Indiana doesn’t get to coast into Saturday. After its first loss of the season, Curt Cignetti’s team has to answer a different kind of question now: how quickly can it reset against Michigan?
The Hoosiers are 6-1 after that 19-15 heartbreaker against Ohio State, and the larger picture still looks strong. They’ve been one of the country’s best teams all year, but the trip to Michigan brings a fresh set of pressure points.
The Wolverines are coming off a 21-18 win over Penn State that included a quarterback change, and they’ll be feeling pretty good about themselves at home. For Indiana, this game is about proving the Ohio State result didn’t knock it off course.
One of the biggest areas to watch is the ground game. Indiana has built a balanced offense, and Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard have been central to that.
Beebe’s 203-yard eruption against Northwestern showed exactly what he can do when the running game gets rolling, while Richard has been just as dangerous in his own way. Richard is No. 3 in the Big Ten in rushing yards, with Beebe sitting at No.
- Michigan’s defense, though, is a different animal.
Jay Hill’s group has the size, athleticism and physicality to make life miserable for any run game. Indiana doesn’t need a monster day from either back, but it does need enough stability on the ground to keep the Wolverines honest and open things up for Josh Hoover and the receivers.
Hoover’s decision-making is another major storyline. He has 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions, and that ball security has been a huge part of Indiana’s success.
Michigan’s defense can disguise coverages, bring pressure and make quarterbacks rush throws, so Hoover’s patience will matter. Indiana doesn’t need him pressing for big plays.
If he keeps distributing the ball cleanly and stays away from risky throws, the Hoosiers should be in good shape to run their offense the way they want.
The passing game also has the chance to tilt this matchup fast if Charlie Becker or Nick Marsh breaks loose. Marsh has already put together several huge outings, including six catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska.
He was also in the middle of the final painful sequence against Ohio State, catching what could have been the winning touchdown before stepping out of bounds. Being from Detroit gives him another layer of motivation here.
Becker, meanwhile, is the kind of field-stretching threat defenses can’t ignore, and his eight receiving touchdowns show how dangerous he’s been. Michigan’s secondary is experienced, but Indiana may only need a few explosive plays to change the whole feel of the game.
Then there’s the matchup that may define everything: Indiana’s defense against freshman quarterback Tommy Carr. Carr took over for Bryce Underwood at halftime against Penn State and helped fuel Michigan’s comeback win, but starting his first career game against this Hoosiers defense is a much steeper task.
Indiana is No. 4 nationally against the run, and its front can make life miserable for inexperienced quarterbacks. Mario Landino, Tyrique Tucker, Tobi Osunsanmi and Stephen Daley all have the chance to make Carr uncomfortable, while Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones can add more heat from the second level.
If Indiana forces Michigan into long-yardage situations, takeaways should follow. The Wolverines have had trouble in the turnover battle all season, and that’s a dangerous place to be against this defense.
Two or three giveaways could swing the game hard in Indiana’s favor.
Finally, the bigger emotional question: how does Indiana respond to its first defeat? The Ohio State loss stung because the Hoosiers had a chance to win it late.
Still, that doesn’t erase the toughness and discipline they showed while going 6-0, especially in the road win over Nebraska. Now they have to show they can put disappointment behind them and get back to their standard immediately.
Cignetti has built this program on accountability and consistency, and Saturday is another chance to prove that those traits hold up even after a setback. A strong showing against Michigan would say plenty about where Indiana still stands.
In Other News...
Ryan Day Is Still Complaining About How Indiana Defended Jeremiah Smith
Curt Cignetti had plenty to point to after Indianas narrow loss to Ohio State, especially the way the Hoosiers handled Jeremiah Smith. On his weekly radio show, Cignetti credited the defensive plan for keeping the standout receiver in check, noting the mix of double teams and pressure on the quarterback that helped limit Smith to a season-low 68 yards.
Ryan Day, for his part, acknowledged the challenge Indiana presented but still came away sounding irritated by the way the game was officiated. On his own weekly radio show after Ohio States 19-15 win over Indiana, Day said he felt Smith was impacted by uncalled penalties, adding another layer to a game that already drew plenty of attention for how the Hoosiers defended one of college footballs most dangerous targets. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Offense Faces A Huge Opening In Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is shaping up as one of those early-season tests where both offenses arrive with more questions than answers, and Indiana has a real chance to make the matchup uncomfortable. The Hoosiers have leaned on quarterback Josh Hoover and receiver Charlie Becker to keep their attack moving, while Michigan is turning to true freshman Tommy Carr after making a change at quarterback, a reminder that neither side is settled heading into this one.
For Indiana, the opening may be there if it can exploit the Wolverines uncertainty while also finding a little more balance of its own. Both teams have had issues getting their rushing and passing games where they want them, so the margin could come down to which defense holds up better, with Isaiah Jones anchoring Indiana and Troy Bowles leading Michigan. The setup leaves plenty of room for one side to seize control early, and plenty of reason to think this one could turn on a small handful of plays. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Has Two Growing Concerns Before Michigan
Indianas unbeaten run is gone, but the bigger issue coming out of the Ohio State loss was how uneven the Hoosiers looked in the areas that usually travel well in November. There were bright spots to point to, especially Amare Ferrells interceptions on defense and Charlie Beckers production in the passing game, yet the overall picture still left the kind of questions that tend to linger when a top team takes a hit.
The running game never quite found enough traction, and that matters even more with Michigan next on the schedule. So does the kicking situation, after Nico Radicic missed field goals in the loss. Indiana has enough good tape to keep confidence intact, but the Hoosiers also have a couple of clear fixes to sort out before the next test arrives. [Read more 🡒]