Game Wrap and Reaction: Michigan 29 Indiana 7

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Opponent: Michigan Wolverines

Location: Saturday, November 6, 2021

Why They Played: The Hoosiers and Wolverines meet annually as they are both part of the Big Ten East

What The Game Meant: With the loss the Hoosiers are formally eliminated from the postseason. For Michigan it was a chance to avenge last season’s loss to the Hoosiers and get back on track after losing to Michigan State the week before.

Top Offensive Performers

Chris Childers, RB, Indiana- Childers had the only Indiana score of the day and ran hard when given the opportunity. He had 11 carries for 34 yards.

Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan- Haskins had a career-high 168 yards on the ground with a touchdown. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and carved up an exhausted Hoosier defense.

Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan- He came in with seven receptions and no touchdowns. On Saturday he made three catches and scored twice.

Top Defensive Performers

Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana- McFadden just keeps on making plays. On Saturday he added five more tackles and a sack to his season totals.

Bryant Fitzgerald, Husky, Indiana-Fitzgerald made several big plays for the Hoosiers on defense as he racked up seven tackles and a sack.

Junior Colson, LB, Michigan- Colson led the Wolverines in tackles with eight.

Aiden Hutchinson, DE, Michigan- He is a future NFL player and was all over the field Saturday as he made five tackles, had four quarterback pressures and even broke up a pass.

Special Team Performance

The performance of the special teams on Saturday was fine outside of a kick catch interference call late in the game and a punt return that led to Michigan points. However, Indiana needs it to be better than fine. Once again the Hoosiers fair caught every kickoff and punt, essentially giving up in the hidden yards battle. Yes, taking the ball on kickoffs at the 25-yard line every time is fine, but it would be nice to set up the offense with a good return or two.

​Key Stat(s)

53

IU had just 53 yards of total offense in the second half. The ran 24 plays and averaged just 2.2 yards per play with an minuscule two first downs. Michigan didn’t run away with the game, but then again they really didn’t have to.

Turning Point

After Indiana cut the Michigan lead to 10-7 with a creative and effective drive down field, the Wolverines needed just four plays to go 75 yards and punch it in for a 17-7 lead.

I Knew it Was Over When…

When Indiana did not push the ball down field down 17-7 with 1:13 left in the half. IU had nothing to lose and instead sat on the ball as their All-Big Ten tight end Peyton Hendershot pleaded with the coaches to throw the ball deep.

Players of the Game

Hassan Haskins, Michigan- His career game paved the way for a smooth Michigan win.

What I took away from the game

We saw emotions and frustration boil over for the Hoosiers Saturday night. A 2-7 record and a five-game losing streak will do that to a team. Hoosier fans saw Peyton Hendershot throw his arms up in frustration with Indiana’s conservative play calling to end the first half and head coach Tom Allen rip into offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan on the sideline in the third quarter after a quarterback draw on third and four did not work. After the game Allen said the exchange was about a botched snap that had happened earlier in the quarter.

The Hoosiers were 20-point underdogs and a win was not expected as IU continues to deal with major injuries to key players and more injuries popped up last night as starting running back Stephen Carr and tackle Luke Haggard went out early and defensive lineman Jaren Handy also went down. Injuries are one of the reasons IU sits at 2-7, but it is not the only reason. IU’s ultra conservative play calling is doing no favors for anyone. IU ran quarterback Dovaven McCulley 14 times on Saturday, mostly up the middle or off tackle and exposed him to plenty of hits. He was pressured constantly by Aiden Hutchinson as well.

McCulley is the future of this offense and he needs to be given a chance to throw the ball down field, heck even across the middle. With bowl eligibility now out the window it is time for the Hoosiers to figure out what they have for 2022 and beyond and to build program depth. Changes should be made on the offensive staff when the season concludes, but these last three games are going to be valuable to see what IU has at the receiver, running back and defensive back positions.

The Hoosiers have Rutgers and Minnesota at home before traveling to Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket Game. There is a chance to break the losing streak and head into the offseason with some hope for the future, but that means players like Ty Fryfogle, who has been nearly invisible all season, are going to give way to a youth movement.