Top-seeded Indiana routs Alabama 38-3 for its first Rose Bowl victory, roaring into CFP semifinals

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds the winner’s trophy as he is doused with rose pedals by linebacker Aiden Fisher (4) after a win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game [AP Photo]

Fernando Mendoza literally jumped for joy when the Heisman Trophy winner learned he was not the offensive MVP of Indiana’s dominant victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

The quarterback and his teammates ran across the celebration stage to mob 311-pound center Pat Coogan, who was visibly shocked to be the center of attention at another landmark moment for these incredible, unbeaten Hoosiers.

“It’s probably the first, if I had to guess, offensive lineman MVP award,” Coogan said with a grin. “These guys are unbelievable. The belief that we have in each other … it’s just been never-ending growth, never-ending improvement.”

Coogan’s improbable honor was a beautiful bit of symbolism that recognized the manner in which these hard-nosed Hoosiers physically manhandled the Crimson Tide to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals with their 38-3 victory Thursday.

Just two years into one of the most incredible team turnarounds in recent sports history, Indiana was simply tougher, meaner and more precise on both sides of the ball than blue-blooded Bama — and now the Hoosiers (14-0, No. 1 CFP seed) are headed to the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 for a CFP semifinal rematch with fifth-seeded Oregon.

Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns in his first game since winning his school’s first Heisman, but the Hoosiers won the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history by dominating the Crimson Tide (11-4, No. 9 CFP seed) at the line of scrimmage.

Indiana scored the game’s first 24 points before pouring it on with fourth-quarter rushing TDs from Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, wrapping up a jubilant afternoon in the 112th edition of the Granddaddy of Them All.

“I thought our mindset was really good,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “It was a hard-fought game early. Alabama made some plays. They had us off balance offensively. But we were able to make the plays when we needed to and take over in the second half. It’s a big win against a team that’s got a lot of tradition like that.”

Charlie Becker, Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt caught TD passes, while Black rushed for 99 yards. Indiana outgained Alabama 407-193, delighting a decidedly pro-Indiana crowd that celebrated its long-struggling team’s first Rose Bowl game appearance since 1968 with chants of “Hoosier Daddy?” in the final minutes.

Indiana had not won any bowl game since the Copper Bowl in 1991, but history has been no match for Cignetti and his Hoosiers during the coach’s two transcendent seasons. GREG BEACHAM, PASADENA, MDT/AP