Complementary football lifts Indiana Hoosiers over Michigan Wolverines

It took a village but at the end of Saturday night, Indiana put themselves in prime position to make the college football playoff after a 20-15 victory over the defending National Champs Michigan Wolverines in Bloomington.

The only way to describe the win is to simply say, Indiana knows how to get the job done. Saturday's game wasn't a typical Indiana game this year as unlike in previous weeks, the Hoosiers not only failed to put away the Wolverines but they also struggled offensively in the second half.

Fortunately for Indiana, they put up all the points they would end up needing in the first half. Kurtis Rourke looked spectacular, throwing two touchdowns and dicing the Wolverines' secondary. The Hoosier defense held strong, holding Michigan to three first half points in a massive goal line stand. They also forced three punts and a fumble that Indiana turned into three points.

However, Indiana's first half defensive performance was just a preview of what was to come after halftime. Indiana's offense stalled with Rourke making poor decisions under pressure. Indiana only scored three points in the second half but it didn't matter as the 17 points they scored in the first half was enough to win the game.

Despite throwing an interception on the Indiana seven, the Hoosier defense did not let Michigan capitolize with a touchdown. With only seven yards before the endzone, Indiana held Michigan to four yards and a field goal, making the game 17-6. Michigan would score nine more points in the game via a 56 yard field goal and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Trailing 17-15, Indiana stopped the Wolverines two point conversion.

Michigan would get the ball down 20-15 with 2:29 remaining in the game but Indiana forced three straight incompletions by Davis Warren to set up 4th and 10 on Michigan's 42 yard line. A nine yard reception by Peyton O'Leary led to a turnover on downs and essentially ended the game.

Indiana needed a monster effort to win and got a monster performance from Mikail Kamara. The defensive lineman kept busting into Michigan's backfield, messing up the Wolverines timing. He gets my player of the game nomination.

The win puts Indiana one game away from the College Football Playoff. While nothing is guaranteed an 11-1 Hoosier team would be hard to leave out of the final 12. But with a potential bid for the Big 10 championship game on the line in two weeks, the Hoosiers focus all attention to a win and in game verses powerhouse Ohio State.

Indiana gets to enjoy this week off, a much needed break after a physically demanding season.