Peyton Ramsey came in after Michael Penix Jr’s injury to help lead the Hoosiers to a big win at Maryland on Saturday.
Indiana went up to College Park looking to inch a step closer to a bowl berth and they did just that. But the way they did it was a surprise. Michael Penix Jr who has been so good this year went down with an injury in the first half and Peyton Ramsey had to come in and save the day.
He was helped a lot by Stevie Scott III on the ground. He ended with 108 yards on the game and busted a few big runs to help the Hoosiers extend drives.
After a wild first half and 45 total points scored the game settled down in the second half as both defenses played much better. But in the end, the Hoosiers were able to make more stops to pick up the win against a Maryland team suddenly looking like they will miss a bowl berth.
The first half came to a great end for the Hoosiers as Ramsey threw a great pass to Nick Westbrook as he made a diving catch in the side of the endzone to put Indiana up 24-21. It would be a lead the Hoosiers never gave up.
The Terrapins were without both starting quarterback Josh Jackson and star running back Anthony McFaland Jr due to injuries. Javon Leake was the benefactor of McFarland being out as he gashed the Hoosiers for 158 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t quite enough
The second half was filled with punts as the teams combined for eight punts after just two in the first half. They traded touchdowns late in the third quarter, but the biggest play of the game was when Maryland fumbled the ball with 3:42 left in the game on the 15-yard line.
The Hoosiers converted the turnover into a field goal for a 34-28 lead that would be the final score. Indiana would stop the Terrapins are their final drive as Reece Taylor intercepted Tyrrell Pigrome’s pass with a minute left. Indiana would take two knees to run out the clock and pull out the win.
The win moves the Hoosiers just one game away from a bowl berth and a home game against Northwestern up next. This win makes eight wins a definite possibility for the Hoosiers and their best record since 1993.