Kurtis Rourke and No. 8 Indiana’s offense started strong in the first half on Saturday. However, in the second half, the Hoosiers relied on their defense to secure a record-breaking win.
Rourke threw two touchdown passes and led two important late drives—one for a field goal and the other to run out the clock—as Indiana held Michigan to just one touchdown, winning 20-15. The victory gave Indiana its first-ever 10-win season in school history.
“It tells you a lot about the resiliency of this team, it’s competitive character,” first-year coach Curt Cignetti said after the game. “At the end of the day, they all count as one. Whether it’s 72-6 or 3-2, they all count as one. And you know what? We’re going to take the win over Michigan.”
Indiana’s previous win over Michigan came in the 2020 season, when only a small number of fans were allowed due to COVID-19. This time, the game was played in front of a sellout crowd, and the Hoosiers celebrated by singing their fight song with the student section.
They did not rush the field but kept their playoff hopes alive.
Rourke was 17 of 28 passing for 206 yards as the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 8 CFP) defeated Michigan, the winningest team in college football history.
Michigan (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) scored its lowest total in the series since Indiana’s 14-10 win in 1987. The Wolverines managed just one touchdown from three red-zone opportunities and came up a yard short on a fourth-and-10 with 1:35 left in the game.
“The story of the game is not scoring in the red zone,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “You can’t get down there and have it first-and-6, first-and-7 and not score. We weren’t getting any movement up front. They executed, and we didn’t.”
Michigan’s quarterback Davis Warren completed 16 of 32 passes for 137 yards, while the Wolverines rushed for only 69 yards.
Indiana took an early lead when Rourke threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. late in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Rourke connected with Elijah Sarratt for a 36-yard touchdown, giving the Hoosiers a 14-3 lead.
The Hoosiers added a 40-yard field goal before halftime. In the second half, Michigan managed two field goals, including a 22-yarder after an interception at the Indiana 7-yard line, and a 56-yarder, making it 17-9.
Michigan had a chance to tie the game when Kalel Mullings scored a 1-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-goal with 9:35 left. However, the two-point conversion attempt failed, as Warren’s pass slipped through a receiver’s hands.
Indiana set up its final score with a 22-yard punt return, which helped them get a 42-yard field goal. They then stopped Michigan on downs to seal the win.
“Championship teams find a way to win football games,” Cignetti said. “Do you get style points? This is probably the first one we haven’t. But it’s a pretty good win.”
