The Alabama Crimson Tide’s season came to an end in Pasadena on New Year’s Day in what was an embarrassing 38-3 defeat to the No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers, the largest bowl defeat in the history of the program.
Not only was it the worst postseason defeat for Alabama over a century of games, it was also the most lopsided overall defeat for the team since a 1998 42-6 drubbing at the hands of Arkansas.
Things didn’t all unravel at once, and early in the first quarter it certainly seemed like the underdog Crimson Tide was going to be able to hang right in with the Hoosiers. But Indiana simply out-executed Alabama for four quarters straight and made the result what it was.
On the first drive of the game for Indiana, the Hoosiers went three and out on a drive which ended in a sack for the defense, and though the Tide did not answer with points, they did move the ball down the field a bit and did not look overwhelmed at all.
After pinning Indiana deep inside the 10 with a punt, the next drive would set the tone for the rest of the day. Though Alabama stood tall with a goal line stop in the red zone, it was a 16-play, 84-yard drive where the Hoosiers had every answer to the Alabama defense.
When Alabama took back possession, Kalen DeBoer made the controversial decision to go for it on fourth down, but a failed trick play gave Indiana the ball back in Tide territory. From there, the rout was on.
