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Michigan nearly pulled off a potentially season-galvanizing win over Indiana on Saturday in Michigan Stadium, instead losing 13-6 in overtime after tying the game with a field goal at the end of regulation to force the extra period.
The Wolverines have been missing on offense so far this season while the defense shines, and had maybe its best performance of the season on Saturday, virtually shutting out the Hoosiers in regulation. Indiana scored a pair of field goals, both on drives that began within field goal range off of turnovers, before covering 25 yards for a touchdown in two overtime plays.
The loss drops Michigan to 4-3 and 1-3 in the Big Ten. Mitten Football is as always pleased to share some of the best shots from photographer Rachel Leggett from Saturday's game.
Former Wolverine Donovan Edwards was on hand for Saturday's game. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As were plenty of Indiana fans who made the trip. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And it's been a pleasant last 12 months for the Hoosiers, who won the 2025 national title, including crushing Alabama in the Rose Bowl. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And the biggest story of the day in Michigan football: Tommy Carr's (No. 14) first start. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Former Michigan State and River Rouge star Nick Marsh returned to Michigan Stadium for a second career game there, last playing there in 2024 as a Spartan. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Marsh also had a run-in with the sideline for the second straight week, though with much lower stakes. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Indiana's duo of running backs, Turbo Richard pictured here, struggled to get going. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Lee Beebe Jr. buried Zeke Berry on this play, but also didn't have a particularly productive day. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Michigan defense would be dictating terms when the Indiana offense was on the field. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the same could be said for the Hoosiers, who recovered a fumble from Carr early as the true freshman quarterback made an ill-advised late pitch — which may have also gone forward. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the Michigan defense went right back to work. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Indiana would be held to one of two field goals in regulation. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And while he was benched, Bryce Underwood was a good teammate and Carr credited him for his support postgame. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Carr's older brother and Notre Dame starting quarterback, CJ Carr (right of pillar), came to Ann Arbor to watch his brother's debut as his Irish squad had the weekend off. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Beebe searches for some running room in a Michigan defense that didn't offer much. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Berry celebrates making a tackle, and would come up with a much bigger play later on. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan's secondary turned in an elite performance, as Marsh and Indiana's other top receiver, Charlie Becker, combined for 5 catches for 57 yards. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Nico Radičić knocks home one of the Hoosiers' two field goals. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Carr did manage a few nice passing players, but largely struggled to break through with any consistent success for Michigan. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And when the Wolverines did nab a pass, the Hoosiers were quick to wrestle them down. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)JJ Buchanan tracks a fade ball thrown to the left sideline. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But it was too far out of bounds to give him a chance, as the Hoosiers celebrated the incompletion. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Buchanan did come up with a few nice in-breaking catches early in the second half as Michigan drove down into Hoosier territory, trailing 6-0. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Tight end Jalen Hoffman took the ball down to the 1 yard line, then a disastrous play action call got blown up on third and goal, and Michigan missed the field goal. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
But Berry had the answer, the first interception lifted off of Indiana QB Josh Hoover all season.
Berry returned it inside the IU 15 and the celebration began. Michigan would end up kicking a field goal to make it 6-3. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Chris Bracy (No. 7) didn't have the same gamewrecking performance he had against Penn State but played another solid game vs. IU. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And though the offense struggled, the Michigan defense had plenty to smile about Saturday, effectively shutting Indiana out beyond two field goals coming off turnovers in Michigan's own end. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan thought it had recovered a muffed punt, deflecting off the shoe of an Indiana gunner, but it was ruled IU ball on the field and replay didn't have a definitive view. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Jyaire Hill (No. 0) didn't have an interception but came up with a key end zone PBU vs. Becker as part of a strong game. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But for every stop Michigan came up with, so did Indiana. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Nathaniel Staehling and Aisea Moa (No. 13) celebrate a play as the former comes to the sideline. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan's run game struggled on Saturday, with 57 yards on 42 carries. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Carr finished 20-of-32 for 167 yards and an interception in his starting debut. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)One completion went to Channing Goodwin, who has had a quiet season. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Goodwin managed to fight for a first down on the play. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Buchanan hauled in a key catch to convert a set of downs late in the game as Michigan drove for the tie or win. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And he nearly turned and hustled the last 10 or so yards into the end zone, but got tripped up just inside the 10. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Either way, the Wolverines were feeling confident. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
Goal-to-go runs from Bryson Kuzdzal and Jordan Marshall couldn't give Michigan the lead. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
And Carr took a sack on 3rd and goal. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Trey Butkowksi, who missed two of three prior kicks, drilled the game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Jonah Lea'ea jumps to try and deflect a pass early in overtime. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Instead it was completed for a 21-yard gain, the longest play of the day for Indiana. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Which set up Hoover's game-winning touchdown run a play later. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan needed a touchdown in response, and first turned to the ground game, which got turned back for a loss. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Hogan Hansen made a catch over the middle to get Michigan a bit closer. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)True freshman Marky Walbridge (No. 78) started at right tackle for Michigan. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Carr ended up scrambling for a conversion on 4th down, and Michigan had 1st and 10 from the IU 14. Carr looked to the end zone and connected with Hansen. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Who was a step out of bounds to haul in the pass. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)A completion to Andrew Marsh on third down after a short run by Carr brought up a fourth down Michigan had to get to keep the game alive. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Carr's pass to Salesi Moa fell just short. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)It meant Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers could whoop it up in celebration, surviving being pushed to the brink on the road. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As Kyle Whittingham and Co. are left reeling at 1-3 in conference play. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Former Wolverine Tyler Morris speaks with former teammate Rod Moore Jr. post game. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)IU's Josh Hoover shakes hands postgame; it was revealed post game that Hoover wasn't fully healthy. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And while he's now 1-0 at Michigan Stadium as Indiana's head coach and 2-0 vs. Michigan. Cignetti help deliver the Hoosiers their first win at Michigan Stadium in 57 years. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
