Roses are red, and so is the Rose Bowl. No. 1 Indiana faces No. 9 Alabama in the CFP quarterfinals in California for a New Year's Day matchup. Who will kick off 2026 with a bang?
BUY NOW: Get tickets to the 2026 Rose Bowl on Gametime
It's the top-seeded Hoosiers' second time in the College Football Playoffs, but that doesn't mean they're any underdog. Indiana knows how to succeed under pressure thanks to Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, who led his squad to their first Big Ten Championship just a few weeks ago.
The Tide have playoff momentum, though, upsetting Oklahoma 34-24 on the road in the first round. They're a blueblood program for a reason, even under Kalen DeBoer.
It's a battle of the juggernaut versus America's team. There's no better place for this game to play on than at the Rose Bowl.
Still needing tickets? Here's how you can get the best deals on last-minute passes for Indiana vs. Alabama.
Tickets to Rose Bowl 2026: Last-minute prices, cheapest seats
- Tickets: Gametime
You can find the best prices on last-minute tickets to the Rose Bowl on Gametime!
Currently, passes start at $100. Lower bowl seating costs at least $150.
Click the link below to view the latest ticket availability.
BUY NOW: Best prices, seats for Indiana vs. Alabama CFP quarterfinal
Rose Bowl 2025 start time
- Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
- Time: 4 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. PT
Indiana and Alabama face off at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 1. Kickoff for the CFP quarterfinal is set for 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) from Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA.
Rose Bowl Stadium seating chart
Tournament of Roses
College Football Playoff 2025-26 schedule
The 2025-26 CFP is here. Below is a look at the schedule for each game throughout the playoffs.
First round
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Fri., Dec. 19 | No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24 | - |
| Sat., Dec. 20 | No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 | - |
| Sat., Dec. 20 | No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 | - |
| Sat., Dec. 20 | No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34 | - |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Wed., Dec. 31 | Cotton Bowl - No. 2 Ohio State vs. Miami | 7:30 p.m. |
| Thurs., Jan. 1 | Orange Bowl - No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon | Noon |
| Thurs., Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl - No. 1 Indiana vs. Alabama | 4 p.m. |
| Thurs., Jan. 1 | Sugar Bowl - No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss | 8 p.m. |
Semifinals
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Thurs., Jan. 8 | Fiesta Bowl | 7:30 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 9 | Peach Bowl | 7:30 p.m. |
National championship
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Mon., Jan. 19 | National Championship | 7:30 p.m. |
College Football Playoff 2025-26 bracket
