Michigan sat out Week 6, but the Big Ten didn’t exactly sit still. A handful of results across the league shifted the picture in ways that matter for the Wolverines, especially with conference opponents still waiting on the schedule.
The cleanest takeaway came from Iowa, which answered its ugly 17-point loss to Ohio State by flattening Washington on the ground. Kamari Moulton was a problem the Huskies never solved, especially when they tried to bring him down with arm tackles.
Kamari Moulton takes it 56-yards to the house 🔥 @HawkeyeFootballWatch on FOX pic.twitter.com/B9BC1uLWZQ
The game also turned into a showcase for backup quarterbacks. Jeremy Hecklinski, filling in for the injured Hank Brown, looked comfortable enough to throw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Washington had its own quarterback issue, as Demond Williams Jr. left in the first half and never came back.
For Michigan, the important part is simple: the Wolverines don’t play either team again. But their Week 4 loss to Iowa at least looks a little less brutal now. It was still an ugly finish, but the Hawkeyes didn’t go out and make that defeat look even worse by collapsing afterward.
Another result that should matter in Ann Arbor came in Indiana’s win over Nebraska. For most of the afternoon, the Cornhuskers looked like they might pull off the upset against the defending national champions. They scored on the opening drive, then hung around until the final seven minutes, when Nick Marsh caught the second of his long touchdown receptions to put the Hoosiers in front.
THE HOOSIERS HAVE THE LEAD IN THE 4TH!Hoover finds Nick Marsh for six! @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/0Owzu06spV
By the end, Nebraska had nothing left. Its last four possessions ended with a punt, a turnover on downs, or a desperate lateral-heavy series that never reached the end zone.
From Michigan’s perspective, Indiana’s defense still looks suspect, particularly against mobile quarterbacks. Whether Bryce Underwood stays at the controls long enough to face the Hoosiers in two weeks remains to be seen, but he has the tools to stress them in the same way Nebraska did.
Oregon also handed Michigan plenty to think about, and not in a good way for the Ducks. In place of the concussed Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola got the start and struggled badly.
He threw two interceptions, lost another possession on a fumble, and was benched by Dan Lanning in the fourth quarter. Brock Thomas then got a shot to spark a comeback, and it nearly happened.
Evan Stewart makes it a one-score game 👀 @oregonfootballWatch on CBS pic.twitter.com/6cTEQPJDLE
UCLA, though, controlled the game where it mattered. The Bruins held Oregon to 73 rushing yards and forced seven turnovers in all.
That result has obvious implications for Michigan’s upcoming stretch. The Wolverines face both teams next month, and UCLA’s win in Eugene makes the Bruins look even more dangerous heading into Ann Arbor on Nov.
- As for Oregon, the game laid bare how much the offense can lose without Moore, whose return timetable is still unclear.
If he’s still out when Michigan gets Oregon on Nov. 14, the Wolverines could catch a major break.
In Other News...
Khobie Martin Could Solve An Indiana Backfield Problem Soon
Indianas backfield has been pieced together for much of the early season, and Khobie Martins absence has been a big part of that. The running back suffered multiple breaks in his right forearm in the first quarter of the season opener, and Indiana had initially expected him back around midseason. Since then, the Hoosiers have had to shuffle bodies to get through the position, including moving freshman linebacker Henry Ohlinger into the running back room because of the injuries.
Curt Cignettis latest update offered a more encouraging picture, with Martin now nearing a return to action. For a position group that has been stretched thin, getting closer to full strength matters, especially as Indiana tries to stabilize its rotation and regain some depth. Martins comeback would not solve everything at once, but it would give the Hoosiers a much-needed option in a spot that has been under pressure since opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Biggest Ohio State Concern Just Became Hard To Ignore
Curt Cignetti had plenty to sort through after Indianas road win at Nebraska, and much of the conversation quickly turned to what comes next. The Hoosiers escaped Lincoln with a victory, but Cignetti pointed out the kinds of issues that tend to matter even more against a team like Ohio State, from missed defensive assignments to a running game that never really got comfortable because of the game conditions and Nebraskas defense.
The focus now shifts to a matchup that demands cleaner football, and Cignetti did not shy away from noting the scale of the challenge. He singled out Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith as an exceptional player, a reminder that Indianas margin for error is going to be thin when the nation's elite show up on the schedule. The Hoosiers have reason to feel good about the win they just earned, but they also know the next test will expose every lapse that was manageable a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana May Have Found An Early Frontcourt Strength Fans Will Notice
Indianas preseason exhibition at Hinkle Fieldhouse offered an early look at a roster still taking shape, and the most encouraging signs may have come from the interior. In a 96-68 win over Butler, Markus Burton, Samet Yigitoglu and Darren Harris each finished with 13 points, but the frontcourt also gave the Hoosiers a stable foundation with Aiden Sherrell pulling down a team-high nine rebounds.
Sherrells activity around the glass and the way he and Yigitoglu worked together inside stood out as Indiana tried to establish some early balance. Trevor Manhertz also played a useful role in the rotation, giving the Hoosiers another option as they sort through the best combinations up front. [Read more 🡒]