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Indiana won’t make a miraculous recovery this season to rally to a bowl game.
That chance was eliminated Saturday night, when the Hoosiers lost 29-7 at No. 7 Michigan, their 7th loss of the season and 5th in a row.
Let’s grade out the Hoosiers’ loss:
Passing offense
All the strides Indiana seemingly made a week ago in its passing game were lost at Michigan, when rookie quarterback Donaven McCulley passed for only 88 yards on 24 attempts, a very, very pedestrian 3.7 yards per attempt.
Not good.
McCulley hit on his first 3 passes, but then only 7 of the next 21. Three of the completions came on IU’s only touchdown drive, when McCulley was 3-of-4 for 41 yards to draw IU within 10-7 in the second quarter. But the possession before, McCulley had fumbled while being sacked on third down, turning the ball over to the Wolverines. It was one of the 2 times McCulley was sacked.
Grade: F
Rushing offense
The Hoosiers’ running game wasn’t much better than the passing, with IU totaling 107 yards with a touchdown. The long run belonged to McCulley, who got free down to the Michigan goal line to set up Chris Childers’ 1-yard TD.
McCulley led the Hoosiers with 37 yards, but 24 came on one play. The only other double-digit rush was a 10-yarder from Davion Ervin-Poindexter.
As has been the case much of the season, Indiana’s offensive line isn’t opening holes, and it’s not getting into the second level of defenders; it leaves IU’s running backs to fend for themselves in trying to break through tacklers.
Grade: D
Offense overall
Indiana couldn’t sustain drives.
The Hoosiers were only 4-of-14 on third downs, had to punt 8 times, and had one drive end with a fumble.
Indiana had only 195 yards of total offense, 75 of which came on the one touchdown drive. The Hoosiers were particularly bad after halftime, when 5 of their 6 possessions were 3-and-outs. Only once did IU gain more than 8 yards on a second-half drive, when the Hoosiers had a 9-play, 29-yard drive that ended on downs.
Ugly.
Grade: F
Passing defense
The Hoosiers got after Michigan quarterbacks Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy, sacking the duo 3 times and keeping them frequently on the run. And defensive back Devon Matthews picked off McCarthy on Michigan’s last possession, although well after the game had been decided.
Michigan passed for 223 yards and a couple touchdowns. McNamara’s 50-yard pass to Cornelius Johnson on the first offensive snap of the fourth quarter all but ended the game, as Michigan scored its final touchdown, going up 29-7, 2 plays later.
Grade: B
Rushing defense
Midway through the second quarter, Hassan Hawkins took a handoff left, hitting a narrow hole before bursting into the second and third levels on his way to a 62-yard gain deep into IU territory.
The Hoosiers’ rush defense didn’t make many mistakes, but that was one of them, and a big one; it helped set up Michigan’s second touchdown as the Wolverines went up 17-7.
UM finished with 188 yards on 38 carries, but take out the 62-yarder and it was a more respectable day for the Hoosiers; the other 37 attempts went for only 126 yards, a 3.4-yard average.
Grade: B-
Defense overall
Indiana didn’t lose Saturday night because of its defense.
The Hoosiers gave up 29 points — although arguably Michigan took its foot off the gas after its early fourth-quarter touchdown — on 411 yards, and they stopped UM on 9 of 12 third-down attempts, although the Wolverines converted a fourth down.
IU did get a turnover, although it was late and meaningless.
Grade: B
Special teams
James Evans’ leg received a workout, as he punted 8 times for an average of nearly 42 yards.
The offense, though, didn’t move the ball well enough to allow the other specialist, Charles Campbell, to attempt a field goal.
IU’s coverage wasn’t great on punt returns, as it allowed returns of 25 and 8 yards.
Grade: B
Coaching
It’s not been a good season for Tom Allen.
The Indiana coach hasn’t been able to solve Indiana’s offensive problems, which it has had since Game 1. The Hoosiers have glaring weaknesses at running back, quarterback and on the offensive line.
Grade: D
Overall
Not good at all.
Indiana was outclassed by another Big Ten opponent. This time it was by Michigan in the Big House, as the Wolverines methodically picked apart the Hoosiers, doing away with them midway through the second half. IU’s offense doesn’t have enough of a pulse to even mount a threat at this point. Even if the defense is OK, which it was, that’s not a recipe for successful football.
Grade: D-
Kyle Charters, a familiar face at Gold & Black, covers Purdue, Indiana and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.