Alabama vs Indiana Injury Report: Rose Bowl Updates and Player Opt Outs
By Brady Trettenero in College Football
Published:
- No. 1 Indiana faces No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal on Thursday, January 2
- Both teams released updated injury reports Thursday 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 final injury reports Thursday with key players ruled out ahead of the 4 p.m. ET kickoff in Pasadena.
Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas is a game-time decision after being added to the final report. Indiana will be without kicker Brendan Franke and 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.
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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. The only question mark is tight end Josh Cuevas, who is a game-time decision.
Josh Cuevas Game-Time Decision
Cuevas was added to the final injury report Thursday afternoon as a game-time decision. He wasn’t listed on any earlier reports this week and was seen participating in pregame warmups at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
The senior tight end returned two weeks ago against Oklahoma after missing a month with a broken foot. He caught three passes for 35 yards in Alabama’s 34-24 win, including a crucial 23-yard catch and run that set up the Tide’s first touchdown.
Cuevas has 33 receptions for 376 yards and four touchdowns this season. He’s been a safety valve for quarterback Ty Simpson and an important piece in Alabama’s blocking schemes. If Cuevas can’t play, Alabama will turn to Danny Lewis Jr. and freshmen Kaleb Edwards and Marshall Pritchett.
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.
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 five players, all on the defensive side except for kicker Brendan Franke. 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.
Brendan Franke Ruled Out
Starting kicker Brendan Franke has been ruled out for the Rose Bowl. He was listed as questionable through the first two availability reports before being downgraded to out on the final report Thursday.
Franke has missed the past five games with a lower-body injury. Indiana will turn to sophomore Nico Radicic, who has been solid filling in. Radicic is 15-of-16 on field goals in 13 games this season.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET Thursday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Heavy rain is forecast throughout the area, which could impact both offenses. The game airs on ESPN.
Lead NHL & NCAAF Editor
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.