Indiana’s No. 1 seed and recent 13-10 Big Ten title suggest the Hoosiers enter the Rose Bowl quarterfinals as favorites; bettors may back Indiana on the moneyline or a low total given their defense. Upset value is present if Alabama or Oklahoma’s offense shows up in the first round.
Rose Bowl 2026 Preview: No. 1 Indiana Draws Winner of Alabama–Oklahoma in CFP Quarterfinal
Game overview
The Rose Bowl, now a regular College Football Playoff quarterfinal under the 12-team format, will host top-seeded Indiana on Jan. 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET. Indiana earned the No. 1 seed after a 13-10 victory over previously unbeaten Ohio State in the Big Ten championship, securing the program’s first conference title since 1967.
Indiana’s turnaround under Curt Cignetti
Curt Cignetti has rapidly transformed Indiana. In just two seasons he’s guided the Hoosiers to a 24-2 mark, injecting consistency and defensive toughness. Indiana’s recent results point to a team built on stout defense and ball control — traits that shaped the Big Ten title game and will define expectations in Pasadena.
What the opponent looks like
Indiana will face the winner of the first-round matchup between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma. That pairing presents contrasting threats: Alabama’s traditional physicality and Oklahoma’s offensive explosiveness. The Alabama/Oklahoma victor will bring either a power, team-first approach or high-octane scoring into the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.
Path to the national title
The winner of the Rose Bowl quarterfinal advances to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (a CFP semifinal), where it will meet the winner coming out of the Oregon/James Madison and Texas Tech side of the bracket. From there, a semifinal win sends the team to the CFP national championship on Jan. 19.
When and where
The Rose Bowl will be played Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET in Pasadena, Calif. The Rose Bowl Stadium’s setting beneath the San Gabriel Mountains remains one of college football’s most iconic backdrops.
CFP quarterfinal schedule (key dates and times ET)
Dec. 19 — Alabama vs. Oklahoma — 8 p.m. (First-round CFP game) Dec. 20 — Miami vs. Texas A&M — 12 p.m.; Tulane vs. Ole Miss — 4 p.m.; James Madison vs. Oregon — 8 p.m. (First-round CFP games) Dec. 31 — Cotton Bowl Classic (quarterfinal) — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1 — Capital One Orange Bowl (quarterfinal) — 12 p.m. Jan. 1 — Rose Bowl Game (quarterfinal): Indiana vs. winner of Alabama/Oklahoma — 4 p.m. Jan. 1 — Allstate Sugar Bowl (quarterfinal) — 8 p.m. Jan. 8 — Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (semifinal) — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (semifinal) — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 — CFP National Championship — 7:30 p.m.
Betting implications
Indiana’s defensive identity and top seed likely position the Hoosiers as favorites in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Punters may prefer Indiana on the moneyline or consider the under on total points given their low-scoring Big Ten title game. Conversely, the Alabama/Oklahoma winner offers upset upside, especially if Oklahoma’s offense finds rhythm or Alabama imposes physical pressure.
Bottom line
The 2026 Rose Bowl pairs a blue-ribbon regular-season story in Indiana with a high-variance opponent from the Alabama/Oklahoma bracket. Expect a tactical battle where Indiana’s defense will shape game tempo — and where bettors will weigh favorite reliability against potential explosive upset value.
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This year’s installment is set for Jan. 1. It will feature an all-important faceoff set against one of college football’s most famous backdrops.
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