Indiana gets its first chance to answer a loss, and the setup could hardly be more revealing. After the Hoosiers’ unbeaten run ended in a 19-15 defeat to Ohio State, Curt Cignetti’s team now turns right around and faces Michigan in what feels like another severe test. As Cignetti put it Monday, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire," a fitting line for a team going from one heavyweight to the next.
That Ohio State game left Indiana at 6-1, but it also showed just how close this group came to knocking off one of the country’s top teams. The Hoosiers were in the fight all night and had a real chance to leave with the win. Now the question is how they handle the first real dose of adversity this season.
A big reason Indiana has stayed in the thick of the Big Ten race is Josh Hoover’s ball security. He has thrown 18 touchdown passes without an interception through seven games, a massive development for a quarterback who came to Bloomington with a reputation for giveaways from his time at TCU.
Even in the Ohio State loss, Hoover kept Indiana in position to win. His fourth-down throw to Nick Marsh in the end zone should have been the season’s defining play, but Marsh stepped out of bounds and the Hoosiers came up just short.
Michigan’s secondary and Jay Hill’s defensive approach make this a tricky passing matchup, too. The Wolverines have enough on the back end to make life difficult, so Indiana will need patience and discipline rather than forcing throws into trouble.
Charlie Becker remains the top receiving threat, while Marsh gives Hoover another dangerous option Michigan has to respect. If Hoover keeps spreading the ball around and protects it, Indiana should find chances for bigger plays.
The run game gives the Hoosiers another edge. Lee Beebe Jr. has already shown what he can do when the offense needs a lift, including his 203-yard day against Northwestern.
Turbo Richard is the lead back, and together they give Indiana a backfield pairing that can stress defenses in different ways. If that ground attack gets going, it should make Hoover’s job much easier.
Indiana’s clearest advantage, though, comes on the other side of the ball. Michigan’s offense has been a problem for much of the season, and the Wolverines had to make a change at quarterback against Penn State.
Bryce Underwood was benched, Tommy Carr came in during the second half, and the true freshman provided a spark that helped Michigan pull out a 21-18 win. Carr is now expected to make his first career start, and that means his debut will come against one of the nation’s best defenses.
That is not a friendly setup for Michigan. Indiana ranks fourth nationally against the run, while the Wolverines’ rushing attack sits 85th.
If the Hoosiers can slow Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter and Carr on the ground, Michigan will have to lean heavily on a quarterback still getting his feet under him. That’s the kind of picture Cignetti and his staff should be eager to paint.
The Hoosiers’ front has been a force all season, repeatedly giving opposing offensive lines trouble. Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones bring intelligence, anticipation and sure tackling at linebacker, and they add to Indiana’s toughness and athleticism in the middle. The Hoosiers may not need to gamble for quick turnovers; they can simply squeeze the game, force Michigan into long-yardage situations and let the pressure build from there.
Indiana’s showing against Ohio State proved the Hoosiers can stand with elite competition. Michigan is good enough on defense to keep this competitive for a while, and Carr’s mobility adds a wrinkle to the Wolverines’ attack. Even so, Indiana looks like the more complete team.
Expect Michigan to hang around early before Indiana’s balance and defensive control take over in the second half. That should be enough for a bounce-back win for Cignetti’s group.
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 🡒]