5 thoughts on Indiana football’s 13-6 win over Michigan

Indiana football moved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play on Saturday afternoon with a nailbiter of a 13-6 win over Michigan in overtime.

It was the Hoosiers' first win over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor since the 1967 season, the program's first ever Rose Bowl appearance. There were plenty of concerning points, particularly on offense, but a few things to feel good about.

There's a lot being said about Josh Hoover right now and the reality is this: he wasn't good enough today. He also wasn't 100% today.

Hoover still looks like a guy recovering from the apparent shoulder injury he suffered against Ohio State last week. He completed just eight of his 18 attempts through the air on the afternoon as Indiana struggled to get the passing game going.

He made the play when it mattered though, finding Brock Schott in overtime for a deep connection before running the ball in himself to score the only touchdown between either team on the game.

There's going to be more to say about Hoover soon, but for now it's probably worth cooling off a tad.

Indiana's running game struggled mightily against both of Nebraska and Ohio State coming into this game. There was plenty to worry about between Indiana's offensive line not getting enough push through the middle and how that could affect the passing game.

It wasn't quite a get right game, the Hoosiers were still below the standard established earlier this season, but you'll take 3.7 yards per carry as a team after the last two weeks.

Both Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. managed rushes of over 10 yards, with the latter going for a strong 4.7 yards per carry. The offense needs to keep that production going on the ground in the coming weeks with Minnesota looming before a bye week.

The defense will keep Indiana in every game

Bryant Haines' unit has been the difference between this team and a worse record for the most part, limiting opposing offenses for several quarters as that of Indiana figures itself out in winning time. That deserves a ton of praise.

There were low moments, like Stephen Daley jumping over the line to give a Michigan drive life, but Indiana's playing as well as any team on that side of the ball right now.

Indiana, through two and a half seasons under Curt Cignetti, has made the big plays in the biggest moments far more often than it hasn't.

Coming off of perhaps the most notable instance when it hasn't, Indiana's offense responded in a major way in overtime between the deep pass to Schott and Hoover using his legs to get into the endzone. That's not even mentioning all the work the defense did in the shadow of its own goal to keep Michigan from taking the lead this afternoon.

That was a hallmark of last year's team and it's just part of this program's DNA. "Never Daunted" is more than just a saying to these guys.

Between Hoover's health and a need to get back into a groove offensively, Indiana is in dire need of the bye week.

Unfortunately for Indiana, Minnesota sits between it and said bye week. The Hoosiers have to get through the Golden Gophers to get some much-needed rest. That's gonna be eight straight games, truly Indiana's pretty fortunate to not be more banged up than it already is.

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