Alabama Advances in 2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket Update

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The College Football Playoff (CFP) has been a wild ride this season. The first round already gave us some truly memorable moments.

Alabama’s comeback win over Oklahoma? That’s one for the books. The Crimson Tide clawed back from a 17-0 hole to claim a 34-24 victory, and now they’re staring down a New Year’s Day showdown with top-seeded Indiana.

Let’s break down what stood out from the first round and peek ahead at what’s next, especially Alabama’s looming test against Indiana.

Table of Contents

Alabama’s Impressive Comeback

Alabama’s resilience was on full display as they erased that 17-point gap to take down Oklahoma. It wasn’t just a big win; it was a testament to how this team handles pressure.

They evened things up by halftime, pouring in a 17-7 second quarter. The third quarter? All Alabama, with a 10-0 run that put them ahead for good.

Key Factors in Alabama’s Victory

Strong Defensive Performance: Alabama’s defense really stepped up, shutting down Oklahoma once the momentum shifted.
Balanced Offense: The Tide mixed it up with both the pass and the run, and Oklahoma just couldn’t keep up.
Coaching Adjustments: Kalen DeBoer made some clutch changes at halftime—those tweaks made all the difference.

Upcoming Quarterfinal Matchup: Alabama vs. Indiana

Now, Alabama faces a big challenge: the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana, led by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, has been a wall on defense lately.

They’ve only allowed more than 10 points once in their last six games. That includes a lockdown effort against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, holding them to just 10.

Indiana’s Strengths

Stellar Defense: Indiana’s defense is about as tough as they come. Not many teams have managed to break through.
Clutch Performances: Mendoza’s been ice-cold under pressure, always finding the right throw when it counts.
Undefeated Record: The Hoosiers haven’t dropped a game all year. That kind of consistency is impressive.

CFP First Round Recap

The first round set the stage for some seriously intriguing quarterfinals. Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up:

First Round Results

No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma: Alabama won 34-24.
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M: Scheduled for Saturday, December 20 at Noon ET on ABC.
No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss: Scheduled for Saturday, December 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon: Scheduled for Saturday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Quarterfinal Matchups

The quarterfinals look stacked. Here’s what we’ve got lined up:

Miami/Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State: Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
James Madison/Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech: Thursday, January 1 at Noon ET on ESPN.
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana: Thursday, January 1 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tulane/Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia: Thursday, January 1 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Alabama’s Path Forward

If Alabama wants to keep this run going, they’ll need to be at their best against Indiana. The Tide have proven they can hang with top teams, sporting a 5-2 record against Top 25 opponents.

But let’s be real: their two losses came against squads they split the season series with—Oklahoma and Georgia.

Strategies for Success

Avoiding Slow Starts: Alabama can’t afford to come out flat against Indiana. They’ve got to hit the ground running.
Defensive Prowess: Slowing down Mendoza and the Hoosiers’ offense is a must. Alabama’s defense needs to channel that second-half energy from the Oklahoma game.
Offensive Balance: Mixing up the pass and the run will be key if they want to crack Indiana’s tough defense.

Conclusion

The College Football Playoff keeps drawing in fans with its wild matchups and last-minute drama.

Alabama just pulled off a nail-biting win over Oklahoma. Now they’re facing Indiana in the quarterfinals, and yeah, that’s going to be a real test.

Crimson Tide fans are probably already nervous. The road to the national championship still feels wide open—who knows what’ll happen next?

If you want the latest bracket and scores, check out the College Football Playoff Picture.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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