BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 8 Indiana has won 10 games for the first time ever after holding off a rally from Michigan and earning a 20-15 victory on Saturday.
It’s only the second time the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) have beaten the Wolverines (5-5, 3-4) since 1987, joining the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Indiana survived despite posting a paltry 18 total yards in the second half after leading 17-3 at halftime. The Hoosiers entered the day ranked second in the FBS in scoring offense and had won every game by at least 14 points. This time, they survived in the second half with just a 41-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic, followed by a fourth-down stop on Michigan’s final possession with 1:35 left.
JUST. SHORT. Indiana with a HUGE stop. pic.twitter.com/OfNjHDBAha
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 10, 2024
Michigan, which won the national title last year, has now lost four of its past five games and needs to beat either Northwestern or Ohio State to qualify for a bowl game, while Indiana appears destined for an unlikely Cinderella run to the first 12-team College Football Playoff under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti.
Indiana is close to a Playoff lock, even if it doesn’t feel like it
The selection committee’s ranking of Indiana on Tuesday will be interesting, given that the Hoosiers’ “game control” is no longer a consistent and dominant characteristic.
But considering Indiana’s last game is at home against Big Ten doormat Purdue, this team is essentially a lock for the College Football Playoff. It just has to avoid that unthinkable rivalry upset. A win there means Indiana is 11-1 at worst, and 11-1 gets into the 12-team Playoff this year — even if Ohio State beats Indiana 63-3 or something on Nov. 23. Which is unlikely, even in the wake of this mortal performance.
Before kickoff Saturday, Indiana had an 86 percent chance to make the Playoff, according to The Athletic’s model. Once the Hoosiers pick through the film of this one, they have a weekend off to perhaps briefly enjoy an incredible season to date, which now features a rare win over the Wolverines. — Rexrode
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Resilience not enough for struggling Wolverines
It wasn’t clear how much fight Michigan would have left after losing 38-17 to No. 1 Oregon a week ago. To their credit, the Wolverines didn’t fold when they fell behind and had the No. 8 team on the ropes for much of the second half.
The outcome was equal parts encouraging and frustrating, as Michigan had chances to win but wasn’t able to finish the job. Settling for a field goal after Zeke Berry’s interception gave Michigan the ball at the 7-yard line was costly. As well as Michigan’s defense played, the offense managed just 206 yards and struggled with many of the same issues that have shown up all season. Davis Warren averaged only 4.6 yards per pass attempt in completing 16 of 32 for just 137 yards, and Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings — who scored the team’s only touchdown on a fourth down in the fourth quarter — both averaged just three yards per carry.
The Wolverines made this game much more interesting than it could have been, but Michigan is still a 5-5 football team that missed a chance for its best win of the season. — Meek
THE BALL IS OUT ‼️@IndianaFootball forces the fumble off this big hit on Alex Orji 😤#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/9lbRr8RzmA
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 9, 2024
Indiana’s offense sputtered for the first time
Indiana scored at least 31 points in every game during its 9-0 start and averaged 7.15 yards per play, which ranked fifth in the FBS. The Hoosiers jumped out to a 17-3 lead and appeared to be on their way to another comfortable win. But from that point forward, Michigan put the clamps on Indiana and became the first team all season to contain the Hoosiers’ offense.
Credit Michigan’s talented defense, of course, while acknowledging that the most talented Wolverine, cornerback and destined high draft pick Will Johnson, did not play. Also, worry just a bit about an Indiana offense that has been so good, the Hoosiers came in outscoring FBS opponents by 27.8 points per game.
Against the Wolverines, the Hoosiers came in more than seven points under their average margin — let alone their scoring average of 46.6 points per game. After racing to a 17-3 lead, the Hoosiers didn’t score again until 2:34 remained in the game. Michigan gradually won more up front and Kurtis Rourke’s comfort level plummeted. He was sacked four times and intercepted once.
IU had minus-6 yards of offense in the second half before a 22-yard Ke’Shawn Williams punt return set the Hoosiers up at the Michigan 39 for a field goal and the final margin of victory. Indiana’s inability to move the ball opened the door for Michigan to get back in the game, but Michigan wasn’t able to take full advantage.
This story will be updated.
(Photo of Omar Cooper Jr.: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
