Indiana lost to Ohio State last Saturday, yeah, but let’s be real: if Nick Marsh’s foot had been just a few inches over, the Hoosiers would be the undisputed No. 1 team in both polls right now. Seriously, losing to Ohio State matters, of course, but it doesn’t diminish how fantastic this Indiana team still is. They were within a toe-tap of pulling off a thriller, and Buckeye quarterback Julian Sayin is out for weeks, maybe longer. This Saturday in Ann Arbor isn’t just another game, it’s a chance for one of these teams to truly make a statement and do some *big* things in a Big Ten that’s wide open.
Michigan’s Offensive Nightmare Gets a Lifeline
Michigan has been struggling, no two ways about it. They dropped tough games against Iowa and Minnesota, and their offense has been stuck in the mud. The only time they scored more than 19 points, aside from hanging 52 on UTEP (who cares?), was in a tight 21-18 win over Penn State last week. That’s just not gonna cut it when you’re trying to win big games. Their running game, especially, has been a major problem, and guess what? It’s not getting any easier against the fourth-best run defense in America this week. Bryce Underwood, to be nice about it, just wasn’t getting the job done under center. The vibes were off.
The Carr Effect: A New Vibe in Ann Arbor
But then, Tommy Carr stepped in. And listen, could this guy really be the answer? Yes, he’s legendary Lloyd Carr’s grandson, and his brother CJ Carr is at Notre Dame, but this kid is talented. All Carr did last week was hit 5-of-7 passes for 47 yards and punch in a rushing score. That’s a spark, right? There’s a totally new vibe on offense now, and you can feel it. Combine that new energy with a Michigan defense that is, and I can’t stress this enough, absolutely fantastic. They’re fourth in the nation overall, a brick wall against the run, and they’re going to give the Indiana offense a whole slew of problems this weekend. The Wolverine running game still might not get going, but Carr’s presence could keep this thing close until late.
Indiana has proven they can close, coming up big in the fourth quarter against Northwestern and Nebraska. They even beat Michigan 20-15 back in 2024, breaking a 26-game losing streak to the Wolverines that stretched back to 1987. But this Michigan team has Tommy Carr now, and a defense that will make every yard a battle. The Hoosiers have three of their last four games at home, getting Minnesota and USC next. Michigan, on the other hand, has winnable games against Rutgers and Michigan State before hitting a brutal stretch: at Oregon, UCLA, and at Ohio State. The winner of this one truly sets themselves up for something special.
Our pick? Indiana 23, Michigan 16. It’s going to be a must-watch game at 12:00 PM ET on FOX this Saturday, October 24. Don’t miss it.
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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