The first-ever meeting between the Indiana Hoosiers and Alabama Crimson Tide carried historic stakes and delivered historic viewership.
Indiana’s 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl Game set a ratings mark for the modern postseason.
According to WJOX's Pat Smith, the matchup averaged 22.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched game of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.
Alabama's loss to Indiana in The Rose Bowl drew 22.5 Million viewers. That's the largest viewership all-time in the 12-team CFP era.
— Pat Smith (@patsmithradio) January 3, 2026
The audience tuned in as Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza carved up the Crimson Tide defense, while the Hoosiers limited Alabama to one of its least productive bowl performances in program history. The blowout ended Alabama’s season and ushered in Indiana’s arrival on college football’s biggest stage.
While the number does not approach the sport’s all-time ratings peaks, it stands as a milestone for the expanded playoff. The record remains the 2006 BCS National Championship between USC and Texas, which drew 35.6 million viewers. Vince Young's late-game heroics will be the last memory from that matchup.
Beyond the ratings, the result fueled national conversation about Alabama’s future in the post-Nick Saban era. Many are questioning whether the Crimson Tide’s two-decade run atop the sport has finally ended behind Kalen DeBoer.
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