No. 6 Indiana heads to Michigan on Saturday trying to shake off a rare stumble and avoid turning one loss into two.
That’s the challenge now for the Hoosiers, who fell 19-15 to Ohio State last weekend and suddenly have to regroup for another Big Ten test in Ann Arbor, Mich. Curt Cignetti didn’t sugarcoat the setup.
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire as we get ready for Michigan," said Indiana coach Curt Cignetti.
Indiana is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, but the Buckeyes handed it its first regular-season loss since Nov. 23, 2024.
The finish was painful, too. The Hoosiers could have flipped the result if wide receiver Nick Marsh’s first step had not been out of bounds on a would-be touchdown catch from Josh Hoover with 1:02 left.
Cignetti’s read after the game was blunt.
"We fell short, plain and simple," Cignetti said. "Gave great effort and had our opportunities, for sure.
In some ways, we beat ourselves - which is uncharacteristic of this football team. But I certainly think we proved we're capable.
We just have to clean up a couple areas and use this setback to learn and grow, come back stronger and better."
What stands out most from the last two weeks is how much Indiana’s run game has been squeezed. Against Ohio State, the Hoosiers finished with 73 rushing yards on 29 attempts, good for 2.5 yards per carry, and their longest run went for just eight yards. The week before at Nebraska, they managed 65 yards on 22 carries, with Josh Hoover’s 16-yard scramble serving as the longest rush.
Michigan presents another tough matchup in that department. The Wolverines bring the nation’s No. 13 run defense into the game, sitting ahead of Ohio State and Nebraska in that category. They allow 89.7 yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry.
"It all starts up front," Cignetti said. "We all want more consistent production and explosive plays. We haven't gotten any explosive plays the last two weeks in the run game."
Michigan, meanwhile, is riding a second-half spark from last week’s win over Penn State. After halftime with the Wolverines trailing 3-0, Kyle Whittingham turned to freshman Tommy Carr for the second half, and the move paid off in a 21-18 comeback victory.
Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, helped lead three second-half touchdowns. He wasn’t asked to do much through the air, finishing 5 of 7 for 47 yards, but he protected the ball and added a key rushing touchdown with 2:58 remaining.
"Tommy is a very good runner," said Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham. "He's deceptively fast. ...All his testing numbers really tell you how quick and fast and explosive he is, but he doesn't look like it because he's so smooth."
Whittingham wouldn’t say Monday whether Bryce Underwood or Carr will start against Indiana, though the recent trend points toward a change. Underwood has thrown five interceptions and two touchdowns over his last 10 quarters, a stretch that included losses to Iowa and Minnesota.
"Well, we saw good stuff out of Tommy in the second half and we know exactly what we're doing and the plan going forward," Whittingham said. "We're not going to tip our hand to the opponent, but we have a good plan in place. And that's about all I can say about that right now."
In Other News...
Bryce Underwood Just Put Michigans Quarterback Future On Edge
Bryce Underwoods status has suddenly become one of the biggest talking points around Michigan, after the Wolverines made the move to bench him in favor of Tommy Carr for the upcoming game. Underwood arrived with enormous expectations and an NIL package reportedly worth more than $10 million, so any shift in his role carries immediate weight for the programs short- and long-term plans.
Underwood has not been confirmed as a portal entrant, but the possibility is enough to send the speculation machine into overdrive given how heavily Michigan invested in him. If he does decide to move on, familiar recruiting ties and roster needs would make places like LSU, Miami, Texas Tech, Georgia, and Kentucky worth watching closely, which is exactly why this situation feels so sensitive for a Wolverines team trying to protect its quarterback future. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Offense Just Took A Turn Fans Need To Watch
Michigans offense got a fresh jolt on Sunday when the coaching staff settled on Tommy Carr as the starting quarterback, a move confirmed by sources and noticed by other coaches around the program. It gives the Wolverines a clearer direction under center at a time when every bit of stability matters, and it comes alongside a few other roster developments that could shape how the offense looks moving forward.
Jeremiah Earby, the former Boise State cornerback, is now officially on the Michigan roster and eligible to play right away, adding another experienced piece to the secondary. The future also got a little brighter when three-star receiver Yuto Kawamura-Johnson flipped his commitment from Toledo to Michigan for the 2027 class, a reminder that the staff is still working to build depth even as the focus shifts to the present. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Just Got A Tough New Bryce Underwood Reality
The quarterback conversation around Michigan has taken another turn, and it comes with a familiar name weighing in. Urban Meyer said on Outkick that Tommy Carr has positioned himself to be the starting quarterback over Bryce Underwood, pointing to Carrs performance and the way his game fits a similar offensive style. It is the kind of evaluation that keeps the focus on fit as much as talent, especially with a player like Underwood already drawing attention.
Meyer also made it clear this is not a knock on Underwoods ability. He described the young quarterback as talented and engaged, while noting that his role in the offense still has to be sorted out. Meyer added that he stays in regular contact with Kyle Whittingham, a detail that only adds to the sense that this is a developing situation rather than a settled one. [Read more 🡒]