By Sara Jané | @saraajn_
Sports Capital Journalism Program
PASADENA, Calif. – Indiana University is a Rose Bowl champion for the first time in program history. Facing one of college football’s traditional giants in Alabama, the Hoosiers delivered a masterclass in composure and execution to secure a 38-3 victory.
Despite the decades-long gap since their last appearance in 1968, Indiana showed no signs of unfamiliarity with the spotlight. Instead of “stage fright,” the Hoosiers displayed a clinical efficiency, controlling the tempo and physically overwhelming the Crimson Tide in a way that made the historic result look almost inevitable.
That dominance was anchored not by flashy plays, but by the relentless work of the offensive line.
Led by center Pat Coogan, guards Drew Evans and Bray Lynch, and tackles Khalil Benson and Zen Michalski, Indiana didn’t just win in the trenches. The Hoosiers dictated terms against Alabama, a program with a record 42 bowl victories. The performance was so overwhelming that it earned Coogan a rarity in the 112-game history of the Rose Bowl: an Offensive Player of the Game awarded to a lineman.
“It’s probably the first, if I had to guess, offensive lineman MVP,” Coogan said, holding the trophy that symbolized his unit’s perfect night. “It’s all a credit to my coaching staff for first of all just believing in me, and the ability to make my calls, and diagnose the defense… And then a credit to all my teammates. These guys are unbelievable.”
Coogan’s guess was accurate: Since 1944, in the two-way player era, Coogan is the only offensive lineman to receive the honor. Steve Emtman of Washington, a defensive tackle, was honored in 1992. Coogan is the seventh lineman to be recognized.
The statistics tell the story of a game plan designed to break an opponent’s will. Indiana ran the ball a staggering 50 times, amassing 215 rushing yards. In stark contrast, Alabama’s offense managed only 17 rushing attempts for a net of 23 yards.
“You just take it one play at a time, wear ’em down, and eventually, you know, it’ll break open,” explained guard Drew Evans.
“Things we used to preach when I was at Alabama,” said Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, the former Crimson Tide assistant. “Change the way they think, breaking their will.”
Evidence of that strategy was etched into the record books. In the second quarter, the Hoosiers orchestrated a grueling 16-play, 84-yard drive that consumed 8 minutes and 55 seconds of game clock, the longest scoring drive ending in a field goal in the modern history of the Rose Bowl.
That relentless pressure paid dividends late. Indiana dominated the fourth quarter, holding the ball for over nine minutes and scoring 14 points on the ground while Alabama failed to score. The offensive line created massive lanes for running backs Kaelon Black, who gained 99 yards, and average of 6.6, and Roman Hemby, who ran for 89 yards, an average of 4.9. Indiana racked up 14 rushing first downs compared to Alabama’s two.
When asked what made him believe Indiana could defeat a brand as powerful as the Crimson Tide, Evans was blunt. “We knew it was about us,” he said. “If we just did the little things, took it play-by-play, and really bought in… this would be the result.”
The protection for quarterback Fernando Mendoza was equally pristine. With a clean pocket for most of the night, Mendoza operated surgically, completing 14 of 16 passes for a completion percentage of 87.5%, a Rose Bowl record. Mendoza became the seventh Heisman Trophy winner to win a Rose Bowl Game out of the 14 that have competed here.
“Bama is a really good football team and we knew that we needed to be physical up front, we needed to protect Fernando,” Lynch said.
There was outside concern about the long layoff before the Bowl game, a factor that plagued the four teams to receive byes in the previous year’s playoff. But inside the locker room, head coach Curt Cignetti used history as fuel.
“We definitely knew that was a fact from last year. So, I mean, it honestly raised our levels of play throughout the week in practice,” Lynch revealed. “We needed to step up and go as hard as we can at these practices so we aren’t like those teams last year.”
For Coogan, that mentality comes straight from the top.
“Coach Cignetti, it all starts with him,” he said. “The complacency factor, the afraid-to-death of complacency, the never-ending journey of improving. He makes sure all of our eyes are focused forward and we’re all thinking alike.”
For Lynch, the moment reality set in, the realization that “we might win the freaking Rose Bowl”, didn’t come at the final whistle, but on a specific inside zone run. The running back burst right through the middle, splitting the gap between Lynch and Evans.
“It was super cool. And I think that was when it was like, ‘Oh snap,’” Lynch said with a smile.
The victory advances Indiana to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl, where the Hoosiers will face Oregon, a team the Hoosiers defeated 30-20 on October 11.
As the confetti covered the wet field, the Indiana offensive line remained at the center of it all, solid, gritty, and finally recognized as the driving force behind the biggest win in program history.
“Super happy for Coogs,” Evans said of his teammate’s award. “It’s like the coolest thing ever, right? A little representation up there.”