Michigan's Second-Half Effort Not Enough to Down No. 8 Indiana

Saturday, November 9

Bloomington, Ind.

3:30 PM

Michigan

5-5 , 3-4

Indiana

10-0 , 7-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Indiana

Kalel Mullings (Michigan Photography)

Michigan's Second-Half Effort Not Enough to Down No. 8 Indiana

11/9/2024 7:42:00 PM | Football

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By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: #8 Indiana 20, Michigan 15
Records: U-M (5-5, 3-4 B1G), Indiana (10-0, 7-0 B1G)
Attendance: 53,082
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 23 -- vs. Northwestern (Michigan Stadium), TBD (TV: TBD)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan football team fought hard in the second half but fell just short to No. 8-ranked Indiana on Saturday (Nov. 9) at Memorial Stadium. The U-M defense held the Hoosiers to season lows in points (20) and total yards (246) yards in a 20-15 setback.

The Maize and Blue defense put together a group effort that kept the Wolverines within striking range, collecting four sacks and eight tackles for loss and allowing just 40 rushing yards (1.4 yards per carry) in the contest. In the second half alone, Michigan allowed 18 total yards (two rushing, 16 passing) and allowed only three points.

Standout individual efforts came from Jaishawn Barham (six tackles, one sack, two TFL), TJ Guy (five tackles, two sacks, 2.5 TFL) and Zeke Berry (three pass breakups, one interception).

On offense, the Wolverines totaled 206 yards (69 rushing, 137 passing), with most of their scoring coming from Dominic Zvada, converting three of three field-goal tries. Kalel Mullings (10 rushes for 30 yards) also added a touchdown.

After forcing a punt on Indiana's game-opening drive, the Wolverines offense marched off a season-long 14-play drive which lasted 7:29 of game time and finished with a 39-yard Zvada field goal. Davis Warren completed five-of-six passes for 64 yards on the drive, of which four went for first downs.

Indiana clocked three-minute touchdown drives (seven-, 36-yard passing scores) on each of its next two possessions to take a 14-3 lead with 12:10 remaining in the second quarter.

Just over six minutes later, the Hoosiers forced an Alex Orji fumble and recovered it at the U-M 48-yard line. This led to a 40-yard field-goal make to continue Indiana's string of 17 unanswered points and enter the half in a 17-3 contest.

The Wolverines were forced to punt on the first drive of the second half, and after downing the ball at the Indiana four-yard line, U-M forced a crucial turnover -- a Berry interception over the middle of the field on the first offensive play -- to set its offense up with a red zone opportunity. Michigan was unable to come away with six points but got three on a 22-yard Zvada field goal to narrow the Hoosiers' lead to 11 points.

Zvada capped off a seven-minute drive with another field goal eight minutes later, tying his career long with a 56-yard boot, to bring Michigan within a score at the end of the third quarter. In the frame, the Hoosiers possessed the ball offensively for 1:43 while being held to one first down and seven total yards.

After being set up at the Indiana 34-yard line following a short punt, the Michigan offense methodically moved downfield, rushing the ball on six of seven plays on the drive. The Wolverines found the end zone for the first time in the contest with a one-yard rushing score by a leaping Mullings. U-M was unsuccessful on its two-point try, and the game's score held at a 17-15 Indiana advantage with 9:35 remaining in the contest.

With 2:38 remaining, the Hoosiers added a 41-yard field goal -- their first score in two full quarters -- to give the Wolverines a final opportunity to score in a five-point game.

Michigan was unsuccessful on its final offensive drive, and Indiana ran out the clock to close the game.

Michigan will be off next Saturday before returning home to face Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Michigan Stadium. The game's kickoff time and viewing details have yet to be announced.