By Sara Jané | @saraajn_
Sports Capital Journalism Program
PASADENA, Calif. – With their historic 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the Indiana Hoosiers advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal against Oregon at the Peach Bowl next Friday night. While the prospect of a national championship is enticing, the players argue that their main motivation is simpler: they’re just not ready to say goodbye to each other.
In the modern era of college football, defined by the transfer portal, NIL deals, and rapid roster turnover, locker rooms often feel like transit hubs. Players arrive, perform, and leave. But Indiana has managed to bottle a rare chemistry that usually takes years to develop.
For this Indiana team, defeating the Crimson Tide was the ticket to extending their time together for at least one more week.
“There [are] only so many opportunities to play with this exact group,” offensive lineman Drew Evans said. “I mean, you just want to keep winning, keep playing with your guys.”
This sense of unity became the foundation of the Hoosiers’ postseason campaign. In the era of the transfer portal and rapid roster turnover, the bond within the locker room became a strategic advantage.
“It means everything,” offensive lineman Bray Lynch said of the chance to practice for another week. “We’re all so close, and we just want to spend time with each other. Whenever this season ends, we don’t know what’s gonna happen… taking it day by day is so important.”
Linebacker Isaiah Jones, one of the defensive leaders, emphasized that while the Rose Bowl is a historic achievement, the team’s internal standards are higher. He noted that despite the victory, there is a lingering feeling that the job isn’t done.
“It’s not hard for us,” Jones said regarding the quick turnaround to prepare for Oregon. “I think we have bigger goals and aspirations than the Rose Bowl.”
Jones acknowledged the “chip on the shoulder” that the team carries, fueled by those who still doubt the “New Indiana.” But more than proving critics wrong, Jones is playing for the veterans beside him.
“There’s a lot of veterans on this team and a lot of guys that won’t be here next year,” Jones explained. “So as a guy that has another year, it means a lot to me to be able to give these guys another opportunity.”
The Hoosiers have now entered what Jones calls a “one-week season.” The long-term schedule no longer matters; the only thing that exists is the next opponent and the fight to keep the locker room doors open.
“We’re fighting and clawing each day just to be able to go out there and get the opportunity to play another game,” Jones added. “There’s a lot of teams across the country right now that don’t have that opportunity. So it’s special.”
That fight is underpinned by a genuine love for the process. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza believes that the team’s work ethic stems not from obligation, but from enjoyment.
“I think our entire team and our coaching staff really enjoy football, and I think that’s why we work so hard at it,” Mendoza said. “We work really hard every single day because not only do we enjoy football, we also enjoy winning. And we know what that takes.”
As the Hoosiers turn their attention to the Ducks and the chance to compete for the national title, they will face an exciting rematch. Indiana has already proven it can take on Oregon, having defeated the Ducks 30-20 at Eugene on October 11. While that regular-season victory serves to boost confidence, the team understands that defeating a high-caliber opponent twice in the same season requires an even greater level of focus.
Oregon will arrive with adjustments, but Indiana’s strategy for meeting this challenge remains rooted in its bond. The Hoosiers aren’t just playing for a ring; they’re playing for one more opportunity together.
“We all love each other,” Lynch said. “So we’re just excited to see each and every face on this team another day.”