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Indiana’s defense is elite and a tough matchup against Alabama | Realistic expectations
Posted on 12/23/25 at 8:36 am
Posted on 12/23/25 at 8:36 am
Gonna preface this by saying “Roll Tide!” I hope I am laughing at this thread post-game.
I’ve seen many say Bama has a good matchup in Indiana. I’m calling absolute BS on that nonsense. Indiana’s strength (their defense) is Bama’s weakness in every way. Explained:
Indiana is top 5 nationally in total, rushing, scoring, and 3rd down defense.
They also play well against great teams. Indiana held Oregon’s explosive offense to Lanning’s lowest yards ever with 6 sacks and 2 picks. They also held Ohio State to only 10 points, sacking Sayin 5 times. That’s 11 sacks against two of the best QBs in the country.
So . . .
This game has the chance of being very bad for Ty, Grubb, and DeBoar UNLESS an amazing game plan neutralizes their defense in some way - basically needing some semblance of a run game and elite pass protection - not exactly Bama’s strength at all.
The bottom line: Realistic expectations.
If Bama can’t come up with anything that works (and their fate is similar to Oregon/OSU), the fan reaction will be very bad. Actually I take that back, it will be NUCLEAR - and shouldn’t be considering the opposition.
Again, Roll Tide. I hope Bama wins by 25.
I’ve seen many say Bama has a good matchup in Indiana. I’m calling absolute BS on that nonsense. Indiana’s strength (their defense) is Bama’s weakness in every way. Explained:
Indiana is top 5 nationally in total, rushing, scoring, and 3rd down defense.
They also play well against great teams. Indiana held Oregon’s explosive offense to Lanning’s lowest yards ever with 6 sacks and 2 picks. They also held Ohio State to only 10 points, sacking Sayin 5 times. That’s 11 sacks against two of the best QBs in the country.
So . . .
This game has the chance of being very bad for Ty, Grubb, and DeBoar UNLESS an amazing game plan neutralizes their defense in some way - basically needing some semblance of a run game and elite pass protection - not exactly Bama’s strength at all.
The bottom line: Realistic expectations.
If Bama can’t come up with anything that works (and their fate is similar to Oregon/OSU), the fan reaction will be very bad. Actually I take that back, it will be NUCLEAR - and shouldn’t be considering the opposition.
Again, Roll Tide. I hope Bama wins by 25.
12
Posted on 12/23/25 at 8:57 am to Bham4Tide
I don't think they're elite. I think they're very good, but I wouldn't call them elite.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:03 am to Bham4Tide
quote:
Actually I take that back, it will be NUCLEAR
Fan fiction… in year fricking two, we went on the hardest run in the country, beat our rivals, went to the SEC CG and THEN went on the road and beat a team that beat us two times in a row in the playoffs.
Whatever happens in this game, which I think we win, is absolute gravy…
This post was edited on 12/23/25 at 9:04 am
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:03 am to Bham4Tide
fwiw, their best passrusher is out, and they do not have the talented depth that Alabama does.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:19 am to Bham4Tide
Bama is a 7 point dog in this game. I definitely have pretty tempered expectations. My hope is that Bama D can create some big turnovers.
I disagree with the fan response. Other than a 30 point beatdown, most Bama fans will think this is a solid step forward from last year and be content. There are some loud folks that just hate Deboer that will not be happy...and those people really will never be happy. They are not a majority though
I disagree with the fan response. Other than a 30 point beatdown, most Bama fans will think this is a solid step forward from last year and be content. There are some loud folks that just hate Deboer that will not be happy...and those people really will never be happy. They are not a majority though
This post was edited on 12/23/25 at 9:23 am
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:20 am to Bham4Tide
I get that they have beat Oregon and Ohio State, but those are essentially the only two games they’ve had to get up for. The next most talented team they played was a coach less Penn St which absolutely should’ve beat them.
The talent disparity is significant, and I think the reason they were able to beat Oregon specifically was having an extremely experienced QB/WR combo against what is mostly a freshmen/sophomore secondary. Almost every position has a starter that’s been in college 4 years at least, so basically they’re just really old compared to their competition.
As far as their defense goes, losing their best DL will be interesting to see given they have been relatively healthy all season. Not sure they have the depth to replace his production but we’ll find out
I’m unusually confident, and think our B+ game gets us a win here
The talent disparity is significant, and I think the reason they were able to beat Oregon specifically was having an extremely experienced QB/WR combo against what is mostly a freshmen/sophomore secondary. Almost every position has a starter that’s been in college 4 years at least, so basically they’re just really old compared to their competition.
As far as their defense goes, losing their best DL will be interesting to see given they have been relatively healthy all season. Not sure they have the depth to replace his production but we’ll find out
I’m unusually confident, and think our B+ game gets us a win here
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:25 am to Bham4Tide
Ohio State had over 300 yards of offense against them.
We just cant have sacks and TOs.
Their best DL is out so hopefully we will be able to contain them better.
We just cant have sacks and TOs.
Their best DL is out so hopefully we will be able to contain them better.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:28 am to Bham4Tide
It’s the same ones that always lose their shite in the game thread over an incomplete pass. That’s nothing new in the game thread even when Bama wins. Same ole ones bitched even when Saban was kicking arse. You can’t take these ppl seriously when it comes to Bama. It’s the same old bullshite every game.
I don’t believe anyone is taking IU lightly they’re very well coached and they’re physically tough. But don’t think for minute that was a lucky win against Oklahoma and they just choked and did it to themselves as we’re being told by the media.
I guarantee you Cignetti knows they will have to play their best game to win also. I’ve learned this about this Bama team, better not ever underestimate them or count them out. They’re in this playoff for a reason, they’ve beat some damn good football teams and they can damn sure beat IU as well.
I don’t believe anyone is taking IU lightly they’re very well coached and they’re physically tough. But don’t think for minute that was a lucky win against Oklahoma and they just choked and did it to themselves as we’re being told by the media.
I guarantee you Cignetti knows they will have to play their best game to win also. I’ve learned this about this Bama team, better not ever underestimate them or count them out. They’re in this playoff for a reason, they’ve beat some damn good football teams and they can damn sure beat IU as well.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:30 am to crimsoncoded94
quote:
Ohio State had over 300 yards of offense against them
Also didn't Day not take the tying easy 3 fg and went for it on 4th down during the game?
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:41 am to BFANLC
Leonard's Loser: Indiana.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 9:55 am to Bham4Tide
Don't care. I've been gumping hard since Friday night, and I will continue to do so for the remainder of 2025. Bama by 20.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 10:44 am to Bham4Tide
quote:
They also play well against great teams. Indiana held Oregon’s explosive offense to Lanning’s lowest yards ever with 6 sacks and 2 picks. They also held Ohio State to only 10 points, sacking Sayin 5 times. That’s 11 sacks against two of the best QBs in the country
I still haven't seen anything to prove that either Oregon or Ohio State are great teams or that either of those quarterbacks are some of the best in the country. Oregon has quite literally played one good team all season - Indiana, who completely controlled the entire game. Ohio State has played two good teams - Texas and Indiana - and they've managed 14 and 10 points in those games and went 1-1. Other than that, those teams have played absolutely comical schedules.
Bama has apparent weaknesses because they've played real competition. Think of how completely dominant Bama looked against Wisconsin and imagine how you'd feel about the team if that was the quality of opponent they played 11 of 12 games.
This post was edited on 12/23/25 at 10:46 am
Posted on 12/23/25 at 10:52 am to CrimsonCrusade
Exactly. We played Georgia twice on the road, Oklahoma twice with one being on the road in an elimination game, Vanderbilt, LSU, Tennessee, at Missouri, at South Carolina, at Auburn in prime time with our playoff hopes on the line, at Florida State. That’s a ridiculous gauntlet that we went through.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 11:03 am to scottydoesntknow
There were people in the game threads two years ago begging for Saban to hang up the whistle so that we could get whoever was the next Saban. That was the same year that he took us, with Milroe, to the semis against Michigan.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 11:08 am to LovetheLord
quote:
There were people in the game threads two years ago begging for Saban to hang up the whistle so that we could get whoever was the next Saban
Yeah there is something cathartic about doing this, maybe its a way to vent frustration about things beyond just football. Im guilty of it as well
Posted on 12/23/25 at 11:12 am to Bham4Tide
Indiana is extremely well-coached and solid in all three phases. I fully expect us to have a punt blocked in this game.
I think the “good matchup” commentary is from having expected most of the year that Ohio St would be the one seed. I don’t care about the Big 10 title game, I’m much more confident about playing IU than I would be against Ohio St.
I think the “good matchup” commentary is from having expected most of the year that Ohio St would be the one seed. I don’t care about the Big 10 title game, I’m much more confident about playing IU than I would be against Ohio St.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 11:23 am to Bham4Tide
Listening to Cole and Greg in the mornings, and they keep harping on the fact that IU isn't the most talented group, they are just the best at executing their plan. I know I'm reaching here, but I hope that them being off for a month will throw that execution off and they will be missing tackles they don't normally miss, and having bad timing on throws and such.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 11:23 am to HighTide_ATL
quote:
I’m unusually confident, and think our B+ game gets us a win here
Mendoza isnt exactly a statue, but hes the closest thing to one we have played in forever. I think we will be able to get pressure without having to worry about run fits.
I think this is a great matchup for our defense. Obviously the other side of the ball, we dont know which team will show up, but I think this is more likely to be similar to the Big10 championship than Indiana blowing us out.
This post was edited on 12/23/25 at 11:24 am
Posted on 12/23/25 at 11:26 am to VaBamaMan
I was thinking this exact thing. We’ve faced a majority dual threat quarterbacks this season.
Posted on 12/23/25 at 12:13 pm to VaBamaMan
quote:
I think this is a great matchup for our defense. Obviously the other side of the ball, we dont know which team will show up
Yeah, wasn’t mentioning our defense in my original post - you make a good point about it being a good matchup for Bama, cause I think it is as well.
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