There was hope; there was so much hope, but in the end, once Indiana scored a touchdown on their first overtime possession, there was a feeling that the game was already over. It was the first time of the day that the Michigan defense really broke down, and unfortunately it came at the worst possible time.
This 13-6 loss to Indiana can not go on the shoulders of the Wolverines' defense, not one single bit. It is the Michigan offense, which had four red zone trips that resulted in just six points, that has to bear the blame for what could have been a huge upset over the No. 6 Hoosiers.
There was so much excitement over quarterback Tommy Carr's first career start with the Wolverines, but it ended in disappointment, and it makes one wonder if Michigan really has a quality quarterback on the roster. Two turnovers early in the game gave Indiana a short field and field goals, its only points in regulation.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill could not have coached his defense any better against the Hoosiers, but ultimately, the offense has to be able to score for the defense to win the game.
Michigan's defense can't play on both sides of the ball
The Wolverines could not have played better against Indiana. Holding Josh Hoover to just 81 yards and picking him off was exactly what any defense could hope for.
The Hoosiers didn't even complete a pass in the second half until their possession in overtime. That one completion made all the difference, as it set up an easy run for Hoover to get into the end zone for the first touchdown of the day.
At this point, it is the same story, just a different week. The Michigan defense puts on a fantastic lockdown performance, but the offense simply can't play complementary football to help secure the win. Each one of Michigan's losses this season has come down to the end, and the offense not getting it done.
Defensive back Chris Bracy was all over the field against the Hoosiers, totaling a staggering 13 tackles, nine of them solo tackles. He was part of a Michigan secondary that locked down Indiana's best receivers, Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker. Marsh and Becker had a combined 57 yards for Indiana, well under their typical numbers.
Michigan could not have asked for a better game from its defense, but Hill's guys can't play both ways. At this point, Michigan's defense can't even afford to make a mistake because, as much as they pick up the offense, it doesn't go both ways.
The Wolverines have some decisions to make when it comes to the offense, the quarterback position, and play calling because all three were the biggest problems for Kyle Whittingham. While it was a long shot, Michigan was still in play for a College Football Playoff spot, but after this loss, the Wolverines can kiss that opportunity goodbye.
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