Indiana Michigan overtime Josh Hoover Curt Cignetti will be remembered as the combination that produced a 13-6 road victory on Saturday, sealed when the Hoosiers’ defense stopped Michigan on fourth down at the Indiana 13-yard line. The game’s only touchdown came in overtime, when Hoover found Brock Schott for 21 yards and then ran 4 yards on the next play.
A Quarterback Decision That Nearly Changed
Cignetti acknowledged that his staff discussed replacing Hoover with backup Grant Wilson during the second half. Wilson, he said, had a good week of practice and is big, strong and capable of running. But the staff chose to finish the season with Hoover, who was not at full strength after an apparent injury in the previous game against Ohio State.
Hoover’s final line reflected the difficulty of the afternoon: 8 completions on 18 attempts for 81 yards, with one interception. That interception, his first of the season, came in the third quarter when Michigan defensive back Zeke Berry picked him off. Michigan turned the takeaway into a field goal, cutting into what had been a 6-0 Indiana lead.
Indiana's Passing Game Went Quiet After Halftime
After halftime, Indiana attempted only two passes. The first was intercepted. Hoover did not complete a pass in the second half of regulation. The second attempt came on the first snap of overtime, and it worked: a 21-yard completion to Schott that set up Hoover’s 4-yard scoring run one play later.
That sequence made the difference in a game where Indiana’s offense otherwise struggled. The Hoosiers leaned on their defense, which held Michigan to a field goal after the interception and then made the final stop on fourth down. Tommy Carr’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete at the Indiana 13, ending the Wolverines’ last chance.
Why Cignetti Stayed With Hoover
Cignetti said the staff felt it was Hoover’s season and chose to finish with him. He noted that Hoover responded and will improve physically. The coach did not specify the exact nature or severity of the injury, leaving open whether Hoover will be fully healthy for next week’s game against Minnesota.
Michigan, meanwhile, started Tommy Carr over freshman Bryce Underwood. Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 167 yards with one interception and one lost fumble. Those turnovers helped limit the Wolverines, who managed only a field goal after Berry’s interception.
A Long-Awaited Win in Ann Arbor
The victory was Indiana’s first at Michigan Stadium since 1967. It also allowed the Hoosiers to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time under Cignetti. Indiana, the defending national champion, hosts Minnesota next week.
