl he didn't like the long layoff his team had, last playing in the Big Ten championship game 26 days ago on Dec. 6.

A day before kickoff, he told the media he didn't like how his team had been preparing. Practice "didn't meet the standard," giving an inkling the No. 1 Hoosiers may be in trouble.

But you know those times when someone loudly says something to another, with the intent someone else will hear it?

That's exactly what Cignetti was doing. It wasn't meant for the media, it was directed right at his team. He didn't want his team just eavesdropping, he was "eavesthrowing," trying to get a message through his players.

"Sometimes my messaging is intended for the players to hear to further reinforce my message to them," Cignetti said.

They heard it loud and clear.

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Best of bowl season: Mascots, trophies, celebrations, Gatorade baths

Defensive back Tony-Louis Nkuba #21 of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates by jumping into an inflatable bowl of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes after intercepting a pass against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl game at Sun Bowl Stadium on December 31, 2025 in El Paso, Texas

(Sam Wasson, Getty Images)

Tony the Tiger stands on the field after the coin toss before a football game between Duke and Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
(Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) greats the Pop-Tarts mascots before the Pop-Tarts Bowl against the BYU Cougars at Camping World Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Pop-Tarts mascots celebrate with BYU Cougars after beating Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl mascots perform on the field before a game between the Michigan Wolverines and Texas Longhorns at Camping World Stadium.
(Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Louisville Cardinals players celebrate after defeating the Toledo Rockets in the Boca Raton Bowl at Flagler CU Stadium.
(Jeff Romance, Jeff Romance-Imagn Images)

Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch holds the LA Bowl championship belt presented by Rob Gronkowski after defeating the Boise State Broncos at SoFi Stadium.
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Musical artist/rapper Snoop Dogg holds the championship trophy after the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Miami (OH) RedHawks 18-3 to win the 2025 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Casino Del Sol Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.
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Comedians Theo Von, left, and Nate Bargatze watch from the sidelines during the first half of the ReliaQuest Bowl between Iowa Hawkeyes and Vanderbilt Commodores at Raymond James Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
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Head coach Jeff Traylor of the UTSA Roadrunners is doused with water by Jamel Hardy #13 during the fourth quarter against the FIU Panthers in the 2025 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on December 26, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
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Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken gets splashed with Powerade after Army beat UConn 41-16 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park.
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Interim head coach Drew Svoboda of the North Texas Mean Green is doused after his team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 49-47 in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Northwestern Wildcats players dump Gatorade on head coach David Braun of the Northwestern Wildcats after defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field on December 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Head coach John Hauser of the Ohio Bobcats is doused with water after winning the game against the UNLV Rebels at the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl at Ford Center on December 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott is doused with Gatorade after winning the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium Saturday December 27, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. Virginia defeated Missouri 13-7.
(Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)

Fresno State Bulldogs head coach Matt Entz is doused with gatorade after defeating the Miami (OH) RedHawks during the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
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Head coach Clay Helton of the Georgia Southern Eagles receives a Powerade dunk after winning the JLab Birmingham Bowl by beating the Appalachian State Mountaineers 29-10 at Protective Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Interim Head Coach Terry M. Smith of the Penn State Nittany Lions lifts the championship trophy following the game against the Clemson Tigers during the 2025 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2025 in New York City.
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BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) and head coach Kalani Sitake are presented a large pop-tart to eat after they beat the against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Camping World Stadium.
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Ken Seals #9 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with teammates after defeating the USC Trojans in the game at the Alamodome on December 30, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
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Head coach Willie Fritz of the Houston Cougars celebrates with the Texas Bowl Trophy after defeating the Louisiana State Tigers during the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
(Tim Warner, Getty Images)

Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars is named Texas Bowl MVP during the Kinder's Texas Bowl against the Louisiana State Tigers at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
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Maverick McIvor #7 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts as he recieves the MVP trophy after his team defeated the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to win the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome on December 23, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)

Old Dominion Monarchs hoist the Cure Bowl trophy after beating the South Florida Bulls at Camping World Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Jacksonville State Gamecocks running back Khristian Lando (22) hoists the trophy as Troy Trojans take on Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. Jacksonville State Gamecocks defeated Troy Trojans 17-13.
(Jake Crandall/ Advertiser)

Interim head coach Drew Svoboda of the North Texas Mean Green raises the championship trophy after his team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 49-47 in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
(Sam Wasson, Getty Images)

Micah Alejado #12 of the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors holds up the Hawai'i Bowl Championship trophy after winning the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl over the California Golden Bears at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on December 24, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
(Darryl Oumi, Getty Images)

NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren receives the trophy after beating Memphis Tigers in the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

There was no slip up as Indiana showed no rust in their dominant 38-3 victory over No. 9 seed Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, proving that this team has what it takes to win its first national championship.

It hasn't been easy to come off such a long layoff in the 12-team format. All the top-four seeds last season made one-and-done appearances. This season's playoff started the same way with Ohio State and Texas Tech falling flat in its opening games.

Six games into this new postseason system had people wondering whether there really is something wrong with how this is structured – then Indiana put that theory to bed.

Why? It sounds too simple, but Cignetti and Indiana were just prepared, showing this program that isn't used to these moments knows exactly how to thrive in them. Cignetti made it seem like this team might be shaky, but in reality it was more than prepared the moment they learned Alabama was next.

"I thought our mindset was really good," Cignetti said. "I liked our prep, for the most part, once we knew who the opponent was."

Indiana doesn't panic, stays on course

It didn't start out smooth. Indiana went three-and-out on the opening possession that ended with Fernando Mendoza getting sacked.

Would that cause panic? That just wasn't going to be Indiana. It stuck to what has worked all season: let the defense flex it muscle and the offense will deliver the lethal blows. Alabama was the ones that needed to get creative.

Both happened, with the Hoosiers letting the Crimson Tide make those self-inflicted mistakes and not straying away from its identity.

"Indiana did a great job of doing, playing their game," said Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan III . "They capitalized on our mistakes. Indiana had a great plan for us and they executed well."

There aren't many things that scare Cignetti and Indiana, but one thing they are "afraid to death" of is complacency, said Indiana center and Rose Bowl offensive MVP Pat Coogan . This team isn't just content with making it to the big stage, instead insistent on putting on an exceptional performance the moment the stage lights turn on.

Indiana sent a message to the country there is a right way to prepare when you don't play a game for nearly a month and the entire season rides on it.

Maybe team that get first-round byes ought to take a page or crash course from Cignetti. Even though it seems like he continues to shatter expectations and wow the sport, how he had Indiana more than ready for Alabama may be one of his most impressive feats yet.

Now the Hoosiers have just eight days before playing Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal. The Ducks better be ready, because the Hoosiers absolutely will.

"Once we got our feet wet, we got the ball rolling and we got back to playing Indiana brand of football," Mendoza said. "I think it was great overcoming that challenge as a team, having such a long time off. I think we overcame that challenge and that showed on the field today."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana overcomes layoff, Alabama in dominant Rose Bowl win in CFP

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