ESPN to Air Rose Bowl (Indiana vs. Alabama) In 4K; Latest Odds, TV Providers
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!
ESPN today (January 1, 2026) will air the Rose Bowl matchup between ninth ranked Alabama and top ranked Indiana in upscaled 4K. The sports network will simulcast the broadcast in HD on the regular ESPN channel.
Who Will the Winner Play Next?
The game, which will kickoff at 4 p.m. ET, will be part of college football’s second round championship playoff (CFP). The Rose Bowl winner will advance to round three and play in the Peach Bowl on January 9 against the winner of the Orange Bowl contest between Oregon-Texas Tech on January 1.
Who’s Expected to Win the Alabama-Indiana Game?
ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Indiana a 71.4 percent chance of winning while the latest odds make Indiana a 7.5-point favorite.
Which TV Providers Will Offer the Game In 4K?
YouTube TV, Dish, Sling TV, DIRECTV, Comcast’s Xfinity TV, Optimum, Charter’s Spectrum TV (on compatible streaming devices) and Verizon are expected to offer the game on their ESPN 4K channels. ESPN does not offer 4K programming on its new Unlimited app.
What Is Upscaled 4K?
The ESPN 4K broadcast will be ‘upscaled’ from 1080p HD. The upscaled 4K means that the game will be produced in 1080p HD on site and upgraded to 4K for the home transmission. ESPN switched to upscaled 4K a few years ago after previously doing some games in native 4K, which is a 4K production on site transmitted to the home in 4K as well.
Will ESPN Ever Do Native 4K Again?
It’s unlikely that ESPN will revert back to native 4K in the foreseeable future; the industry trend now is upscaling 4K because it saves money.
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Peacock is touting their Ravens/Packers game is 4K or is it upscaled?
It looks fantastic streaming seems to look better than broadcast.
Every time I asked NBC PR, they say 1080p HD, but the naked eye says 4K, doesn’t it?