Ann Arbor — Back in December after taking the Indiana head coaching job, Curt Cignetti boldly went where no Hoosiers football coach had gone. Cignetti, speaking to fans at Assembly Hall, played to his audience by first mentioning Indiana’s in-state rival. Then he took it another step.

Michigan will enter Saturday as a big underdog to Indiana. The Wolverines have dominated the series against the Hoosiers and Michigan has lost twice since 1987.

That’s because Indiana is rolling, ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the Hoosiers have been clowning every team in its path not too dissimilar from how Michigan has the past three seasons. Thus, the 5-4, unranked Wolverines have an uphill climb in this tough battle.

Kurtis Rourke, QB: Indiana football fans were keeping a close eye on Rourke’s thumb last weekend. He needed surgery to repair a broken bone in his throwing hand, but was back in the lineup just two weeks after the injury occurred.

There may not be a more surprising story in all of college football than Indiana. The Hoosiers are 9-0 and have dominated their schedule up to this point. The first College Football Playoff rankings disrespected the undefeated Hoosiers and put them at No.

Indiana enters this game leading the country in run defense, allowing an average 72.6 yards rushing, and the Hoosiers are coming off a 47-10 win at Michigan State in which they held the Spartans to minus-36 yards rushing. Indiana has held six opponents this season to 100 rushing yards or fewer.

Michigan has lost just twice to Indiana since 1987. The Wolverines fell to the Hoosiers in '87 and then lost to Indiana during the 2020 season. The maize and blue hold a 62-10 all