IU traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to take on No. 3 Michigan, which was looking to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a win, while the Hoosiers were searching for their sixth, bowl-clinching victory.
Both teams found themselves in a defensive battle, as two of the best defenses in the Big Ten kept the respective offenses scoreless through one quarter.
The Hoosiers recorded 26 first-quarter yards while Michigan consistently entered IU territory with no success in terms of scoring.
Mid-way through the second quarter, Michigan earned favorable field position on a partially blocked punt by IU. From the IU 44-yard line, Michigan converted a 4th-and-2 with a 26-yard run by running back DeVeon Smith and failed a 3rd-and-9 with an attempted trick play with Jabrill Peppers.
The Wolverines kicked a 28-yard field goal to break the scoreless tie, 3-0.
After allowing the field goal, IU took over at its own 25-yard line. Thanks to a 31-yard pass to sophomore Luke Timian and a redzone catch by senior Ricky Jones. Junior running back Camion Patrick ran the ball in from two yards out to give the Hoosiers the lead, 7-3, with 4:19 to play in the first half.
The first half would end with a low-scoring tally of 7-3, as the Hoosiers did not allow a touchdown through two quarters.
On its second half opening drive, Michigan capitalized on a short punt once again and drove 26 yards on nine plays before stalling. Kicker Kenny Allen hit another short field goal to pull within one point of IU, 7-6.
IU answered Michigan’s field goal with a field goal of its own after sophomore Nick Westbrook caught a deep, 37-yard pass over Michigan cornerback Channing Stribly. The Hoosiers’ drive stalled inside the 10-yard line, and junior Griffin Oakes hit the 24-yard field goal to maintain the lead, 10-6.
It didn’t take long for Michigan to respond though, as quarterback John O’Korn and Smith broke open two long runs that combined for 64 yards on back-to-back plays. Smith’s 34-yard run scored a touchdown, and Michigan took the lead, 13-10, with four minutes left in the third quarter.
IU and Michigan traded three-and-outs until Gedeon had another short punt into the wind, and two plays later, Smith took the ball 39 yards down the field for another score. Michigan extended its lead to 20-10 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
After Michigan’s touchdown to take the lead, IU never saw Michigan’s side of the 50-yard line, and Michigan sealed the game, 20-10, after recovering a strip-sack at the end of the game.
Final Stats:
QB Richard Lagow: 14-29, 191 yards
RB Devine Redding: 22 carries, 50 yards
WR Camion Patrick: 4 carries, 10 yards, 1 touchdown
WR Nick Westbrook: 4 catches, 78 yards
Taylor Lehman
