Week Seven Matchup to Watch: Indiana’s Changes vs. Michigan’s Dominance

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines are on two different tracks in 2023. The Wolverines are ranked second in the country and are looking like a team who could win it all. The Hoosiers, on the other hand, are trying to plug the holes and stop the bleeding while major questions are being asked about the future wellbeing of the football program.

The Hoosiers come out of the bye week making changes on their coaching staff as Allen fired offensive coordinator Walt Bell and promoted Rod Carey into that role and have re-evaluated how the team is practicing. There was also a players only meeting the day after the 44-17 loss at Maryland. These are the signs of a team desperately searching for answers.

“We're going to change some things we do in practice. Once again met with our captains. Talked about this very thing. We talked about things that we felt like -- and I just wanted to get their input on some things.” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said on Monday. “We'll make adjustments in how we practice and intensify the good on good opportunities where we're going against -- still going to go against our scouts. We're going to do more work, you know, offense versus defense and just trying to create the intensity and create the look that we need to get.”

IU will enter the game around a five-touchdown underdog, so what is there really to watch for in this match-up? It’s how IU comes out and plays the game. Do the Hoosiers have any fight left? Have all these changes reinvigorated the offense and defense? Can they play their ‘A’ game?

Even if IU checks all these boxes, they can still lose by 20 or more points. IU needs to show that they have not mailed it in with just over half the season left.

If not, it’ll be a long seven weeks to close out the 2023 season.