#1 IUFB vs. Alabama: CFP Quarterfinal at THE ROSE BOWL - 1/1 @ 4PM on ESPN

[Hovadipo]

15 minutes ago, HoosierX said:

Ended up with tickets in the end zone.

Nice. I didn't end up getting any, but didn't really expect to as Varsity Club newbie. No communication which really rubs me the wrong way, but again not surprising coming from that office.

[Pagoda]

For what it's worth, per Fan Duel, IU would be -9.5 vs. OU and -6.5 vs. Bama.

OU is the easier game.  Bama is more dangerous with their offensive upside and would be the more marquee match-up given who they are.

We last played OU in 1928, a 10-7 IU win!  We've never played Alabama.

It's gonna be pretty interesting watching Bama at OU for the right to play us.

[Rico]

On 12/10/2025 at 11:01 PM, Bigred3588 said:

I was going back and forth with people on Facebook about a month ago and told them I wanted OSU in the B1G championship and Bama in the CFP. Pretty much everyone laughed. One down, one to go. 

If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best.

[Stuhoo]

12 minutes ago, Rico said:

If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best.

I hope no one can do that this year, because I've seen the best and they is us.

[Pagoda]

Brace yourself...

 

 

 

 

 

It's beautiful.

[DChoosier]

1 hour ago, HoosierX said:

Ended up with tickets in the end zone.

Do you mind sharing what you paid for the end zone seats, and which row they are in? 
I’m curious about the face value cost vs what I am seeing on StubHub and Vivid.

And for what it is worth….I have used VividSeating for the last few events I have attended as they have consistently had better pricing than StubHub 

[Brass Cannon]

1 hour ago, Pagoda said:

Brace yourself...

 

 

 

 

 

It's beautiful.

I would like a Hep Sticker.  But I’m bias. Heps first year was my freshmen year and he made me care about the football team. I went to his first game and his first rally. 

[Artie86]

Pretty cool how much IU and Alabama have so much “IU” connections…starting with former Alabama assistant coach Cignetti…

….pretty cool when you look at it from a different perspective….

[American HoosierX]

1 hour ago, DChoosier said:

Do you mind sharing what you paid for the end zone seats, and which row they are in? 
I’m curious about the face value cost vs what I am seeing on StubHub and Vivid.

And for what it is worth….I have used VividSeating for the last few events I have attended as they have consistently had better pricing than StubHub 

Paid $185 per ticket, credit card has been charged.

I don't actually have the tickets yet though, so I don't know what row I'm in. They said information would be released on getting the actual tickets last week of December. I would imagine a bunch would go up for sale then.

[American HoosierX]

2 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

Nice. I didn't end up getting any, but didn't really expect to as Varsity Club newbie. No communication which really rubs me the wrong way, but again not surprising coming from that office.

Yeah, for what it's worth, I never received an email about the opportunity to purchase tickets. I only knew about it because of you, so thanks!!

[DChoosier]

15 minutes ago, HoosierX said:

Paid $185 per ticket, credit card has been charged.

I don't actually have the tickets yet though, so I don't know what row I'm in. They said information would be released on getting the actual tickets last week of December. I would imagine a bunch would go up for sale then.

Good for you. Right now, on VividSeats the cheapest ticket is in the end zone, row 77 which is the very top row, (it goes row N-A and then 77 rows so row 77 is actually almost 100 rows high) for  $309

[str8baller]

4 hours ago, Pagoda said:

For what it's worth, per Fan Duel, IU would be +9.5 vs. OU and +6.5 vs. Bama.

OU is the easier game.  Bama is more dangerous with their offensive upside and would be the more marquee match-up given who they are.

We last played OU in 1928, a 10-7 IU win!  We've never played Alabama.

It's gonna be pretty interesting watching Bama at OU for the right to play us.

That line likely reflects the sheer amount of public money Alabama would draw vs a “upstart” like us. I find them to be pretty equal. I think we have a chance to blowout Alabama whereas Oklahoma will probably be an Iowa-esque low scoring fight. OTOH, if Bama gets rolling they’re the more dangerous team.  
 

Hopefully they punch themselves out vs each other

[Jeff Flabjohns]

I’d much rather face Oklahoma

[BtownStrength]

50 minutes ago, str8baller said:

That line likely reflects the sheer amount of public money Alabama would draw vs a “upstart” like us. I find them to be pretty equal. I think we have a chance to blowout Alabama whereas Oklahoma will probably be an Iowa-esque low scoring fight. OTOH, if Bama gets rolling they’re the more dangerous team.  
 

Hopefully they punch themselves out vs each other

I think DeBoer is a better coach than Venables as well. When talent is near equal, I think I would rather face the coaching staff I fear less (so that we have a massive advantage im that area). Obviously Cig is elite, but so are others in the playoff. I would not label Venables and staff as "elite", outside of defensive scheme. 

[Hoosierfan1901]

Sounds like OU’s starting center is now expecting to be out tomorrow 

[str8baller]

10 hours ago, BtownStrength said:

I think DeBoer is a better coach than Venables as well. When talent is near equal, I think I would rather face the coaching staff I fear less (so that we have a massive advantage im that area). Obviously Cig is elite, but so are others in the playoff. I would not label Venables and staff as "elite", outside of defensive scheme. 

I don’t think I’d label DeBoer as elite, either. 
 

Either way, Alabama lost to Oklahoma straight up once. I suspect Alabama takes the rematch, but I don’t see enough daylight between the two to call it one way or another. 
 

My preference is based on scheme and style. Our three closest games were against Iowa, PSU and OSU—all near elite defenses who could get to the QB and bog the game down into low-scoring affairs. Games like that are dangerous and favor the lesser team. Oklahoma (compared to Alabama) is more likely to force a game like that vs IU. 
 

With that said, I like our chances versus both and the outcome of the game isn’t all that important. 

[Pagoda]

1 hour ago, str8baller said:

I don’t think I’d label DeBoer as elite, either. 

Either way, Alabama lost to Oklahoma straight up once. I suspect Alabama takes the rematch, but I don’t see enough daylight between the two to call it one way or another. 

My preference is based on scheme and style. Our three closest games were against Iowa, PSU and OSU—all near elite defenses who could get to the QB and bog the game down into low-scoring affairs. Games like that are dangerous and favor the lesser team. Oklahoma (compared to Alabama) is more likely to force a game like that vs IU. 

With that said, I like our chances versus both and the outcome of the game isn’t all that important. 

I'm not really arguing any of your points, but just some thoughts to shoot the sh1t on a Friday:

Is DeBoer elite... I kinda think he is?  He took over a 4-8 UW team and went 11-2 with an Alamo Bowl win and then 14-1 with the title game defeat.  That's pretty good for UW.  But was he a Penix merchant?  Maybe.  His first two Bama seasons they've been a little off and I'm not sure why, which could make a case he isn't elite.

That's a fair point on defense.  Interesting Bama is actually 8th in SP+ defense (OU is #3).  Bama is a bit better defensively that perhaps some of us realize, me included, so we've got some risk with them too in terms of playing a very good D.  I suppose one thing that can give us some optimism is Oregon's D is #5 in SP+, so while it's not easy we can put up points on a good defense if we're sharp.

I prefer OU just because I worry about was DeBoer might scheme up offensively (he is good at that) and they're got more pop in the bat to score.  The home playoff teams have had a pretty big edge with the mega home crowds and I tend to think OU wins.  However, my sports gambling record is mid at best, so who knows.  It will be a fun game to watch.

[iu2win]

Neither Bama or OK are up to the task against IU's team of destiny.  The conference championship victory cured my IU PTSD (developed over generations of bad IU football) and now, "I'm a Believer" . . .  cue the song.  

[jermhoosierfan]

1 hour ago, Pagoda said:

I'm not really arguing any of your points, but just some thoughts to shoot the sh1t on a Friday:

Is DeBoer elite... I kinda think he is?  He took over a 4-8 UW team and went 11-2 with an Alamo Bowl win and then 14-1 with the title game defeat.  That's pretty good for UW.  But was he a Penix merchant?  Maybe.  His first two Bama seasons they've been a little off and I'm not sure why, which could make a case he isn't elite.

That's a fair point on defense.  Interesting Bama is actually 8th in SP+ defense (OU is #3).  Bama is a bit better defensively that perhaps some of us realize, me included, so we've got some risk with them too in terms of playing a very good D.  I suppose one thing that can give us some optimism is Oregon's D is #5 in SP+, so while it's not easy we can put up points on a good defense if we're sharp.

I prefer OU just because I worry about was DeBoer might scheme up offensively (he is good at that) and they're got more pop in the bat to score.  The home playoff teams have had a pretty big edge with the mega home crowds and I tend to think OU wins.  However, my sports gambling record is mid at best, so who knows.  It will be a fun game to watch.

Also, if Alabama loses, there is a feeling that DeBoer could be forced out of town and take the Michigan job.  How bad does he want to stay at Alabama with that job open that he could bolt for a few day later?  It is better to follow Moore that it is to follow Saban.

[str8baller]

12 hours ago, Pagoda said:

I prefer OU just because I worry about was DeBoer might scheme up offensively (he is good at that) and they're got more pop in the bat to score

That’s  some Cig slander, boy!! Lol

 

I don’t think anyone can hang with us in a track meet. We have the Heisman QB and best receiver corps in the country. And we have Cig. We should welcome a shoot out.