Indiana broke a curse that’s been hanging over them since 1967 yesterday, gutting out a 13-6 overtime victory at Michigan Stadium against the Wolverines. This wasn’t some pretty, highlight-reel game, but it was “gritty as hell,” according to Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti, and it’s a win that’s going to be absolutely massive for the No. 6 Hoosiers later on as it tilts the College Football Playoff and Big Ten title race squarely in their favor.
Hoover’s Gritty, Injury-Riddled Fight Back
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover, battling through right arm and wrist injuries, had a rough start. He was just 7 of 16 for a meager 60 yards by halftime as the Hoosiers held a 6-0 lead on a pair of Nico Radicic field goals. Things didn’t exactly turn around in the second half of regulation either, with Hoover throwing only one pass, which Zeke Berry picked off for Michigan, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Trey Butkowski with just 2:22 left in the fourth quarter. It felt like vintage ’60s football, a real slugfest. Turbo Richard (19 carries, 68 yards) and Lee Beebe Jr. (12 carries, 56 yards) were grinding out tough yards, but the passing game was mostly dormant.
Then came overtime. On the very first play, Hoover found tight end Brock Schott on a deep in route for a clutch 12-yard gain. Then, the injured QB pulled off the game’s only touchdown, scrambling for a 4-yard score that gave Indiana the lead. He finished the day 8 of 18 for 81 yards with that interception, but when it mattered most, Hoover made the kind of clutch plays we saw in their 20-17 win at Nebraska earlier this month. The kid’s got heart, even if the stats don’t jump off the page.
Michigan’s Missed Opportunity and Big Ten Fallout
Michigan’s offense struggled too, with Tommy Carr making his first start since stepping in for Bryce Underwood. Carr went 20 of 32 for 167 yards, but an interception and a fumble in the first half definitely hurt. Still, he almost pulled off the comeback, leading the Wolverines on a potential game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Carr extended a couple of huge third-down plays, hitting Channing Goodwin for 24 yards and JJ Buchanan for 7, but they just couldn’t punch it in for a touchdown. The Wolverines (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) fought, but they couldn’t seal the deal.
This win pushes No. 6 Indiana to a phenomenal 7-1 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten, and seriously shakes up the conference. This “gritty as hell” win, as Coach Cignetti put it, just threw a wrench into the whole Big Ten title race and the College Football Playoff picture. Josh Hoover showed he can be clutch, but everyone knows the TCU transfer will need to step up even more if Indiana wants to keep this national championship push going. That 59-year monkey is finally off their back, and now the real work begins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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