Rose Bowl 2026: Matchup, Kickoff Time, Tickets & How to Watch the New Year’s Day Classic

Pasadena, Calif. — College football’s most picturesque stage is set for a clash of blueblood ambition and up-and-coming belief when No. 1 Indiana meets No. 9 Alabama in the 112th Rose Bowl Game, now a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, on Jan. 1, 2026. Kickoff is locked for 1:00 p.m. PST—one hour earlier than the traditional sunset start—to accommodate the expanded 12-team playoff slate. The matchup • Indiana (13-0) arrives as unbeaten Big Ten champion, making just its second trip to Pasadena and first since 1968. • Alabama (11-3) advanced by toppling Oklahoma 34-24 in the opening-round campus game, celebrating the program’s 100-year Rose Bowl anniversary after its 1926 debut. • Remarkably, the Tide and Hoosiers have never faced each other on the gridiron. Key storylines 1. Quarterback duel: Crimson Tide sophomore Jaxson Barnes, fresh off a 4-TD outing in Norman, squares off against Hoosier Heisman finalist Malik Richardson, the nation’s leader in total offense. 2. Coaching contrast: Kalen DeBoer seeks his first playoff win with Alabama, while Curt Cignetti, in only his second Bloomington season, tries to keep Indiana’s dream run perfect. 3. Legacy stakes: A Hoosier victory keeps their first national-title bid alive; an Alabama win would hand the Tide its sixth CFP triumph of the decade. How to watch and stream • TV: ESPN (national) with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call. • Streaming: ESPN app, ESPN+. • Radio: ESPN Radio, Crimson Tide Sports Network, IU Radio Network. Ticket & travel info Remaining allotments through the Tournament of Roses start at $365, with secondary-market prices hovering above $550 for lower-bowl seats. Fans are advised to arrive early; Metro Gold Line service and in-stadium mobile ticketing have been expanded for the earlier kickoff window. Historic backdrop The Rose Bowl hosted Alabama’s first national-title springboard in 1926, while Indiana’s lone appearance came in 1968 against USC. This year also marks the first time the Granddaddy of Them All functions as a CFP quarterfinal after decades of Big Ten-Pac-12 tradition. Keys to victory • Indiana: Sustain tempo on offense and exploit Alabama’s secondary that surrendered 279 passing yards per game over its last five contests. • Alabama: Win early downs with its front seven; pressure Richardson and force turnovers—the Tide is 8-0 this year when posting at least two takeaways. Early prediction Oddsmakers favor Indiana by 6.5, but Alabama’s postseason pedigree and improved run game suggest a one-score thriller. Expect fireworks under the San Gabriel Mountains as the winner punches a semifinal ticket and keeps national championship dreams alive.