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Rose Bowl Set for Historic Showdown Between Alabama and Indiana
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The College Football Playoff quarterfinal is officially underway in Los Angeles, as the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers have arrived for what promises too be a landmark game. Both teams touched down Monday evening, setting the stage for a week of intense preparation and media scrutiny culminating in Thursday’s matchup at the iconic Rose bowl.
Teams Arrive in Southern California
Alabama was the first to land in los Angeles, arriving shortly after 10 p.m. Central Time. The Hoosiers followed approximately 30 minutes later, checking into their team hotel around 10:30 p.m. CT. The Crimson Tide players made a statement with matching dark gray sweatsuits, while Indiana opted for a more individualistic approach, sporting assorted Hoosier gear.
See Alabama’s team arrival here: [WATCH: Alabama team arrival]
See Indiana’s team arrival here: [WATCH: Indiana team arrival]
Immediately following their arrivals,select players from each program engaged with the media. Josh cuevas, a tight end, and Domani Jackson, a defensive back, represented Alabama, while center Pat Coogan and linebacker Aiden Fisher spoke on behalf of the Hoosiers. A critically important storyline centers around Cuevas and jackson, both california natives, who expressed the profound importance of playing so close to home.
“This is one of the games that you grow up being in LA, playing in the Rose Bowl game, the Grandaddy of Them all– the two places I really wanted to play was the Coliseum and the Rose Bowl,” Cuevas shared. “I fulfilled the Coliseum two years ago,and now it’s just the Rose Bowl. It means the world to me. I’ve got a lot of family coming and looking forward to seeing all them and getting back in my hometown.”
View the Domani Jackson press conference here: [WATCH: Domani Jackson press conference]
View the Josh cuevas press conference here: [WATCH: Josh Cuevas press conference]
Week Ahead: Media Day and Preparations
The teams will settle into their hotels Monday night before a busy Tuesday. Media day is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.local time, followed by afternoon and evening practices open to the media. A head coaches press conference will take place on Wednesday, completing the pre-game media obligations before Thursday’s highly anticipated contest.
Championship Contenders Clash
Alabama enters the game with an 11-3 record, having secured a hard-fought 34-24 comeback victory over No. 8 Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Indiana boasts a remarkable 14-1 record, earning their first-ever College Football Playoff berth after an undefeated regular season and a decisive 38-17 win against Ole Miss.
why: The game is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, determining a spot in the national championship game.
Who: The No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3) and the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (14-1) are competing.
What: The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-28 in a thrilling contest. Indiana’s quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns, while Alabama’s quarterback, Bryce Young, completed 25 of 40 passes for 286 yards and two
