Numbers that Mattered: Michigan Wolverines

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Numbers drive so much in today’s world and the sports world is no different. Now more than ever teams are hiring and building analytics teams to get every edge possible over their opponents. Over the course of the season, we’ll look into many of those numbers following the Hoosiers’ matchups each week. 

Today, we’ll examine the Hoosiers’ gritty win at home over the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines.

228 to 18

The Indiana offense has carried the Hoosiers through much of the season, but that was not the case for the entirety of the game today; it was a tale of two halves. In the first half, the Hoosiers offense was typically its usual, efficient self. But the second half was a grind that relied on the defense to ultimately secure the victory. By the final whistle, Indiana had gained 228 yards in the first half to just 18 in the second. Indiana finished the game having lost the time of possession battle, finished with fewer first downs, and was just 4-of-11 on 3rd down and 0-for-1 on 4th down.

206

So, with that offensive inefficiency, how did Indiana pull off a victory? The defense deserves a lot of the flowers. Michigan finished the game with just 206 total yards. It was their lowest output of the season, but let’s not stop there. It was the Wolverines’ lowest offensive output since its November 12th, 2016, game against Iowa.

“Yeah, I thought our defense played a great game, held them to 69 yards rushing, 137 yards passing, so 206 total yards,” said Curt Cignetti after the game. “Kept them out of the end zone quite a few times when they were deep in the red area inside the 10 down tight, and yeah, that guy was on the run quite a bit, and so great effort. Flew around. Swarmed the ball.”

16

The Indiana defense deployed a bend-don’t-break type of philosophy this week and though they were on the field for a lot of the game, they kept Michigan out of the endzone for much of the game. They allowed very few explosive plays – by the time the game had ended, Michigan’s longest play of the game totaled only 16 yards, and it came in the first quarter of the game. Limiting explosive plays and making sure tackles was critical to winning the game.

“Got a win,” added Cignetti. “Defense, bend don't break in the second half. Wouldn't let them in the end zone.”

“The story of the game is not scoring in the red zone,” said Michigan coach Sherrone Moore. “You can’t get down there and have it first-and-six, first-and-seven, and not score. We weren’t getting any movement up front. They executed, and we didn’t.”

22

Indiana has gotten huge contributions from its special teams units this season and today was no different. After Myles Price, the Hoosiers’ typical punt returner, was injured in his wide receiver duties earlier in the game, Ke’Shawn Williams took over the backup duties. In the fourth quarter, his 22-yard punt return set up the Hoosiers for their final scoring opportunity of the game, a field goal by Nico Radicic.

2-for-2

Speaking of Radicic…We’ve seen a lot of Nico Radicic when it came to kicking extra points, but we haven’t seen a lot of him in kicking field goals. Today, he was called upon twice and executed perfectly, finishing the day 2-for-2 with a long of 41. His final kick of the day gave the Hoosiers a 20-15 lead, a huge swing that forced Michigan to drive for a touchdown rather than a field goal in its final drive.

“He's done a great job on the extra points,” said Cignetti. “Like you said, we haven't had many field goals because we've scored so many touchdowns down there, but did he have two or three tonight? Two? And they were both huge. He's been kicking well in practice. He's calm and cool and accurate and has good disposition, which is great for a kicker.”

21

After Kurtis Rourke’s 2nd touchdown pass of the day to Elijah Sarratt,  Kurtis Rourke became just the sixth player in IU history with 20-plus passing touchdowns in a single season. He now has 21 this season, vaulting him up to a tie with Nate Sudfeld (2013) for fifth-most all time in a single season. His two touchdown tosses broke a tie he was in with Richard Lagow (2016) and Peyton Ramsey (2018).

9

Aiden Fisher once again led the Hoosiers in tackles (14 today, including the game-sealing tackle on fourth down), but the man with the second-most tackles today was CJ West (9). The nine tackles are a career-high for West, who joined the Hoosiers from Kent State in the transfer portal.

“CJ West was a guy who was a key addition to this football team after spring ball,” said Cignetti. “We were very thin on the defensive line. That was a big get for us. It's great to see him playing at such a high level right now.”

Saturday, November 23rd, 2024, at a TBD Time

The Hoosiers will have a bye week next week before picking things back up on the road at their toughest test of the regular season, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Time and television network is still to be determined.