ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – The Wolverines found out just how valuable quarterback Wilton Speight is the hard way.
De’Veon Smith ran for two touchdowns in a 3:33 span late in the third quarter, finishing with a career-high 158 yards rushing, to help No. 4 Michigan shake off Indiana 20-10 Saturday.
John O’Korn made his first start for Michigan (10-1, 7-1, No. 3 CFP), replacing its injured starting quarterback, and struggled to lead an offense that was averaging 45 points and 232 yards passing.
O’Korn was 7 of 16 yards for just 59 yards. His best play was a 30-yard run, escaping a collapsed pocket on third down to set up Smith’s shifty, 34-yard run that put the Wolverines up 13-10 with 4:02 left in the third. Smith’s 39-yard run later in the quarter put them ahead 20-10.
For two-plus quarters, it looked like the Hoosiers (5-6, 3-5) might win one of the most significant games in school history. Indiana has beaten only one top-five team, No. 3 Purdue in 1967, the last year it won at Michigan Stadium. The Hoosiers haven’t knocked off a top-10 team since beating No. 9 Ohio State in 1987.