The Indiana and Alabama football teams are scheduled to arrive in the Southland Monday, three days before meeting in the Rose Bowl for the opportunity to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The Hoosiers earned the top ranking in both the College Football Playoff and Associated Press polls for the first time in school history, a first-round bye and Rose Bowl berth with a 13-10 upset over previously undefeated, top-ranked and defending national champion Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis Dec. 6.
The ninth-seeded Crimson Tide advanced with a 34-24 victory over eighth-seeded Oklahoma in a first-round game at Norman, Oklahoma Dec. 19, rallying from a 17-0 deficit.
Indiana (13-0) is led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in touchdown passes with 33.
Alabama (11-3) offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor was a second-team All-American selection by The Associated Press while safety Bray Hubbard was a third-team selection.
Oddsmakers have made the Hoosiers a 7- to 7 1/2-point favorite. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Indiana a 71.4% chance of winning, the Crimson Tide a 28.8% chance.
The winner will face the winner of the Orange Bowl between fourth-seeded Texas Tech and fifth-seeded Oregon in the Peach Bowl Jan. 9 for a berth in the national championship game, which will be played Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Florida.