The Rose Bowl evokes images of golden sunshine and the purest form of college sports. Not chaos. And definitely not Kirk Herbstreit looking like he was in a full-on survival situation. But Pasadena had other plans for Thursday morning. What should have been a seamless College GameDay setup turned into a sloppy, slick nightmare when the skies opened up and poured torrential rain on the stadium before the CPF quarterfinal between Indiana and Alabama.
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ESPN’s College GameDay crew took the brunt of it, and Herbstreit was front and center in what fans jokingly dubbed a man “fighting for his life” against Mother Nature.
The cameras were partially covered by the set, but the desk? Utterly exposed. As the rain continued to pour at an angle, Herbstreit went through every defense available, including towels over the head, ponchos that barely helped, and a laugh-it-off attitude that only made the moment more memorable.
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.@KirkHerbstreit was fighting for his life in the rain 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/plibHeXONA
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 2, 2026
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Things eventually turned around after jackets came during a break; the GameDay crew had a chance to regroup and dry up a bit. But the effects of the rain extended beyond the set. The Rose Bowl field was completely covered with a tarp, and grounds personnel were using squeegees to remove standing water. Additionally, towels were placed along the seats to help keep fans dry.
The rain did slow before kickoff, but by then, College GameDay had already delivered an all-time visual with Herbstreit versus the storm, live on New Year’s Day, proving once again that college football always finds a way to embrace the chaos. Well, talking about chaos isn’t just reserved for the sidelines. As Herbstreit fought with towels and ponchos, the Rose Bowl itself became the stage for a different kind of chaos. No. 1 Indiana dominated from start to finish. And Alabama never found its footing.
Alabama humiliated at the Rose Bowl
Alabama football completely collapsed in the Rose Bowl. In a quarterfinal that looked like it was over well before halftime, No. 1 Indiana easily routed No. 9 Alabama 38-3. Indiana’s toughness and accuracy overpowered the Crimson Tide from the first kick, and by the end, the legendary stadium seemed more like a reality check for Kalen DeBoer’s program.
The numbers tell the story, and they’re brutal. Alabama managed just 193 yards overall and didn’t score until a field goal in the third quarter, which was the only bright spot in an otherwise mediocre offensive effort. Ty Simpson, who had been under pressure all afternoon, suffered a serious injury in the second quarter and was benched in the third, which DeBoer referred to as a “coach’s decision.” Austin Mack, the backup, gave life for a moment with a drive, but Indiana reacted right away and slammed the door.
The Hoosiers controlled the line of scrimmage in a way that seemed stunning and momentous, and Fernando Mendoza, who had just won Indiana’s first Heisman Trophy, effortlessly carved up the Tide for three touchdowns.
Imago
January 01, 2026 Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza 15 celebrates after a touchdown during the CFP quarterfinal between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Indiana Hoosiers at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Mandatory Photo Credit : /CSM Pasadena United States of America – ZUMAc04_ 20260101_zma_c04_196 Copyright: xCharlesxBausx
The emotions burst out after the game. “For us, it’s a lot of emotions right now, shared in the locker room. We can be upset, because losing doesn’t sit well for us,” DeBoer said. “Situations happen, and we have to use them to fuel us moving forward. I’m going to be proud of what we accomplished this year. We came up short of our goal.”
Meanwhile, Indiana celebrated something far greater than a victory: their first Rose Bowl win, their first trip to the CFP semifinals, and a moment that represented a complete shift in power dynamics. When a 311-pound center, Pat Coogan, was mobbed by teammates after winning the offensive MVP award, it said everything about how this game was won. Indiana was hungrier and tougher this time. Alabama? Soaked in a humiliating loss that will echo far beyond Pasadena.
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