Rose Bowl Updates and Player Opt Outs

• No. 1 Indiana faces No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal on Thursday, January 2
• Both teams released updated injury reports Wednesday with key defensive players ruled out
• Check out the full Alabama vs Indiana injury report and player updates below

The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers and No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide meet Thursday in the Rose Bowl for a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. Both teams released their latest injury reports Wednesday ahead of the 4 p.m. ET kickoff in Pasadena.

Alabama is as healthy as it’s been all season with only three players ruled out. Indiana will be without four defensive contributors, including star defensive end Stephen Daley, who suffered a season-ending leg injury celebrating the Big Ten title.

The game airs on ESPN from the Rose Bowl.

Jump to: Alabama Injury Report | Indiana Injury Report

Alabama Injury Report

The Crimson Tide are nearly at full strength heading into the Rose Bowl. After two weeks off for the holidays, Alabama’s injury-riddled offense is back to full health for the first time in months.

Offense Back to Full Strength

Alabama’s three leading rushers are all healthy for the Rose Bowl. Senior Jam Miller, sophomore Daniel Hill and redshirt freshman Kevin Riley have combined for 997 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns despite all missing multiple games this season.

Riley returns after missing Alabama’s last three games with a broken jaw. Miller played in the first-round win over Oklahoma after missing the SEC Championship Game with a lower leg injury. The trio gives Alabama a deep backfield rotation against Indiana’s defense.

Star tight end Josh Cuevas is also fully healthy after missing three games. Cuevas hauled in three receptions in Alabama’s 34-24 comeback win over Oklahoma on December 19.

LT Overton Returns on Defense

Senior defensive end LT Overton is back after missing the last two games with an illness. Overton has been a key piece of Alabama’s defense the past two seasons with 35 total tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks this year.

The only players ruled out for Alabama are defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman, linebacker Jah-Marien Latham, and defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., who is suspended.

Indiana Injury Report

The Hoosiers have ruled out four players, all on the defensive side of the ball. The biggest loss is star defensive end Stephen Daley, who suffered a devastating season-ending injury after Indiana’s Big Ten Championship win.

Stephen Daley Season-Ending Injury

Indiana’s biggest loss is defensive end Stephen Daley, who suffered a season-ending leg injury while celebrating with fans after the Big Ten Championship Game. The injury came as a shock after Daley played a team-high 57 snaps in Indiana’s 13-10 upset win over Ohio State on December 6.

Daley has been a cornerstone of Indiana’s defense all season. His absence forces the Hoosiers to rely on depth along the defensive line against an Alabama offense that’s now fully healthy.

Indiana also ruled out defensive back Bryson Bonds and defensive end Kellan Wyatt, both of whom have been absent much of the season. Running back Lee Beebe Jr. is also out.

Kicker Brendan Franke Questionable

The biggest question mark for Indiana is starting kicker Brendan Franke. He’s been listed as questionable through the first two availability reports after sitting out the past five games with a lower-body injury.

With Franke out, Indiana has turned to sophomore Nico Radicic. Radicic has been solid, going 15-of-16 on field goals in 13 games this season. If Franke can’t play Thursday, Radicic will handle kicking duties again.

The final availability report will be released 90 minutes before Thursday’s 4 p.m. ET kickoff at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Heavy rain is forecast throughout the area Thursday, which could impact both offenses.