Hoosiers Offense Continues to Sputter in 20-15 Loss to No. 10 Michigan State

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers entered Saturday’s game against #10 Michigan State (7-0) coming off a bye week and desperate for a victory. The game was the 108th Homecoming football game at Indiana University and the two sides battled for the Old Brass Spittoon. Without Tiawan Mullen in the defensive backfield and absent Michael Penix at quarterback, it was a tall task against another top ten opponent. Indiana’s defense did everything they could and contained Michigan State’s offense but another comatose offensive performance resulted in another loss for the Hoosiers.

The Michigan State Spartans entered the contest with one of the Big Ten’s best offenses and the nation’s leading rusher in Kenneth Walker but IU’s defense made it clear early they would not be pushed around. On the game’s first possession, Micah McFadden filled a gap on third and short and stuffed Walker short of the first down to force a punt. IU’s offense took the ball at the 29-yard line and Jack Tuttle took the field as the starting quarterback. Tuttle completed several short passes and the Hoosiers worked their way inside of the red zone. As has been the case all season, IU’s drive stalled in scoring territory and they were forced to kick a short field goal, going ahead 3-0. MSU was able to get a first down on their next possession but nothing further as IU’s defense forced another punt. The Hoosiers took over on the 24-yard line and Donaven McCulley made his debut as a change of pace quarterback in an attempt to spice up IU’s attack. He threw it incomplete on second down and Jack Tuttle came back in for third down. He was fooled by the Spartans defense and Cal Haladay intercepted his pass and ran it in for the go-ahead touchdown. The Hoosiers went three and out and Michigan State had all the momentum. However, IU’s defense was able to stymie the Spartans as Ryder Anderson sacked Payton Thorne and the Hoosiers took over on their own 43-yard line. The good field position was a prime opportunity for the Hoosiers struggling offense but they failed on third and short and Charles Campbell was called on for a 44-yard kick to make it 7-6. IU’s defense again stopped MSU and forced a punt. Chris Childers broke out for a long run and Tuttle scrambled across midfield. A roughing penalty on Michigan State moved the ball into the red zone but IU’s attack was still unable to get into the end zone, settling for a short Campbell field goal to go ahead 9-7. The two teams traded punts and then Cam Jones made a spectacular play to break up a potentially long completion. The Hoosiers got the ball with 25 seconds left and decided to be aggressive. A few completions from Tuttle moved the ball into long field goal territory but Charles Campbell missed a 55-yard field goal wide left as the half expired. The Hoosiers dominated the first 30 minutes, outgaining MSU 217-57 but the turnover and a lack of success in the red zone continued to plague IU.

The second half began with an IU possession that moved it across the 50 but the Hoosiers were unable to move any further and punted. James Evans appeared to have pinned MSU inside the five but the IU cover team botched the play and knocked the ball just inside the end zone. Michigan State took advantage of the good fortune and extra yardage and got into field goal territory as Matt Coghlin nailed a 51-yard field goal to go ahead 10-9. The Indiana Hoosiers were unable to respond, going three and out and punting the ball right back to Michigan State. The Spartans moved across midfield with a nice pass play to Jayden Reed but Josh Sanguinetti made a huge play to intercept a third down pass and give IU possession at the 27-yard line. Jack Tuttle was pressured on the next possession and threw an interception of his own, this one giving Michigan State excellent field position at the IU 39-yard line. A trick play pass was fantastically pulled in by quarterback Payton Thorne and a couple of plays later, Thorne found Tyler Hunt for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 17-9. IU’s offense got the ball back as the third quarter was ending and finally got a bit of rhythm. With the help of a pass interference penalty on MSU, IU finally scored a touchdown against a Big Ten opponent with Stephen Carr plunging into the end zone to make it 17-15. IU went for two and attempted a puzzling shovel pass that was stuffed well short. Michigan State was able to answer with a decent drive propelled by a couple of key third down conversions but a third and two handoff was dropped. The fumble stayed right where it dropped and MSU was able to fall on it and convert a 49-yard field goal to make it 20-15. IU went three and out but then forced Michigan State to punt it back. The Hoosiers were pinned at the six-yard line and got a first down but Jack Tuttle was stripped under pressure and MSU took over at the Indiana 23-yard line with less than five minutes left. On second down, Payton Thorne lofted a ball into the end zone and it was intercepted by Noah Pierre. IU’s offense got another chance and was aided by a penalty on Michigan State but Jack Tuttle was sacked and the Hoosiers were forced into a fourth and 21 that was not even close to converted. The Spartans got the ball back with 2:03 remaining and ran out the clock, sealing the 20-15 victory in Memorial Stadium.

IU now hosts Ohio State as the nation’s toughest schedule continues to grind against the Hoosiers. They’ll enter the contest at 2-4 and the margin for error for IU to make a bowl game is completely gone. Indiana outgained Michigan State 322 to 241 and held Kenneth Walker to just 84 yards on 23 carries. It was a fantastic performance by the IU defense and they deserved better than what the offense was able to provide in support. Hoosier Huddle will have extensive coverage of this defeat and the continuing 2021 season.