Michigan escapes Indiana with 2OT win
Michigan escapes!
Jordan Howard picked up 17 on first down before being held to gains of 3 and 0 on the next two plays. Facing 3rd & goal from the 5, Indiana ran a quarterback keeper that got it down to the Michigan 2. Once again, it was do or die for the Hoosiers inside the Michigan 5. This time, the Wolverines escaped as Nate Sudfeld's pass to Mitchell Paige bounced around in the air and fell to the ground thanks to tough coverage from Delano Hill.
Rudock does it again
On the first play of the second overtime, Jake Rudock threw his sixth touchdown pass of the night as he hit Amara Darboh for a 25-yard strike that gives Michigan a 48-41 lead and will force Indiana to score a touchdown to keep the game alive.
Rudock strikes for Michigan
It didn't take long. After a four yard run by De'Veon Smith on first down, Jake Rudock found Jake Butt for a 21-yard touchdown. After the extra point, we're heading for a second overtime in Bloomington.
Indiana punches it in on 4th down
Jordan Howard picked up 16 yards on the first play of overtime, and after a great fake on the reverse to Mitchell Paige, Howard was stuffed on second down. But the Hoosiers went back to the well again, and Howard was given the touchdown before replay determined he was short by half a yard. On fourth down, Howard leapt over the defense to just break the plain of the end zone for the score.
It's 41-34 and Michigan will get the ball with a chance to tie.
Michigan forces OT on final play of regulation
After two unsuccessful tries to get into the end zone from Sione Houma, Michigan faced third-and-goal with 11 seconds to play from the Hoosiers 2-yard-line. A pitch to Drake Johnson lost four yards, and it came down to one play from the 5-yard-line to try and force overtime. That's when Jake Rudock found Jehu Chesson with zeros on the clock. With the extra point still pending, Kenny Allen put the ball through the uprights to tie the game.
Jourdan Lewis set the Michigan offense up with good field position at the 34-yard line, Jake Rudock hit Jake Butt for a couple first downs before hitting the big-gainer for 41 yards to Jehu Chesson down to the Indiana 2.
Howard gashes Wolverines
The Indiana offensive line just took the Michigan defensive line to school as the Hoosiers went 69 yards on 8 run plays to take a 34-27 lead with 2:52 to play.
Jordan Howard was the feature back, rushing six times for 61 yards on the drive, and he finished it off with a 24-yard touchdown run that has the Wolverines in deep trouble. To add insult to injury, Howard went right up the middle for a two-point conversion that gives the Hoosiers a full touchdown lead.
Allen clean on 19-yard FG
It took 15 plays to go 78 yards down to the Indiana 2, but after coming up empty on third-and-goal, Michigan was forced to settle for a 19-yard field goal and a slim 27-26 lead with 6:34 to play in the game.
Rudock picked up a huge first down with the ball near midfield when he was flushed out of the pocket on third-and-short. He lowered his shoulder and bullied his way through two Indiana defenders to keep the drive alive. That was the third first down Rudock picked up today, and he picked up another one on 2nd & 11 as Michigan was knocking on the door of the red zone.
Amara Darboh also made a nice play on a third down pass to fight the ball away from a defender on a slant. Darboh had dropped a sure first down on the previous play.
Rudock picked off
The Wolverines marched down to the Hoosiers' 16 before back-to-back false start penalties forced them to think pass on first down. That's when Jake Rudock made his first big mistake of the day, throwing an interception to Jonathan Crawford at the 14-yard line.
It's 26-24 in favor of the Hoosiers as the third quarter has come to an end.
Oakes drills 4th field goal of the day
The Indiana offense continues to march into Michigan territory with no problem, this time with a 44-yard strike from Nate Sudfeld to Simmie Cobbs Jr. down to the Wolverines 21. After picking up another first down, the Hoosiers offense again stalled in the red zone and was forced to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Griffin Oakes. The only difference this time is that the field goal has given Indiana a lead, 26-24 with 7:41 to play in the third quarter.
Allen misses 41-yard field goal attempt
Jake Rudock got Michigan down to the Indiana 24, and Kenny Allen missed a 41-yard field goal to keep the score at 24-23 with 10:47 remaining in the third quarter.
Rudock had a chance to get the team in the end zone, but he threw the ball behind Amara Darboh on 3rd & 10. It's time for the Michigan defense to step up and do its part.
Indiana opens up second half in a big way
The Hoosiers forced a 3-and-out from Jake Rudock & Co. to open the second half, and Mitchell Paige returned the Blake O'Neill punt 51 yards for a touchdown to pull Indiana within a point at 24-23.
The Michigan offense we saw in the first half didn't show up for the start of the second half. A sweep to Jabrill Peppers on first down lost 10 yards, and a sack on third down pinned Michigan deep in its own territory before the punt.
Wolverines and Hoosiers trade scores just before halftime
Indiana took to the air on its final possession and went 61 yards in just over a minute to reach the end zone for the first time today
Not to be outdone, Jake Rudock continued his first half magic when the offense took over at its own 25 with 49 seconds to go until halftime. Rudock orchestrated a beautiful drive that culminated in a 22-yard Kenny Allen field goal as time expired.
It's 24-16 in favor of the Wolverines.
It was the Rudock and Jehu Chesson show for the offense in the first half, as the pair connected for three touchdowns.
Rudock is 15-18 for 224 yards and three scores. He also picked up two first downs with his feet, netting 42 rushing yards in the process. He's accounted for 266 of Michigan's 296 total yards.
It's been a disappointing effort from the defense in the first half. They've allowed the Hoosiers to get the ball across midfield on all of their first half possessions. Some stout red zone play, mixed with a couple self-inflicted wounds on Indiana's part, had kept the Hoosiers out of the end zone until just before halftime.
I feel like we've seen this somewhere before..
Jake Rudock found Jehu Chesson for a 64-yard touchdown, and those two have now hooked up three times in the first half for scores.
It's now 21-9 Michigan with 5:18 to go before halftime.
Rudock has been uncanny in every facet of the game so far. IU just doesn't have an answer for the senior signal caller right now.
Hoosiers get another field goal, but this one feels like a win
A defensive pass interference call on third down allowed Indiana to reach Michigan territory for the fourth time in four drives today. The Hoosiers shot themselves in the foot, however, with back-to-back penalties that set them up with a 1st & 35 from its own 44. A couple Nate Sudfeld completions to Andre Booker got IU inside the Michigan 40, and that was plenty enough room for their big-legged kicker Griffin Oakes to hit a 51-yard strike.
After Oakes' third field goal of the day, Michigan leads 14-9 at the 6:11 mark of the second quarter.
Not to fear, Jake the snake is here...
Jake Rudock ran for 42 yards on two separate third down plays and then found Jehu Chesson wide open in the end zone for a 15-yard score and his second touchdown reception of the day.
It's now 14-6, Michigan leads at the 8:51 mark of the second quarter.
A chop block penalty and a blown up screen pass saw Michigan facing a 2nd & 29 from its own 6. But Rudock made a tough throw from the pocket to find Jake Butt for 24 yards, and on 3rd & 5, the quarterback tucked it and took off for a 23-yard gain that got the offense across midfield. After getting down to the Indiana 35, it appeared Michigan might stall on 3rd & 13, but Rudock again took off after slipping through the pocket and picked up 19 for a first down.
There was also a Jabrill Peppers sighting on offense during the drive. Rudock hit the do-everything sophomore with a quick screen that netted 18 yards for the Wolverines offense as they had just entered Hoosiers territory.
Hoosiers add another field goal, Michigan leads 7-6
The bend but not break approach appears to be in full effect for the Michigan defense as Indiana drove 79 yards down to the Wolverines 10 before back-to-back false starts on third down forced the Hoosiers to settle for another field goal (36 yards).
Indiana went for it on 4th and short from its own 44 and picked it up with Jordan Howard running right at the Michigan defense. Three plays later, the Hoosiers went for it again on 4th & 2 from the Wolverines 43. Nate Sudfeld kept it himself this time and picked up three yards to get his team another fresh set of downs.
As the second quarter gets underway, it's 7-6 in favor of Michigan.
Hoosiers settle for field goal after solid drive
Indiana got down to the Michigan 11 by running the ball, but when forced to drop back and throw on third and long, quarterback Nate Sudfeld couldn't find an open receiver. He fumbled the ball, losing 12 yards, and the Hoosiers were forced to settle for a 40-yard field goal from Griffin Oakes.
At the 6:52 mark of the first quarter, the Wolverines lead the Hoosiers, 7-3.
Offense off to best possible start
Michigan made Indiana pay for giving them good field position as Jake Rudock took advantage of a free play after Indiana lined up in the neutral zone and found Jehu Chesson for a 34-yard touchdown.
Rudock was 3-for-3 for 52 yards on the drive.
At the 10:47 mark in the first quarter, Michigan leads 7-0.
Defense comes up big on opening drive
Indiana picked up two first downs on the opening drive, and then decided to go for it on 4th & 2 from the Michigan 44. Well, that proved to be a mistake as the Hoosiers tried a delayed handoff that the Michigan defensive line snuffed out for a two-yard loss.
Ryan Glasgow not dressed, RBs stay home
The Michigan defense will be without the services of its starting nose tackle, Ryan Glasgow, for today's game.
Glasgow missed the second half of last week's Rutgers victory with an arm injury.
Derrick Green and Ty Isaac both stayed back in Ann Arbor. Isaac is out because of disciplinary reasons, and there's no given reason yet as to why Green didn't make the trip down to Bloomington.
Michigan must keep minds on Indiana
A Big Ten championship seemed like a bit of a longshot a week ago, but with some help from Nebraska and its upset win over Michigan State, suddenly Michigan fans are dreaming of what could be a few weeks down the road. And while that's all fine and dandy to talk about, the team itself needs to keep its focus on the here and now.
Today's game at Indiana is not a layup for the Wolverines. The Hoosiers have come close on multiple occasions to pulling upsets this season, including a game in East Lansing just a few weeks ago that was competitive into the fourth quarter.
Jake Rudock must continue his improvement. He's coming off a career game, and with Indiana's potent offense, Michigan is going to need to score some points today. Turnovers can prove costly on the road.
After dominant performances early in the season, the Michigan defense is suddenly looking a bit vulnerable. The spread attack Indiana features isn't something the Wolverines have seen much of this season, and they'll have to get solid play from the defensive line so that Nate Sudfeld doesn't have the opportunity to sling the ball all over the field.