IU football game day: Indiana vs. Alabama CFP/Rose Bowl primer and prediction

THE DEBOER-GRUBB COMBO: Now in their fifth season with Kalen DeBoer as head coach and Ryan Grubb as the offensive coordinator, the pair have combined to post a 48-12 (.796) record while averaging 34.9 points per game and 456.5 yards of total offense per game.

SIMPSON’S STATS: Ty Simpson has shined in his role as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback. Through 14 starts, Simpson has completed 293-of-457 passes (64.1 percent) for 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding 87 carries for 76 yards and two scores. The redshirt junior is one of only three Division I quarterbacks with 28-plus passing touchdowns and five-or-less interceptions.

DISTRIBUTING THE WEALTH: The Alabama offense has seen a variety of pass-catchers make an impact through 14 contests. Entering the College Football Playoff matchup against Indiana, the Tide has had 22 different players secure at least one reception so far this season, including 10 different players with at least 11 catches. The same can be said about UA’s scoring opportunities, with 11 different pass-catchers having secured at least one touchdown reception over Alabama’s first 14 games.

MR. RELIABLE: After leading all Tide receivers in receptions (50) and finishing second in receiving yards (794) last season, Germie Bernard currently paces UA wideouts in receptions (60) and receiving yards (802) while ranking second in receiving touchdowns (7). The senior’s seven receiving touchdowns are tied for fifth in the SEC while his nine total touchdowns are tied for eighth among all SEC players. Bernard leads all Tide pass-catchers with a 61.7 receiving yards per game mark.

BROOKS BREAKING OUT: Freshman wideout Lotzeir Brooks hauled in his first two collegiate scores in Alabama’s 34-24 win at then-No. 8 Oklahoma in the opening round of the 2025 College Football Playoff, leading the Tide with five receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns. A big-play threat, Brooks’ 13.8 yards per catch average is the second-best mark among Alabama receivers, while 20 of his 32 receptions (62.5 percent) have resulted in a first down or a touchdown.

A SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Josh Cuevas earned a more prominent role at tight end for the Crimson Tide
in 2025 and has delivered in more ways than one. Cuevas has totaled 34 catches for 384 yards and four
touchdowns in his 11 games this season, with his four receiving touchdowns tied for the third-most
among the Tide’s receiving corps.

THIS IS THE BRAY: Safety Bray Hubbard owns 71 total tackles, including three tackles for loss (-12 yards) and one sack (-9 yards), to go with a team-high four interceptions, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry. Hubbard’s 71 tackles are third-most among all Alabama defenders, while the Mississippi native’s four interceptions are tied for the SEC lead and 17th nationally. Additionally, Hubbard owns an 86.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the third-highest grade among SEC safeties and the NCAA’s 11th-highest figure at the position. PFF has also commended Hubbard’s success near the line of scrimmage, with his 91.0 run defense grade placing him second among the league’s safeties while ranking fifth in Division I.

LAYING DOWN THE LAW: Linebacker Deontae Lawson has posted a team-leading 85 tackles, including four or loss (-8 yards), to go with four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Lawson enters the contest against Indiana with 279 career tackles, one tackle shy of tying Saleem Rasheed for 10th all-time in Alabama history.

BROWN ON LOCKDOWN: Cornerback Zabien Brown has totaled 33 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards), while also contributing two interception returns for touchdowns (149 yards), six pass breakups and one forced fumble in his 14 games. Brown became just the 12th player in program history to return at least two interceptions for a touchdown in the same season.

PIERRE BRINGS PRESSURE: Yhonzae Pierre has has totaled 48 tackles while leading all Alabama defenders with 13.0 tackles for loss (-92 yards), 6.5 sacks (-71 yards) and nine quarterback pressures. Pierre’s three forced fumbles are also tied with Bray Hubbard for the top mark among the Tide’s defensive unit. The Eufaula native is one of only 11 SEC defenders with at least 6.5 sacks, while his -71 sack yards are the 11th-most in the country.