Michigan
1-2 , 1-2
Indiana
3-0 , 3-0
No. 23 Michigan Falls to No. 13 Indiana After Slow Start
11/7/2020 4:30:00 PM | Football
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: #23 Michigan 21, #13 Indiana 38
Records: Michigan (1-2), Indiana (3-0)
Attendance: 1,034
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 14 -- vs. Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan football team fell to No. 13 Indiana, 38-21, on Saturday (Nov. 7) at Memorial Stadium.
Despite matching the Hoosiers (3-0) score-for-score in the second half, the Wolverines (1-2) were unable to overcome a slow first-half performance that put them in a 24-7 hole entering the locker room at halftime. Untimely turnovers on a pair of possessions in the fourth quarter stalled out a would-be Wolverine comeback in the closing stages of the game.
Quarterback Joe Milton had career highs with 344 passing yards and three touchdowns -- 149 of those yards and one of those touchdowns going to wide receiver Ronnie Bell -- but the Michigan offense was unable to find the same rhythm and time of possession as its Indiana counterpart.
The Wolverines possessed the ball for only 21:10, compared to the Hoosiers' 38:50. Michigan did not convert on third downs at nearly the same rate as Indiana, notching first-down yardage on only three of its 11 third-down opportunities overall after going 0-for-6 in the first half. Indiana went 4-for-9 in the second half, but the damage was done in the first when it converted on five of its eight opportunities on third down.
Safety Brad Hawkins and linebacker Michael Barrett led the way for the defense with 12 and 11 total tackles, respectively.
The Hoosiers struck first, driving 74 yards on 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead with 8:57 remaining in the opening quarter on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Michael Penix to Marshall Miles.
On a Michigan drive that started with an incomplete pass from Milton to wide receiver Cornelius Johnson, the Wolverines moved swiftly down the field for its first score of the day. Under pressure and flushed out of the pocket, Milton hit Bell on the run for a 24-yard gain near midfield. Two plays later, the Wolverines moved 15 yards into Hoosier territory on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that resulted in the ejection of Hoosier defensive back and recent Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Jamar Johnson.
Moments later, Milton went back to Johnson and found him for a 37-yard leaping catch at the back of the end zone. The score was both a career-long touchdown pass for Milton and the first touchdown reception of 2020 for Johnson. After a Quinn Nordin point-after attempt sailed through the uprights, the Wolverines were tied with the Hoosiers at 7, with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
Indiana responded on the following drive to reclaim the lead just before the end of the first quarter, 14-7, on a 24-yard third-down pass from Penix to Ty Fryfogle.
The Wolverine defense found its footing over the course of the next couple Indiana drives in the second quarter. First, Michigan brought the Hoosiers' next drive to a halt with a three-and-out, clinched by safety Daxton Hill as he tripped up an Indiana receiver just a yard shy of a would-be first down.
Michigan limited the Hoosiers to a 52-yard field goal on Indiana's next drive, as the IU advantage edged up to 17-7 with 6:53 to go until halftime.
Though the U-M offense was unable to respond on its next drive, punter Brad Robbins and the special-teams unit pinned Indiana against its own end zone at the four-yard line on a career-long 66-yard punt.
However, Indiana overcame the field position disadvantage with a 12-play, 96-yard drive to take a 24-7 lead with 56 seconds left in the half.
After forcing an Indiana punt on the opening drive of the second half, the Michigan offense came out swinging. Milton hit Bell for a 23-yard gain and the pair reconnected moments later with a career-long 52-yard strike. Milton was driven out of the pocket and delivered a rocket downfield to Bell again, who stayed on his feet and was eventually shoved out of bounds at the Indiana 15-yard line.
Two plays later, Milton found wide receiver Roman Wilson for a 13-yard diving connection in the end zone to pull Michigan within 10 points of Indiana, 24-14, with 9:01 left in the third quarter. The touchdown reception was the first of Wilson's career.
Indiana responded with another long drive similar to its first-half scoring efforts, covering 75 yards on 10 plays to take a 31-14 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third. After a 32-yard completion set the Hoosiers up on the one-yard line, they punched it in on a one-yard run on the next play.
The Michigan defense fared better in its next outing, backing the Hoosiers into an uncomfortable first-and-25 via offensive pass interference in their own territory and ultimately forcing the punt.
The Wolverine offense immediately took advantage. Facing third-and-seven, Milton fired off a 22-yard completion to tight end Nick Eubanks to close out the third quarter, and then hit running back Zach Charbonnet for back-to-back completions of four and 14 yards to bring Michigan just outside the red zone at the Indiana 21-yard line.
From there, Milton completed a fourth-straight pass, this time airing out a 21-yard heave that Bell rose up and snatched in the left corner of the end zone for his first touchdown reception of 2020. With 13:43 left in regulation, the Wolverines once again clawed to within 10 points, 31-21.
Michigan's defense built on the momentum with its best showing of the day to that point on the ensuing Indiana drive with a three-and-out on three incomplete passes. A penalty on the punt gave the Wolverines the ball at the IU 35.
After a 12-yard completion from Milton to Johnson -- the fifth-straight completion for Milton -- the Wolverines looked poised to march back down the field, but Indiana came up with an interception and a 36-yard return on the next snap.
The Hoosiers worked their way down to the Michigan five-yard line where they converted on fourth and inches. Michigan's defense kept Indiana out of the end zone for two more plays, but could not hold on a third-and-goal from the U-M two-yard line as the Hoosiers broke through for a two-yard scoring rush to extend its lead to 17 points, 38-21, with 8:40 left in the game.
Michigan got off to a quick start on the ensuing drive as Milton hit running back Blake Corum out wide, who turned up the field and gained 21 yards to near midfield. A subsequent personal foul penalty backed up the Wolverines 15 yards and eventually set up a crucial third-and-14 situation with time dwindling. Milton came through with another clutch strike to Bell, this time for 17 yards and the first down.
The Wolverines would catch a break when what was initially ruled a Milton fumble was overturned to an incomplete pass, allowing the Wolverines to keep possession, but that good fortune soured quickly with a holding penalty, a sack and an interception.
Indiana would hold on to the ball for the remainder of the game, converting on a third down and a subsequent fourth down to clinch the win.
Michigan will return to Michigan Stadium for its next contest, a showdown with Wisconsin next Saturday (Nov. 14)Â at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
Team Stats
MICH 0, IND 7
IND - Marshall, Miles 13 yd pass from Penix, Michael (Campbell, C. kick) 11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:30
MICH 7, IND 7
MICH - Johnson, C. 37 yd pass from Milton, Joe (Nordin, Quinn kick) 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:02
MICH 7, IND 14
IND - Fryfogle, Ty 24 yd pass from Penix, Michael (Campbell, C. kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:07
MICH 7, IND 17
IND - Campbell, C. 52 yd field goal 11 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:58
MICH 7, IND 24
IND - Hendershot, P. 1 yd pass from Penix, Michael (Campbell, C. kick) 12 plays, 96 yards, TOP 4:21
MICH 14, IND 24
MICH - Wilson, Roman 13 yd pass from Milton, Joe (Nordin, Quinn kick) 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:57
MICH 14, IND 31
IND - Scott, Stevie 1 yd run (Campbell, C. kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:22
MICH 21, IND 31
MICH - Bell, Ronnie 21 yd pass from Milton, Joe (Nordin, Quinn kick) 6 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:01
MICH 21, IND 38
IND - Scott, Stevie 2 yd run (Campbell, C. kick), 8 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:48
