Six Points, Four Red-Zone Trips, One Familiar Problem: Michigan Falls to Indiana in Overtime

By The Numbers

• Final Score: No. 6 Indiana 13, Michigan 6 (OT) — Saturday, October 24, 2026, Michigan Stadium.

• Quarter Breakdown: Michigan: 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 = 6. Indiana: 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 = 13.

• Total Offense: Michigan 224 yards (57 rushing, 167 passing). Indiana 212 yards (131 rushing, 81 passing).

• Turnovers: Michigan 2 (one interception, one lost fumble). Indiana 1 (one interception). Turnover margin: Michigan -1.

• Penalties: Michigan 1 for 15 yards. Indiana 6 for 50 yards.

• Michigan Passing: Tommy Carr 20-of-32, 167 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Sacked four times for 36 yards.

• Michigan Rushing: Jordan Marshall 12 carries, 26 yards; Savion Hiter 10 carries, 15 yards; Bryson Kuzdzal 4 carries, 11 yards; Tommy Carr 15 carries, 6 net yards.

• Michigan Receiving: JJ Buchanan 6 receptions, 57 yards; Hogan Hansen 4 receptions, 34 yards; Channing Goodwin 2 receptions, 32 yards; Andrew Marsh 4 receptions, 20 yards.

• Michigan Defense: Chris Bracy 13 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; Zeke Berry 6 tackles, 1 interception returned 37 yards; Smith Snowden 4 tackles, 1 sack.

• Indiana Leaders: Josh Hoover 8-of-18, 81 passing yards, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD; Turbo Richard 19 carries, 68 yards; Lee Beebe Jr. 12 carries, 56 yards; Charlie Becker 3 receptions, 32 yards.

• Indiana Defense: Rolijah Hardy 9 tackles, 2 sacks; Tobi Osunsanmi 2 sacks; Amare Ferrell 8 tackles, 1 interception.

• Third Downs: Michigan 6-of-20 (30%). Indiana 4-of-14 (28.6%).

• Fourth Downs: Michigan 2-of-3 (66.7%). Indiana 0 attempts.

• Time of Possession: Michigan 33:44. Indiana 26:16.

• Red Zone: Michigan scored on 2-of-4 trips, both field goals.

• Field Goals: Michigan's Trey Butkowski 2-of-4. Indiana's Nico Radicic 2-of-2.

• Records: Michigan 4-3 (1-3 Big Ten). Indiana 7-1 (4-1 Big Ten).

Source: Official University of Michigan Box Score — October 24, 2026.

Michigan's Defense Showed Up. Apparently, Nobody Told the Offense.

Michigan held the sixth-ranked team in the country to 212 total yards Saturday afternoon.

Indiana completed eight passes. Eight.

The Hoosiers managed six points through four quarters, converted just four third downs, and spent most of the afternoon looking thoroughly uncomfortable against Michigan's defense.

And somehow, Michigan lost 13-6 in overtime.

That's not an easy accomplishment.

The Wolverines had more yards, more first downs, and nearly eight additional minutes of possession. They also had four red-zone opportunities and scored exactly six points.

Sometimes the box score tells the entire story.

This one practically screams it.

Tommy Carr's First Start Was a Reality Check

After last week's comeback victory over Penn State, Tommy Carr earned his first collegiate start.

The freshman showed flashes of the poise that made him effective against the Nittany Lions, but Saturday exposed the difference between providing a second-half spark and directing an offense for an entire game.

Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 167 yards. He also threw an interception, lost a fumble, and took four sacks.

Both turnovers came in the first half and handed Indiana excellent field position.

The Hoosiers turned those mistakes into their only six points of regulation.

That's a tough way to introduce yourself as the starter.

Carr's first-quarter fumble came on an ill-advised lateral. His second-quarter interception followed a pass thrown into traffic that was deflected.

Both were avoidable mistakes.

Still, Carr wasn't without positives.

He delivered several important completions on Michigan's final regulation drive, including a 24-yard strike to Channing Goodwin on third-and-10.

He also converted a fourth down with his legs in overtime.

The freshman demonstrated toughness and an ability to extend drives.

But Michigan needs more than occasional flashes.

And Carr needs better help from the people calling the plays.

The Play-Calling Deserves Serious Questions

Offensive coordinator Jason Beck had an afternoon he'd probably prefer to forget.

Michigan repeatedly attempted sideways runs that went nowhere, struggled to generate positive yardage, and put Carr in difficult situations.

The most frustrating sequence came during the opening possession of the second half.

Michigan marched 61 yards in 14 plays, reaching Indiana's one-yard line.

Jordan Marshall had already converted a fourth-and-one earlier in the drive with a physical run up the middle.

So what happened on third-and-one from the one?

Michigan called a pass.

Carr was sacked for a 13-yard loss.

Butkowski then missed a 32-yard field goal.

Zero points.

After an eight-minute drive that reached the doorstep of the end zone.

Why not give Marshall another opportunity?

If Michigan couldn't gain one yard with two potential rushing attempts, at least the coaching staff would have challenged Indiana to stop its running backs.

Instead, the Wolverines turned a manageable scoring opportunity into another disaster.

And that wasn't the only questionable decision.

Late in the first half, Michigan called timeout with 23 seconds remaining before attempting a 53-yard field goal on fourth-and-15.

The kick missed, leaving Indiana 18 seconds and favorable field position. The Hoosiers advanced far enough to attempt their own long field goal before halftime.

That kick missed too.

Michigan escaped without additional damage, but the clock management and offensive execution hardly inspired confidence.

Too Many Negative Plays

Michigan's rushing statistics were ugly.

Forty-two rushing attempts produced just 57 net yards.

That's 1.4 yards per carry.

Carr's four sacks accounted for 36 lost yards, but even accounting for those losses, Michigan's ground game wasn't particularly productive.

Marshall managed 26 yards on 12 carries. Hiter added 15 on 10 attempts.

Neither consistently found room to operate.

Repeated runs toward the sidelines produced little, while negative plays continually left Michigan behind the chains.

The Wolverines converted just six of 20 third downs.

That's not sustainable football.

It's especially troubling for a team that wants to establish a physical offensive identity.

The Defense Deserved Better

Chris Bracy was outstanding again.

The defensive back finished with 13 tackles, including one for loss, continuing his impressive stretch of performances.

Zeke Berry delivered Michigan's biggest defensive play with a third-quarter interception and 37-yard return.

That takeaway gave Michigan possession at Indiana's 13-yard line.

Naturally, the offense gained two yards and settled for a field goal.

Smith Snowden added a sack, and Michigan's secondary limited Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover to just 81 passing yards.

The Wolverines held an Indiana offense that entered averaging more than 449 yards per game to less than half that production.

Defensively, Michigan did almost everything necessary to win.

Unfortunately, defense alone doesn't put touchdowns on the scoreboard.

One Final Chance

Trailing 6-3 late in the fourth quarter, Michigan finally put together a sustained drive.

Carr directed a 13-play, 53-yard possession that consumed the final 7:32 of regulation.

Goodwin's 24-yard reception kept the drive alive, and the Wolverines eventually reached Indiana's three-yard line.

Then another sack pushed Michigan backward.

Butkowski connected from 26 yards as time expired, tying the game at six.

Michigan had survived regulation.

Overtime lasted considerably less time.

Hoover connected with Brock Schott for 21 yards on Indiana's opening play, then scored on a four-yard quarterback run.

Michigan responded by reaching Indiana's 13-yard line.

But Carr's fourth-down pass toward Salesi Moa fell incomplete.

Game over.

What This Means Going Forward

Michigan falls to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Three losses have now come by a combined 14 points.

That's encouraging if you're evaluating competitiveness.

It's considerably less encouraging if you're evaluating wins.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham has a defense capable of keeping Michigan competitive against quality opponents.

The offense remains another matter entirely.

Carr shouldn't be judged solely on his first start. His potential is evident, and he deserves an opportunity to develop.

But Beck needs to simplify the offense, establish a more reliable rushing attack, and stop allowing promising drives to collapse under the weight of negative plays.

Michigan also needs better situational execution.

One yard shouldn't feel like an impossible distance.

Next Up: Rutgers

Michigan travels to Rutgers on Saturday, October 31, for a 12:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff on Big Ten Network.

The Wolverines have an opportunity to regain momentum, but the offensive problems won't disappear simply because the opponent changes.

Carr needs to protect the football.

The offensive line needs to create running lanes.

And the coaching staff needs to put its players in better positions to succeed.

Final Thoughts

Michigan's defense delivered a performance worthy of a victory.

The offense responded with six points.

Carr made freshman mistakes, the running game struggled, and questionable play-calling wasted opportunities that could have changed the outcome.

Indiana deserves credit for making the necessary defensive stops and executing when overtime arrived.

But Michigan had chances to win this game.

Plenty of them.

The Wolverines just couldn't finish.

Four red-zone trips. Six points. No touchdowns.

That's not a quarterback controversy.

That's an offensive problem.