Grades and game balls from Michigan football win over Indiana

Defense: A

Michigan’s defense also started sluggishly on Saturday. Indiana drove inside the 10-yard line and was the first team to get a first-and-goal against the Wolverines.

However, Mike Sainristil tipped a pass and intercepted Rod Moore. That was a big stop. Indiana did score on the next possession on a trick play. That was frustrating to me because it was the fourth week in a row that Michigan football has allowed a touchdown of longer than 35 yards.

It does say something that teams basically need a trick play or a coverage bust in order to score against the Wolverines, but those things can’t happen against Penn State or Ohio State.

The Wolverines did hold another opponent scoreless in the third quarter. In three of four Big Ten games, Michigan football has held the offense scoreless in the second half.

The only touchdown was a 74-yard run by Nebraska with three minutes left against backups in a 45-0 game in favor of the Wolverines. The defense forced four turnovers and notched four sacks. Indiana was also held to 92 yards rushing, which is more than I thought they’d get.