Indiana secured an Indiana Michigan overtime win on Saturday, defeating Michigan 13-6 in Ann Arbor for the program’s first victory at Michigan since 1967. The No. 6 Hoosiers, the defending national champions, needed an extra period to finish off the Wolverines at Michigan Stadium.
How Overtime Unfolded
Regulation ended with the score tied, and Indiana scored the game’s only touchdown in overtime. Quarterback Josh Hoover, playing through an arm and hand injury, found Brock Schott for a completion — Indiana’s first since halftime — before running for a designed touchdown to the right. The Hoosier defense then stopped Michigan, and Tommy Carr threw an incompletion on the final play.
Hoover Grinds Through Injury
Hoover’s outing was far from clean. He threw an interception to Zeke Berry, which Michigan turned into a field goal, and sailed several passes. Indiana completed no passes after halftime until overtime. Still, Hoover delivered when the Hoosiers needed it most, connecting with Schott before his go-ahead run.
Carr's First Start Ends in Defeat
Michigan turned to Tommy Carr at quarterback, and the freshman showed both flashes and growing pains. He finished the first half 9-of-15 for 64 yards and led the Wolverines in rushing at halftime. But Carr forced a pitch on a speed option that Indiana recovered, and later threw into triple coverage, where Amare Farrell intercepted him — Farrell’s third interception in two games. Carr scrambled on fourth down in overtime, but his final pass fell incomplete.
Indiana's Offense Struggles, Defense Delivers
The Hoosiers’ offense never found a rhythm against Michigan’s defense. Indiana rushed 18 times for 78 yards on its first seven possessions, with Lee Beebe Jr. breaking a 17-yard run and Turbo Richard adding a 12-yard gain. Those two carries accounted for 39 yards, but the ground game was otherwise ineffective. Michigan’s defense held steady despite its own offensive issues.
Indiana’s defense, ranked tops in the Big Ten, made the decisive stop in overtime. Michigan managed 224 total yards, including 93 in the first quarter and 131 in the second half. The Wolverines’ offense has been largely ineffective all season, and the change to Carr did not produce a touchdown.
Cignetti: 'Gritty, Not Pretty'
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti described the win as gritty rather than pretty, and said the team will celebrate it. The Hoosiers improved to 8 games into their season, bouncing back from their first loss of the year to Ohio State the previous week.
Playoff and What's Next
Indiana’s playoff hopes depend on the next month. The Hoosiers’ remaining schedule includes Minnesota, USC, a trip to Washington and Purdue. Winning out likely puts Indiana in the College Football Playoff, and even one loss would not be debilitating.
Michigan, coached by Kyle Whittingham with Jason Beck as offensive coordinator, plays Rutgers next week. The quarterback situation remains uncertain going forward after Carr’s uneven debut.
[…] Indiana Ends 57-Year Drought at Michigan with 13-6 Overtime Win […]