Indiana heads to Ann Arbor this week looking for a reset after its 19-15 loss to Ohio State in Week 7 ended the Hoosiers’ historic 22-game winning streak. The defeat still offered a few bright spots, though, and it also exposed some trouble spots that could matter again against Michigan.
One of the biggest positives came on the back end of the defense, where Amare Ferrell turned in a difference-making night. The Indiana safety intercepted Julian Sayin twice, marking the second multi-interception game of his career.
The first came on November 2, 2024 against Michigan State. Ferrell also added key pass break-ups against Jeremiah Smith, helping keep Indiana within striking distance while the offense struggled to finish drives.
That secondary will need to be sharp again, even if Michigan’s passing game has been one of the least productive in the country this season. Tommy Carr gives the Wolverines a different look, and Indiana can’t assume Saturday will play out like the numbers suggest.
Charlie Becker also came out of the Ohio State game with his stock trending up. He was at his best, finishing with a season-high 9 catches and a season-high 165 yards.
On the year, Becker now has 39 receptions for 694 yards, both of which already top his totals from all of last season. He’s also up to 8 touchdown catches, doubling his touchdown total from a year ago.
Becker and Nick Marsh have emerged as one of the best WR duos in all of college football. If Indiana is going to push for another national title, Becker looks like a central piece of that run.
Not everything is humming, though. The run game has hit a wall.
Indiana was nearly unstoppable on the ground through its first four games, but the last two weeks have been a different story entirely. The Hoosiers produced just 65 rushing yards against Nebraska, then followed that with 70 yards and a season-low 2.5 yards per carry against Ohio State.
The problems have been fairly clear: the offensive line hasn’t opened clean lanes, and neither Turbo Richard nor Lee Beebe Jr. has found much room to work with lately. Khobie Martin is expected back on Saturday against Michigan, which could provide some help, but Indiana still has plenty to clean up. That challenge gets tougher against a stout Michigan rushing defense.
Nico Radicic also finds himself in the down category after a rough night against the Buckeyes. Indiana’s kicker missed two field goals, including a 32-yarder in the 2nd quarter that hit the left upright and a 55-yarder in the 3rd quarter that fell short. Both misses carried real weight in the Hoosiers’ 19-15 loss.
Radicic has now missed four kicks this season, with three field goals and one extra point among them. He was one of the top kickers in the country last season, but he has not looked like himself so far this year. A back injury earlier this season forced him to miss two games, and whether that’s still affecting him or not, Indiana needs him back on track quickly.
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 🡒]
Indianas Title Path Just Changed After Ohio States Latest Blow
Ohio States win over Indiana left the Big Ten race and the national picture in a tighter place than before, but the Buckeyes victory came at a cost that could ripple far beyond one Saturday afternoon. Julian Sayins throwing shoulder injury has already pushed him out indefinitely, and with both teams sitting at 6-1, the result did more than add another quality loss to Indianas ledger. It also shifted the conversation around who can actually survive the grind into December.
For Indiana, the path is still there, and it may even be cleaner than Ohio States from here. The Hoosiers remaining schedule looks more manageable than the Buckeyes tougher closing stretch, which is exactly why the odds have started to move after Sayins injury. Indiana no longer controls a perfect track to the top, but it does still have a route to stay in the national championship chase if it keeps handling its business in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]