Overton Cleared for Rose Bowl Clash with Indiana
PASADENA, Calif. – As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepares for the grand stage of the Rose Bowl, they have received arguably their most critical reinforcement of the postseason. LT Overton, the senior “Bandit” who has been a disruptive force on the defensive edge, has been cleared to return to action on New Year’s Day. For a defense tasked with slowing down the nation’s most explosive player, the timing could not be more perfect.
Overton’s status had been shrouded in mystery for weeks. After missing the SEC Championship Game and the playoff opener against Oklahoma due to an undisclosed health issue, speculation swirled regarding his availability. That speculation ended with a single, defiant declaration from the man himself. Hours before reports confirmed his clearance, Overton took to social media with a simple message: “Back like I never left.”
While Head Coach Kalen DeBoer had played his cards close to the vest—noting only that they were “continuing to evaluate him”—the plan is now for Overton to suit up against No. 1 Indiana. His return restores a key piece of Alabama’s identity. Since transferring from Texas A&M and opting to return for a final season rather than entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Overton has been a steadying presence, racking up 35 tackles and four sacks in the regular season.
Overton’s return isn’t just a morale boost; it is a tactical necessity. The Crimson Tide (11-3) managed to terrorize Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer with five sacks in his absence, but the challenge awaiting them in Pasadena is of a different caliber.
Indiana arrives in California with a pristine 13-0 record, led by 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers’ offense is a high-octane machine, and disrupting Mendoza’s rhythm will be the primary directive for Alabama’s front. Re-inserting Overton into the lineup gives the Tide the depth and rotational power needed to keep the pressure high for four quarters against an elite passing attack.
“Back like I never left.” – LT Overton
Overton’s brevity speaks volumes. After watching from the sidelines as his team lost the SEC title and then rebounded in the playoffs, his eagerness to re-enter the fray signals a defense that is becoming whole at the exact moment the margin for error disappears.
History will be made on New Year’s Day as Alabama and Indiana meet on the gridiron for the first time. The stakes are simple yet immense: the victor secures a trip to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, returning to the very city where Alabama’s conference title hopes were dashed earlier this month. With Overton back on the edge, the Tide hopes to turn the Rose Bowl into a launching pad for redemption in Georgia.
