Though it wasn't the prettiest of performances, the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines (9-1, 7-0) kept on rolling last Saturday with a 42-7 win over Rutgers. Now they'll return to Ann Arbor for their final home game of the season, a Senior Day matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers.
Opponent Overview The Hoosiers (5-5, 2-5) have had a roller coaster season so far. They started off 4-1 before losing four straight games. The team was able to snap that streak in their most recent game, a 34-32 win over Maryland. Indiana's offense is led by Peyton Ramsey. The sophomore quarterback has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,335 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's also second on the team with 97 carries for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman Stevie Scott leads the team with 178 carries for 894 yards and eight touchdowns. Ronnie Walker should also see time in the backfield. The receiving core features ten players with at least 14 receptions this season. Leading the pack is Donavan Hale, who leads the team with 425 yards and six touchdowns. Luke Timian has a team-high 35 receptions to go with 323 receiving yards. Other names to watch on the perimeter include Nick Westbrook, Ty Fryfogle, J-Shun Harris II, Whop Philyor and Resse Taylor. Players to Watch The Front Seven-On the surface, these guys did what they had to do against Rutgers, but when you realize they allowed a season-high 193 rushing yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run, you'll realize that there's work to be done. Whether it was unpreparedness or simply coming in flat, the front seven can't afford to play like that against an Indiana offense that will be a lot less forgiving. They'll also need to put the pressure on Peyton Ramsey whose been sacked 23 times this season, the second highest mark in the Big Ten. Lavert Hill-The secondary has been arguably the strongest part of Michigan's defense this season and that's in large part thanks to Lavert Hill. However, the junior defensive back was placed in concussion protocol after taking a hit against Rutgers. His presence will be vital against an Indiana offense that ranks fourth nationally in completed passes. If he's unable to play, it'll be up to guys like Ambry Thomas to make things harder through the air. Karan Higdon-The good news is the senior from Sarasota, Florida became the first running back since 2012 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The bad news is he ran for just 42 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. It's good that he was able to score twice, but he needs to get a lot more yardage in order to keep Indiana's offense off the field. The Wolverines rank fourth nationally in time of possession and that'll be important to maintain on Saturday. The Wolverines and Hoosiers kick off Saturday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. eastern on Fox Sports 1.
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AuthorBeat writer for Michigan Wolverines football and basketball, Ithaca College '20 Archives
November 2018
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