Joel Klatt gives score prediction for Alabama vs Indiana in Rose Bowl

Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt believes a classic could be in store for the Rose Bowl matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers on New Year's Day in Pasadena.

Klatt explained why he believed Alabama-Indiana could be a thriller and more on his video podcast, which is shown in syndication on FS1.

The lead analyst on Fox's "Big Noon Saturday" games began by crediting Alabama for fighting back against Oklahoma after it trailed 17-0 in the second quarterback on Dec. 19 in Norman. The Crimson Tide won, 34-24, after outscoring the Sooners 34-7 over the game's final 37 minutes.

"This is a passing team," Klatt said while reiterating that Alabama is a one-dimensional offense. "This is a team that does not run the football well. This is who they have been. This is their identity."

Alabama football QB Ty Simpson will attack Indiana defense, Joel Klatt says

Klatt noted that Indiana has seen good passing attacks this season, such as the Oregon Ducks with quarterback Dante Moore and most recently, the Ohio State Buckeyes with Julian Sayin in the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 6. The Hoosiers won both games.

Still, Klatt believes Simpson will attack Indiana's defense after his performance at Oklahoma. Simpson finished 18 of 29 for 232 passing yards. He threw two touchdowns to freshman receiver Lotzeir Brooks.

"I think Ty Simpson is an elite player. When I watch the film on Ty Simpson, I'm blown away at his poise in the pocket, his timing. He's in total control. His feet are phenomenal. The footwork allows him to play on time, which allows him to throw the ball accurately and allows him to really attack defenses. He does an exceptional job of it, and he will attack this Indiana defense."

Klatt praised the Hoosiers for having an elite defense, which ranks fourth in fewest yards allowed per game this season at 257.2.

"They play a lot of zone coverage, more than almost anybody else in college football, but they also pressure. It's called sim pressure or zone pressure. They do it a lot. There's a ton of movement up front with that defensive line."

Klatt, who called Indiana's 13-10 win over Ohio State, said that opposing coaches he has spoken to have described the Hoosiers as being "slippery up front."

"It makes them really difficult to block both in the passing game in the running game," he said.

Can Alabama establish a running game against elite Indiana defense?

Indiana ranks third nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed per game at 77.6. Because of the Hoosiers' aggressive defense, Klatt doesn't have much faith in Alabama's ability to run the ball, even with starting tailback Jam Miller back for the Rose Bowl.

"They just don't run the football well," Klatt said of Alabama, which ranks second to last in the SEC with an average of 109.9 rushing yards a game. "They'll lean on the passing game, which is elite."

If Alabama continues to struggle in the run game, can the offensive line protect Simpson? He was sacked four times at Oklahoma, and Klatt believes It's going to be difficult for the Tide's offensive line to hold off pressure from the Hoosiers' front seven.

"(Alabama's) offensive line on film, even in a game in which they won against Oklahoma, it's not like their offensive line's playing great. A lot of it is Simpson's ability to elude, play on time, and protect himself. So this Indiana team is likely to get some pressure on Simpson, right? I just think that that's going to happen."

Klatt mentioned that Indiana being without star defensive lineman Stephen Daley, who was injured during the postgame celebration after beating Ohio State. Daley is third nationally in tackles for loss (19) and has 5.5 sacks this season.

"He's top five in TFLs, so that's a huge loss for Indiana, in particular with the defensive front seven that loves to move. They love to get themselves in twists and do a lot of creative things, and he was a huge part of that. So, how they make up for his absence I think remains to be seen."

Rain could be factor in Alabama-Indiana Rose Bowl

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday's forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of rain Thursday in Pasadena.

Klatt believes the weather could be a disadvantage for Alabama more than Indiana.

"For a team that can't run the football all that well and has to throw the ball, moisture in the air (is) never a good sign," Klatt said of Alabama. "I'd say that (weather) favors Indiana a little bit."

Can Alabama defense slow down Indiana star QB Francisco Mendoza?

Mendoza locked up the Heisman Trophy with his performance against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, completing 15 of his 23 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown.

His 33-yard pass to receiver Charlie Becker on third-and-6 with just over two minutes to play effectively put the game out of reach.

Klatt doesn't expect Mendoza to be fazed by either the daunting Rose Bowl stage or Alabama's defense in Pasadena.

"Mendoza is battle tested. He has faced great defenses. He has been behind on the road in the fourth quarter. I don't think he's going to flinch at all. This is an offense that did not do a lot against Ohio State, but when they needed it, they were great in the second half and in particular the fourth quarter."

'Probably a classic': Joel Klatt's final score prediction for Alabama football vs Indiana in Rose Bowl CFP

Klatt closed by saying he expects a close game in Pasadena that ultimately favors the Hoosiers.

"I think Indiana wins a very close game. I think there's going to be some turnovers with the moisture. Indiana wins this one, 24-21... I like Indiana to win it in a close one. Probably a classic."

Joel Klatt's record when picking Alabama football games in 2025

Klatt is 5-5 when picking Alabama games this season. He incorrectly predicted the Crimson Tide would beat Florida State in Week 1, and he picked both Georgia and Missouri to beat Alabama in later weeks during the regular season. Klatt also took the Tide to beat Oklahoma in the regular season matchup in Week 12 and the Sooners to win the rematch in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

He correctly predicted that Alabama would beat Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn, and lose the rematch to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

TV channel, announcers for Alabama football vs. Indiana Rose Bowl game

Start time, TV announcers for Alabama football vs Indiana in Rose Bowl https://t.co/SwaJuQOr4Opic.twitter.com/z91rw0arpf

— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) December 30, 2025

Kickoff for Alabama-Indiana is 3 p.m. CT Thursday. The game will be televised on ESPN. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will have the call of the game from the broadcast booth at the Rose Bowl. Holly Rowe and Kris Budden will report from the sidelines.

Additionally, the Crimson Tide Sports Network radio feed of the game featuring Chris Stewart and Tyler Watts can be heard on SEC Network, which will feature a "SkyCast" presentation of the game.

Alabama football schedule 2025

Here's a game-by-game look at Alabama football's 2025 schedule.

All start times Central.

• Aug. 30: at Florida State (L, 31-17)
• Sept. 6: vs. UL Monroe (W, 73-0)
• Sept. 13: vs. Wisconsin (W, 38-14)
• Sept. 27: at Georgia (W, 24-21)
• Oct. 4: vs. Vanderbilt (W, 30-14)
• Oct. 11: at Missouri (W, 27-24)
• Oct. 18: vs. Tennessee (W, 37-20)
• Oct. 25: at South Carolina (W, 29-22)
• Nov. 8: vs. LSU (W, 20-9)
• Nov. 15: vs. Oklahoma (L, 23-21)
• Nov. 22 vs. Eastern Illinois (W, 56-0)
• Nov. 29: at Auburn (W, 27-20)
• Dec. 6: vs. Georgia (L, 28-7)
• Dec. 19: at Oklahoma -- CFP first round (W, 34-24)
• Jan. 1: vs. Indiana (CFP quarterfinals at Rose Bowl), 3 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football vs Indiana, Rose Bowl score prediction by Joel Klatt