ESPN senior writer predicts Indiana will blow out Alabama

ESPN’s Andscape senior writer David Dennis Jr. went on ESPN’s First Take and made a bold prediction for the Alabama vs. Indiana matchup in the Rose Bowl.

The Hoosiers will enter the game undefeated as the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Dennis feels the Hoosiers will show why they are the top seed and defeat the Crimson Tide in dominant fashion in the playoff quarterfinals.

“The mighty Paul Finebaum, the best he had, the best he had for you was that Indiana may overthink this and be a little bit nervous,” Dennis said. “This is the lock for me of the college football playoffs right now. This is going to be a blowout. They don’t stand a chance. Alabama cannot run the ball. They have a great quarterback, and we have seen what IU does against great quarterbacks so far this season. This is going to be Whatever the spread is, double it. This is going to be a blowout.”

“This is going to be a blowout. [Alabama] doesn’t stand a chance.” 😳@DavidDTSS is rocking with Indiana ahead of the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl 🌹 pic.twitter.com/VkFLFcIajY

— First Take (@FirstTake) December 30, 2025

The Crimson Tide remains an underdog ahead of Thursday’s game.