Jake Rudock’s record-breaking game just enough for MI vs Indiana

MI quarterback Jake Rudock did. The Hoosiers, double digit underdogs, were looking to pull off an upset for the ages. IN and their overpowering offensive line basically spent the entire second half saying: we’re going to run the ball down your throat, and you’re going to sit there and watch us do it. Quarterback Nate Sudfield went 20-for-34 with 220 yards, 1 TD and 0 INT. Running back Jordan Howard was a thorn in the side of the Wolverine defense, going 238 yards for 2 TDs on 35 carries, and kicker Griffin Oakes kept his team in the thick of it with three major field goals, including a 51-yarder. The Wolverines are not there just yet, but are moving swiftly in the right direction. The lone touchdown in the quarter was one of four on the night for Jehu Chesson, who no doubt took advantage of a very weak in secondary.

“At a great school like the University of MI”, said Rudock, “you expect guys to have phenomenal games”.

To start off the second half, a minute and a half into the third quarter, IN junior wide receiver Mitchell Paige returned Michigan’s first punt of the second half 51 yards for a touchdown to draw to within a one point deficit at 24-23. Jabrill Peppers worked magic a week ago on his touchdown run, and he’ll be able to control all three phases of the game yet again. Howard capped off the drive in only a way that he could after scoring the touchdown, as he punched in the two point conversion. After a Howard run for the 2-point conversation, the Hoosiers took a 34-27 lead with 2:52 left in the game.

That was too much time for Rudock, whose 41-yard pass to Chesson got MI to the IN 2 with 1:11 left. It marked Chesson’s fourth touchdown catch of the game and set up two wild overtimes.

The first overtime session ended 41-41 after each team scored a touchdown on their possession.

After even more chaos, with five seconds left, MI had a fourth-and-goal at the IN five yard-line.

The Hoosiers dropped to 4-6 with the loss and are still without a Big Ten win after starting the season 4-0. For a team that’s trying to find a way to turn around a program, that’s huge. Now IU will need to win its final two road games against Maryland and Purdue to become bowl eligible.

The Hoosiers are probably the best three quarter football team in the country.

NO COMMENT: Following UM’s win, Harbaugh shut down any idea of a response to a reporter who asked if there was any possibility that he would entertain the prospect of returning to the National Football League, particularly to the Indianapolis Colts. But they have made this a lot harder than it had to be.

This comes just a few weeks after Harbaugh said it was disrespectful to connect him to National Football League jobs. “They were making plays the whole game”. Whether it’s a now bowl-ineligible Rutgers team or a top-ranked Ohio State team or top-15 teams like MI, Iowa, or MI State, the chaos brand never works out for Indiana. Rudock completed 33 of 46 passes for 440 yards and added 64 yards on the ground for 504 total yards on the day.

That’s all changed dramatically and, while the emergence of Jake Rudock and a potent passing attack has been a revelation, dramatic declines in the running game have to be a cause for concern.