Michigan benched quarterback Bryce Underwood during their win against Penn State, replacing him with Tommy Carr, but don’t expect Indiana to be surprised by whatever Michigan throws at them this upcoming week. Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti is straight-up telling everyone he’s ready for literally anything behind center when Indiana visits Michigan.
Carr Steps Up While Michigan’s QB Drama Unfolds
Michigan is playing coy, not naming a starting quarterback for Saturday, but Cignetti isn’t worried. He’s assuming it’ll be Carr, stating, “I’d assume it would be him.” Cignetti even went so far as to suggest, “It could be two quarterbacks on the field at the same time. That would not surprise me. They did that at Utah.” The guy is clearly preparing for all scenarios, and he respects that “the other guy can make plays.” He also noted that “schematically, they didn’t change a whole lot in the second half” after the switch. Carr did well when he came in against Penn State, completing five of seven passes for 47 yards and running for an additional 36 yards with a touchdown. More importantly, Michigan actually scored 21 points with Carr leading the charge, after getting shut out in the first half. He also did not turn over the ball, which is a huge plus, especially since Underwood had two turnovers against Penn State.
Michigan’s Offense: A Statistical Nightmare
Let’s be real, Michigan’s offense has been an absolute mess this year. We’re talking dreadful. They are sitting at a measly 91st in points per game and an even worse 111th in yards per game across the entire nation. The giveaways are a huge problem too, with 1.8 per game, landing them at a dismal 122nd nationally. And get this: they’re one of only seven teams that haven’t even passed for 1,000 yards this season. Even worse? They are the *only* power conference team in that group. When three of the other teams on that list are Air Force, Army, and Navy, who literally run the triple option and barely throw, it’s pretty clear Michigan is in some rough company. That’s not a club you want to be a part of, folks.
Cignetti’s Focus and Indiana’s Big Challenge
Despite dropping a tough 19-15 loss to Ohio State on Saturday, Indiana is still considered a top team in the nation. This upcoming week’s game against Michigan is massive. Cignetti and the Hoosiers need to make sure they don’t fall into the same trap as Alabama and Texas, who both lost a hard-fought game one week only to get beaten again the very next. For Indiana, this isn’t just another road game; it’s a chance to show they can bounce back and avoid a brutal back-to-back slump against a team that is clearly struggling to figure out their quarterback situation.
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.
Leave a Reply