Hoosiers Now

LIVE BLOG: Follow As No. 8 Indiana Football Takes On Michigan

No. 8 Indiana tries to continue its unbeaten season as the Hoosiers take on the Wolverines.

Todd Golden

Indiana's Jamari Sharpe (22) before the start of the Indiana versus Michigan football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 9, 2024.
Indiana's Jamari Sharpe (22) before the start of the Indiana versus Michigan football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 9, 2024. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana will try to continue its unprecedented football success as it takes on Michigan at 3:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium.

A remarkable season would get bit of shine if the Hoosiers can take down the Wolverines. While the Hoosiers are favored, it's still a big deal to beat Michigan and it still a mark of progress for the Hoosiers.

Indiana will have one big challenge in this game as guard Drew Evans was listed on the availability report as out for the season. Indiana's offensive line has been intact all season long so this is some adversity to contend with.

• FINAL STATS: Indiana outgained Michigan 246-206. Hoosiers only had 18 yards of offense in the second half.

Kurtis Rourke: 17 of 28 for 206 yards and 2 TD, 1 INT.

Ty Son Lawton: 12 carries, 55 yards.

Ke'Shawn Williams: 6 catches, 70 yards and a huge punt return in the second half that helped Indiana kick a field goal to force Michigan to have to go for a touchdown late.

Aiden Fisher with his usual haul of tackles. He had 14 today. CJ West with a big game with 9 tackles. Terry Jones with 2 tackles for loss and 2 pass breakups. No sacks and just three QB hurries, but believe me, Davis Warren was feeling the heat.

• FINAL - Indiana 20, Michigan 15. A masterful performance from the defense as the Hoosiers are, sit down for this, 10-0. Two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Columbus ... the biggest regular season game in Indiana's history? I think so.

• Indiana 20-15, 135 4Q. Michigan gains one first down, but the pressure on Davis Warren was constant and he was unable to get anything going for the Wolverines on their last gasp series. Peyton O'Leary caught a 9-yard pass on fourth down when Michigan needed 10 yards and Indiana takes over at the Michigan 42.

• Indiana 20-15, 234 4Q. Hoosiers get into field goal range and Nicolas Radicic boots a 41-yard field goal to make force Michigan to score a TD to win the game.

• Indiana 17-15, 535 4Q. One thing that has been consistent is that Michigan can't drive on a long field. Indiana's defense holds the Wolverines to minus-1 yard on its series. A dynamic 22-yard punt return by Ke'Shawn Williams sets the Hoosiers up at the Michigan 39.

• Indiana 17-15, 723 4Q. For the first time this season, the fear of an Indiana loss is realistic. The Hoosiers have minus-6 yards in the second half as Michigan's pressure on Indiana has been consistent and damaging. Indiana also doing uncharacteristic things - like a dropped pass by Elijah Sarratt on a well-thrown ball by Kurtis Rourke. Wolverines take over at their own 27 and only need to get into Zvada's apparently near-limitless field goal range.

• Indiana 17-15, 935 4Q. Indiana dropped back into a zone on Michigan's two-point conversion pass attempt. There was nothing there for Davis Warren, as his deep dropback prevented any chance of running it in. His pass was tipped in the end zone, though it nearly deflected to a Michigan receiver.

On the scoring drive, Michigan gained all but 5 yards of 34 on the ground. A big self-inflicted wound for the Hoosiers was a hands-to-the-face penalty by Tyrique Tucker that put the Wolverines inside the Indiana 10.

• Touchdown Michigan. On 4th-and-goal from the 1, Kalel Mullings flies over the left side of the line, Walter Payton-style to put the Wolverines into the end zone.

• Indiana 17-9, 1329 4Q. Things are not going Indiana's way at the moment. Michigan edge rusher TJ Guy had two sacks on Indiana's three-and-out series. Compounding matters, James Evans had a rare bad punt. Wolverines' ball at the Indiana 34.

• End third quarter - Indiana 17, Michigan 9. First time the Hoosiers have been outscored in the third quarter this season. Indiana only ran seven offensive plays in the period.

• Indiana 17-9, :08 3Q. This game has developed into an old school Big Ten three yards and a cloud of dust type of contest. Michigan used 11 plays and a lot of clock just to get to the Indiana 38. Hoosiers defenders more than up to the task of stopping smashmouth football. Michigan decided to kick a very long field goal and Michigan K Dominic Zvada was up to the task as he drilled a 56-yard field goal. Impressive kick as there's a crosswind at Memorial Stadium.

• Indiana 17-6, 711 3Q. Indiana offense hasn't been its usual well-oiled machine in the second half. Kurtis Rourke has missed some targets. He's 0-for-4 with an interception since halftime. Indiana punts and the Wolverines take over at their own 18.

• Indiana 17-6, 841 3Q. Indiana's defensive front - and some conservative plays calls by Michigan - ensured that the interception did relatively little damage. Michigan ran it three times, including a third down run to the short side of the field against a stacked Indiana defense that direction. Tackles or combined tackles by James Carpenter, CJ West, Tyrique Tucker, Lanell Carr Jr. and Mikail Kamara all helped keep the Wolverines out of the end zone as Michigan settles for a 22-yard field goal.

• Indiana 17-3, 1059 3Q. On Indiana's first play from scrimmage, Kurtis Rourke tried to force to Elijah Sarratt. Zeke Berry stepped in front of Sarratt for an interception at the Indiana 7. A rare miscue from Rourke and we'll see how costly it becomes.

• Indiana 17-3, 1104 3Q. Michigan crosses midfield, but can't get any further. Wolverines lined up on fourth down to try to draw Indiana offsides, but no dice. Good Michigan punt is downed at the 4-yard line.

• Halftime - Indiana 17, Michigan 3. Indiana has had to fight through some injuries, but the offense was on-song when it needed to be and the Indiana defense has been nasty.

• Indiana 17-3, 120 2Q. Indiana's pass rush is really bothering Michigan QB Davis Warren. He's constantly on the run and doesn't throw well when he is. Michigan forced to punt and Indiana takes over at its own 20.

• Indiana 17-3, 134 2Q. Jamier Johnson ejected via a targeting call on a short catch by Semaj Morgan. He went in with the crown of his helmet right to Morgan's facemask. He didn't launch necessarily, but it doesn't matter. First down Michigan at their own 40.

• Indiana 17-3, 220 2Q. The OPI wasn't overcome by the Hoosiers for a touchdown as Indiana settles for a 40-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic.

• Indiana 14-3, 322 2Q. Myles Price is injured on another wicked (clean) hit by Michigan S Brandyn Hillman. Price was down on the field for a long time before he walked off the field under his own power. Hoosiers taking a hit in the injury department today. Making matters worse, Indiana was called for offensive pass interference on the play.

• Indiana 14-3, 543 2Q. Michigan has been switching between quarterbacks Davis Warren and Alex Orji. With Orji in the game, he fumbled near midfield on a fumble forced by Jailin Walker. Mikail Kamara recovered at the Michigan 48. Review underway for the fumble and possible targeting as well. Fumble is confirmed by review and no targeting. Indiana ball as the defense provides another opportunity for the Hoosiers' offense to get cranking.

• Indiana 14-3, 704 2Q. A fumble by Kurtis Rourke set the Hoosiers back after they had crossed into Michigan territory. Forced into long down-and-distance (the Ellison injury was mixed in), Indiana went for it on 4th-and-12 from the 33, but Rourke's throw to Elijah Sarratt sailed long.

• Indiana 14-3, 721 2Q. Justice Ellison is hurt after he took a wicked hit from Michigan's Brandyn Hillman on a sideline catch. Hoosiers at the Michigan 33 after Michigan's earlier series petered out deep in its own territory.

• Indiana 14-3, 1210 2Q. This is looking like most of Indiana's other games this season. Once Indiana gets into that complementary rhythm on both sides, it's hard to lock them out of it. Rourke had passes of 5, 4, 10 and 36 yards on the 61-yard series.

• Touchdown Indiana. Kurtis Rourke takes a hit, but throws an absolutely gorgeous deep ball for Elijah Sarratt on the right sideline for a 36-yard touchdown catch.

• End 1st quarter - Indiana 7, Michigan 3. Hoosiers have the upper hand after a quarter.

• Indiana 7-3, :18 1Q. Wolverines go three-and-out - a familiar pattern as once the Hoosiers take a lead it seems the defense always responds with a good series of its own.

• Indiana 7-3, 117 1Q. Kurtis Rourke at his absolute best on that drive, a 7-play, 75-yard drive. He threw three perfect passes to Ke'Shawn Williams (7, 9 and 26 yards) with the last being one of those sideline, deep balls he's so adept at delivering. On the touchdown, Cooper ran an out pattern on the right side and was open for the accurate Rourke pass. Rourke was 5-for-5 on the series for 68 yards.

• Touchdown Indiana. Omar Cooper Jr. with a 7-yard touchdown catch.

• Michigan 3-0, 501 1Q. A plodding drive by Michigan got the Wolverines inside the 10-yard line, but the series nearly ended in disaster. On 3rd-and-goal from the 3, Indiana blitzed Michigan QB Davis Warren and he lost the handle on the ball. Michigan recovered the loose ball, but way back at the 21-yard line. Michigan has to settle for a 39-yard field goal. You could say Indiana led a charmed life there, but it was the Hoosiers' pressure that caused the mistake to begin with.

• 0-0, 1013 1Q. Indiana's offense gained one first down before it was forced to punt. Michigan's offense has moved to its own 39. Offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi was just injured creating a stoppage in the action. Michigan QB Davis Warren with the unaccustomed sight of having to shout his signals due to the noise at Memorial Stadium. Big crowd, big impact.

• Starters - Indiana offense: QB Kurtis Rourke, RB Justice Ellison, LT Tyler Stephens, C Mike Katic, LT Carter Smith, RG Bray Lynch, RT Trey Wedig, WR Elijah Sarratt, WR Miles Cross, WR Myles Price.

Indiana defense: DE Lanell Carr Jr., DE Mikail Kamara, DT James Carpenter, DT CJ West, LB Jailin Walker, LB Aiden Fisher, LB Isaiah Jones, CB Jamier Johnson, CB D'Angelo Ponds, S Amare Ferrell, S Shawn Asbury II.

Pregame

• Tyler Stephens was at left guard during warmups so he should be manning the offensive line today for the Hoosiers.

• Indiana students welcomed the Hoosiers during warmups by waving their towels and giving the team a standing ovation. Haven't seen that in all of my games at Memorial Stadium.

• Fashion report: Indiana never changes. Red IU helmets, red jerseys and white pants. Michigan has changed up a bit. The famous winged helmets never change, but the Wolverines are in blue pants instead of gold.

• With a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, it was an early-arriving crowd ready to tailgate. For the first time ever, I did not park in the paved lot that goes with my parking pass. Was lucky to find an open spot in the grass ... and I got here well over two hours before kickoff. Success brings big crowds, so those of us who have been around with small crowds have to get used to it.

Related stories on Indiana football

  • HOW TO WATCH: No. 8 Indiana football hosts Michigan at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Here's how to watch, with game time and TV information, the latest on the point spread, series history, coaching information and more. CLICK HERE
  • DREW EVANS OUT FOR SEASON: Indiana has lost guard Drew Evans for the season according to the availability report for the Indiana-Michigan game on Saturday. CLICK HERE.
  • IT'S STILL A BIG DEAL TO BEAT ONE OF THE BIG TWO: Todd Golden opines that beating Michigan, regardless of the state of the programs, is still a big deal. CLICK HERE.
  • PREDICTIONS, 3 KEYS: Here are the three keys and a score prediction for Saturday's Indiana football game against Michigan. CLICK HERE.
  • INDIANA CFP ANALYSIS: A look at the scenarios that are in front of Indiana after the Hoosiers were ranked 8th in the first set of College Football Playoff rankings. CLICK HERE.
  • CIGNETTI RADIO SHOW: Read what Curt Cignetti had to say on his weekly radio show. CLICK HERE.
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Todd Golden
TODD GOLDEN

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