Here's where the Crimson Tide's loss falls among their lowest-scoring playoff efforts.
Lowest-scoring Alabama games in CFP: Where 35-point loss to Indiana ranks all-time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New Year's Day wasn't a strong one for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Coming into a Rose Bowl matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers as the ninth seed in the 2026 College Football Playoff, Alabama's defense didn't just struggle to keep up with Curt Cignetti's squad. Offensively, the Crimson Tide couldn't find any momentum in Pasadena.
Indiana won 38-3, one of the worst CFP performances for the Crimson Tide in the illustrious history of its football program.
Here's where Thursday's Rose Bowl loss ranks among Alabama's lowest-scoring CFP games ever.
MORE: The biggest blowouts in College Football Playoff history
Lowest-scoring Alabama games in CFP history
Alabama has now played in a total of 15 College Football Playoff games since the format was introduced in 2014. Previously, only twice have the Crimson Tide failed to break 20 points in those CFP games.
Thursday's loss was the lowest-scoring Alabama performance in a playoff game. Before losing 38-3 to Indiana, Alabama's lowest-scoring performance in a CFP game was 16 points in the 2019 national championship. In that game, the Crimson Tide lost 44-16 to Clemson.
Here are Alabama's lowest-scoring CFP games.
| Rank | Date | Game | Final Score |
| 1 | Jan. 1, 2025 | 2026 Rose Bowl (Quarterfinal) | Indiana 38, Alabama 3 |
| 2 | Jan. 7, 2019 | 2019 National Championship | Clemson 44, Alabama 16 |
| 3 | Jan. 10, 2022 | 2022 National Championship | Georgia 33, Alabama 18 |
| 4 | Jan. 1, 2024 | 2024 Rose Bowl (Semifinal) | Michigan 27, Alabama 20 |
| 5 | Dec. 31, 2016 | 2016 Peach Bowl (Semifinal) | Alabama 24, Washington 7 |
| 6 | Jan. 1, 2018 | 2018 Sugar Bowl (Semifinal) | Alabama 24, Clemson 6 |
When was the last time Alabama was shut out?
Alabama barely avoided a shutout against Indiana, only notching a field goal over four quarters. The team hasn't been shut out in a game in 25 years; the last time the Crimson Tide failed to score in any game was on Nov. 18, 2000, when Auburn blanked Alabama 9-0 in the Iron Bowl.
The Tigers needed just three field goals in Tuscaloosa to claim their win, as their defense shut out the Crimson Tide. That was Mike DuBose's final game coaching Alabama before Dennis Franchione took over in 2001.
MORE: Where Alabama ranks among all-time winningest college football teams
Alabama offense stats vs. Indiana
Not only did Alabama allow 38 points and 413 yards of offense to Indiana, but the total numbers for the Crimson Tide offense were also rough.
Ty Simpson threw for 67 yards on 12 completions before backup quarterback Austin Mack went 11-for-16 with 103 passing yards. On the day, the Crimson Tide ran for just 23 yards on 17 carries for an average of 1.4 yards per carry, converting on three of 11 third-down opportunities.
Category: General Sports
