Indiana hosts Michigan in a marquee matchup between an unbeaten powerhouse and a middle-of-the-pack team mired in an identity crisis. In the past, Michigan would be the former and Indiana the latter, but the maize and blue are a far cry from the group that hoisted the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy 11 months ago. So too, are the Hoosiers, who got walloped 52-7 when they traveled to Ann Arbor last year.
Now, things are different. No. 8 Indiana is 9-0 (6-0 Big Ten) for the first time in program history and tied atop the Big Ten standings with No. 1 Oregon. Indiana is searching for its third-ever victory over Michigan. Despite holding a pedestrian 5-4 record (3-3 Big Ten), sitting squarely in the middle of the Big Ten standings and being winless in two road games, the Wolverines pose perhaps the biggest threat yet to Indiana’s undefeated season.
“They’ve got weapons,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said Monday. “I look at them and I see a really good defense and really good special teams. Offensively, they haven’t scored a lot of points, but they can run the ball from 11, 12 and 13 personnel.”
Running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards and quarterback Alex Orji are all averaging over 4.5 yards per carry for Michigan, with Mullings getting slightly more carries and scoring seven of the Wolverines’ 11 touchdowns. He averages 5.7 yards per carry against AP Top 25 teams but was held to just 16 yards on eight carries against Oregon in Michigan’s 38-17 loss to the Ducks on Nov. 2 in Ann Arbor. Mullings has not rushed for more than 50 yards or scored a rushing touchdown since Michigan’s 21-7 loss at No. 22 Illinois on Oct. 19.
As a byproduct of its inconsistent run game, Michigan’s offensive identity is unclear. It has rotated through three starting quarterbacks this season — among them are Orji, who has more rushing yards (227) than passing yards (149) and former Hoosier Jack Tuttle, who medically retired from football after a slew of concussions.
Former walk-on Davis Warren has returned to the starting role for the last three games after throwing three interceptions and being benched for Orji against Arkansas State in mid-September. Despite averaging just 6.5 yards per pass attempt and throwing more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five), Warren poses a threat to opposing defenses.
“He can spin it,” Cignetti said.
Warren is at his best when targeting 2023 First Team All-Big Ten tight end Colston Loveland. One of a select few returning starters from the 2024 National Championship game, Loveland has accounted for 43% of Michigan’s receiving yards this season and racked up a career-high 112 receiving yards versus Oregon.
“When you’ve got size and speed like that, you can create a personnel mismatch,” Cignetti said. “He’s an excellent football player.”
If its dominant win over Michigan State is any indication, Indiana’s defense is poised to make Warren’s afternoon in B-Town a difficult one. The Hoosiers steamrolled Michigan State’s offensive line to the tune of 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks from newly-crowned Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week Mikail Kamara.
Amare Ferrell intercepted Aidan Chiles twice, marking Indiana’s third straight game with multiple interceptions. Indiana is allowing an FBS-best 72.6 rushing yards per game, ranks third with 261 total yards allowed per game and is tied for fourth with 31 sacks.
“On defense, we’re swarming the football,” Cignetti said. “Our pass coverage has been tight. When you fly around good things happen — TFLs, sacks and takeaways.”
Guided by a four-touchdown day from Kurtis Rourke in his return from a thumb injury that kept him sidelined for a week, Indiana’s offense looked like a freight train against Michigan State. If the Hoosiers want to continue their torrid offensive efficiency — a conference-leading 46.6 points per game, second-best rushing offense (191.9 yards per game) and no sacks allowed in back-to-back games — it starts with balance.
“When you put the tape on, you see good players that fly around and play hard,” Cignetti said. “They’re good inside and on the edge. We’ll have a good plan to be balanced on offense, protect the quarterback, and free guys up in the passing game. Then we’ve got to go out and execute it.”
With Indiana tied for 10th nationally in turnover margin (+10), its offense has plenty of opportunities to execute and turn its opponents’ errors into points. An interception and a blocked punt helped the Hoosiers pull away from the Spartans. Cignetti knows it’s the biggest key to success.
“You win championships by having a great defense,” Cignetti said. “We certainly have played good defense the last few weeks. All season long, (we have) been pretty consistent.”
Indiana looks to keep its consistent run of form and improve to 10-0 for the first time ever when it hosts Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on CBS, the IU Sports Radio Network and WIUX Sports.
