When Alabama takes the field at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026, against top-seeded Indiana, it will mark the Crimson Tide’s 10th appearance in “The Granddaddy of Them All.” The game represents a remarkable 100-year journey that began in 1926 when Wallace Wade’s squad put Southern football on the national map.
Alabama has also played once at the Rose Bowl Stadium in a game that was not an official Rose Bowl: the 2010 BCS National Championship against Texas.
As Alabama prepares for this milestone 10th Rose Bowl appearance, here’s a complete look back at the nine previous times the Crimson Tide has played in The Rose Bowl.
1926 Rose Bowl: The Game That Changed the South
January 1, 1926 | Alabama 20, Washington 19
Alabama’s first Rose Bowl appearance wasn’t just a game. It was a cultural moment. The undefeated Crimson Tide (10-0), representing the entire South in a post-Civil War era desperate for something to celebrate, traveled west to face Washington (10-1-1). The Huskies jumped to a 12-0 halftime lead, but Alabama exploded for three touchdowns in less than seven minutes in the second half. Johnny Mack Brown caught touchdown passes of 59 and 30 yards, and Pooley Hubert punched in another score. Brown’s open-field tackle of Washington’s George Wilson in the final seconds preserved the 20-19 victory. The win shattered perceptions about Southern football and earned Alabama its first national championship recognition. The game is literally immortalized in the Alabama fight song: “Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.”
1927 Rose Bowl: A New Year’s Tie
January 1, 1927 | Alabama 7, Stanford 7
Wallace Wade brought Alabama back to Pasadena for a second consecutive appearance, this time against Pop Warner’s Stanford squad. The game ended in a 7-7 tie, though Alabama was still recognized as national champion by several selectors for the 1926 season. The tie gave Alabama a 1-0-1 Rose Bowl record and cemented the program’s status as a national power.
1931 Rose Bowl: Wade’s Farewell Victory
January 1, 1931 | Alabama 24, Washington State 0
In Wallace Wade’s final game as Alabama head coach, the Crimson Tide dominated Washington State 24-0 in a complete performance. The shutout victory gave Wade a 2-0-1 Rose Bowl record at Alabama before he departed for Duke. Alabama claimed another national championship for the 1930 season, further establishing the program’s dynasty under Wade’s leadership.
1935 Rose Bowl: Frank Thomas Era Begins
January 1, 1935 | Alabama 29, Stanford 13
Frank Thomas, who took over after Wade, continued Alabama’s Rose Bowl success with a convincing 29-13 victory over Stanford. The game featured Alabama’s potent offense overwhelming the Indians in Pasadena. The win helped Alabama earn recognition as national champions for the 1934 season and proved the program’s excellence would continue under new leadership.
1938 Rose Bowl: The Streak Ends
January 1, 1938 | California 13, Alabama 0
After starting 3-0-1 in Rose Bowl appearances, Alabama finally tasted defeat in Pasadena. California’s defense shut out the Crimson Tide 13-0, ending Alabama’s remarkable Rose Bowl unbeaten streak. It marked Frank Thomas’s only Rose Bowl loss during his tenure and served as a rare setback in what was otherwise a dominant era for the program.
1946 Rose Bowl: Harry Gilmer’s Show
January 1, 1946 | Alabama 34, USC 14
Alabama returned to the Rose Bowl after an eight-year absence and dismantled Southern California 34-14. Quarterback Harry Gilmer put on a spectacular performance, throwing for multiple touchdowns and showcasing the innovative passing attack that made him one of the era’s most exciting players. The victory capped an undefeated season and earned Alabama another national championship.
2010 BCS National Championship (At Rose Bowl Stadium)
January 7, 2010 | Alabama 37, Texas 21
While not an official Rose Bowl game, Alabama returned to the Rose Bowl Stadium after a 64-year absence to play Texas in the BCS National Championship Game. That year’s actual Rose Bowl featured Ohio State defeating Oregon. Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide built a 24-6 halftime lead against Texas and held off a Longhorn rally to win 37-21, capturing Alabama’s first national championship since 1992. The victory launched Alabama’s modern dynasty and Saban’s historic run of championships. Though played at the iconic venue, this championship game is not counted in Alabama’s official Rose Bowl game record.
2021 Rose Bowl: Championship Run in Texas
January 1, 2021 | Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14
The 107th Rose Bowl Game was a College Football Playoff semifinal between top-ranked Alabama and fourth-seeded Notre Dame. Due to surging COVID-19 cases in California and zero ICU capacity in Southern California hospitals, the game was relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This was only the second time in history the Rose Bowl was played outside California (the first being the 1942 game at Duke during World War II). The city of Pasadena officially approved use of the Rose Bowl name for the relocated game. Alabama dominated from start to finish, with Mac Jones throwing for 297 yards and four touchdowns. Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith caught seven passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns, tying the Rose Bowl record. The Crimson Tide went on to defeat Ohio State 52-24 in the national championship game, claiming Saban’s sixth title at Alabama and seventh overall.
2024 Rose Bowl: Overtime Heartbreak
January 1, 2024 | Michigan 27, Alabama 20 (OT)
In one of the most dramatic Rose Bowl games in history, Alabama suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to top-seeded Michigan. The Crimson Tide led 20-13 with 4:41 remaining in regulation, but Michigan drove 75 yards in eight plays to tie the game with 1:34 left. In overtime, Michigan’s Blake Corum scored on a 17-yard touchdown run. Alabama advanced to the Michigan 3-yard line on fourth down, but quarterback Jalen Milroe was stopped at the 2-yard line on a quarterback sneak attempt, ending the game. The loss in Nick Saban’s final game marked the second overtime in the 110-year history of the Rose Bowl and denied Alabama a chance to play for another national championship.
The Rose Bowl Record
Through eight Rose Bowl appearances spanning 100 years, Alabama holds a 5-2-1 record in “The Granddaddy of Them All.” This is the most Rose Bowl victories of any team outside the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences. Only USC (25 wins), Ohio State (8), Michigan (8), Stanford (7), and Washington (7) have more Rose Bowl victories than the Crimson Tide.
As Alabama prepares for its 9th Rose Bowl appearance on New Year’s Day 2026, the program carries a century of tradition into one of college football’s most prestigious venues. Whether the Crimson Tide can add to their Rose Bowl legacy against undefeated Indiana remains to be seen, but the history suggests that when Alabama plays in Pasadena something special usually happens.
The 2026 matchup marks exactly 100 years since that first groundbreaking victory over Washington. It’s a fitting anniversary for a program that has made the Rose Bowl such an integral part of its storied history.
Alabama faces Indiana in the 2026 Rose Bowl on Thursday, January 1, at 4:00 PM ET on ESPN.
