The Michigan Wolverines couldn’t overcome No. 8 Indiana’s defense in Saturday’s 20-15 loss.
Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw two touchdown passes in the first half to give Indiana a record victory over old foe Michigan on Saturday.
Rourke was 17 of 28 with 206 yards as the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten), college football’s losingest program, defeated college football’s winningest program, Michigan, for the second time since 1988 and the first 10 achieved victory. season in Indiana history.
The Wolverines (5-5, 3-4) posted their lowest point total in this series since a 14-10 loss to Indiana in 1987. Davis Warren was 16 of 32 with 137 yards through the air, but Michigan rushed to just 69 yards. .
Indiana took control when Rourke connected with Omar Cooper Jr. late in the first quarter. on a 7-yard TD pass and then followed that score with a 36-yard TD pass to Elijah Sarratt early in the second quarter to make it 14-3.
The Hoosiers added a 40-yard field goal late in the first half and Michigan added two second-half field goals — a 22-yarder after picking off Rourke at the Indiana 7-yard line and a 56-yarder that broke the deficit down to 17. -9 late in the third quarter. It was Dominic Zvada’s fifth field goal of 50 yards or more this season.
Michigan had a chance to tie the score after Kalel Mullings converted a fourth-and-goal into a 1-yard scoring dive with 9:35 to go, but Warren’s 2-point conversion trickled through the hands of a defender and from the back of the end zone. . Michigan had another chance after an Indiana field goal, but the Wolverines turned the ball over on downs at their 42-yard line.
Michigan: The Wolverines’ offensive woes continued Saturday — and it cost them. The defense was excellent, especially in the second half. But until Michigan scores TDs consistently, this will only be an average team.
Indiana: Coach Curt Cignetti’s team added another chapter to their magical season and unlike the last win over Michigan, in 2020, they celebrated with a sold-out crowd. It kept Indiana’s Big Ten title hopes — and playoff chances — alive.
Michigan receiver CJ Charleston was carted off the field in the first half with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. He later returned to the Wolverines sideline.
The Hoosiers also lost receiver Myles Price in the first half. He immediately went to the locker room after taking a hard hit near the goal line. Indiana running back Justice Ellison also left the game shortly after his head bounced hard off the turf and Hoosiers cornerback Jamier Johnson was ejected for targeting late in the first half.
Michigan will look to become bowl eligible when they return from a bye by hosting Northwestern on Nov. 23.
