Curt Cignetti later joked that Indiana wanted to make its homecoming game entertaining. It certainly succeeded, even if not at all as the Hoosiers had planned.
No. 4 Indiana needed a 60-yard field goal as regulation expired, a backup quarterback and another defensive stand in overtime to escape Minnesota 23-16 Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The overtime win improved Indiana to 8-1 and sent the Hoosiers into their bye week with plenty to evaluate.
Here are five takeaways from the dramatic win over the Golden Gophers:
Special teams go from disaster to heroic
For most of the afternoon, Indiana’s special teams were its biggest liability. Billy Gowers had punts of 15 and 27 yards, putting Minnesota possessions back at the Indiana 27 and 39 yard lines. Both resulted in scores, allowing the Golden Gophers to take a 10-7 halftime lead despite producing just 89 offensive yards and three first downs.
The errors continued elsewhere. Nico Radicic had a 52-yard field goal blocked and missed a 31-yard field goal. Charlie Becker just caught a punt at his own 3-yard line. A missed snap then prevented another field goal attempt that could have tied the game with just under nine minutes remaining.
Then came Paddy McAteer. After Minnesota took a three-point lead on a 60-yard kick with 19 seconds left, McAteer answered from the same distance as time expired.
“As soon as he hit it, you knew it was good,” Cignetti said.
Defense remains Indiana’s backbone
While the offense faltered and special teams repeatedly gave up field position, Indiana’s defense barely moved.
Minnesota passed for 215 total yards, converted just 3 of 15 third downs, and finished with 120 passing yards. The Hoosiers recorded 11 tackles for loss and four sacks, systematically disrupting an offense that found little success outside of a 39-yard trick play touchdown.
Byron Baldwin Jr.’s strip-sack in the first quarter gave Indiana the ball at the Minnesota 14-yard line and set up its only regulation touchdown. When the Golden Gophers reached the Indiana 3-yard line in overtime, Jeff Utzinger and Tobi Osunsanmi delivered back-to-back sacks to preserve the victory.
“They’re definitely a strength of the team, there’s no doubt about that,” Cignetti said.
This is becoming more and more evident as Indiana’s margin for error shrinks.
Grant Wilson is making the most of his opportunity
After another uneven half, also riddled with a possible Josh Hoover injury, Indiana turned to seventh-year quarterback Grant Wilson out of the locker room. Hoover finished 8 of 19 for 119 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and absorbed another blow late in the half.
Wilson wasn’t perfect, but he brought the necessary spark. He completed 9 of 17 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown while adding 26 yards on the ground.
His greatest contributions came with virtually little time to spare. Wilson’s 33-yard throw to Becker down the right sideline set up the tying kick, then he found Becker for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.
Cignetti expressed confidence in Wilson, specifically pointing out his arm strength. With Hoover’s health and Indiana’s offensive consistency both in question, Wilson gave the Hoosiers an encouraging alternative.
Charlie Becker delivers when it matters most
Indiana has several capable playmakers, but it couldn’t afford to be without Becker on Saturday.
The junior caught eight passes for 149 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Three receptions accounted for 105 of those yards. A 47-yard gain in the fourth quarter, the 33-yarder that set up McAteer’s field goal and the 25-yard score on the first play of the overtime period.
These catches came under very different circumstances, but each demonstrated Becker’s value as both an explosive threat and a reliable target. Even though Indiana struggled to establish a rhythm at the quarterback position, Becker always found ways to make a difference.
Indiana’s passing game may still be looking for answers. Finding ways to get the ball to Becker shouldn’t be one of them.
The bye week comes at the right time
Indiana is 8-1, but its last four games have been decided by one possession, including back-to-back overtime victories. The dominant, error-free formula that characterized much of the Hoosiers’ early season, and the entire Cignetti era, has been harder to find.
Saturday offered another reminder. Indiana outscored Minnesota 419-215, but scored just one touchdown in regulation, converted just two third downs and repeatedly failed to capitalize on promising drives.
The team’s first third-down conversion came with 4:50 left in the third quarter, after being 0-7 before that.
There is something to be said for continuing to win under these circumstances. There is also only limited defense and a handful of late game plays that can be overcome.
After nine straight games without a bye, Indiana finally has time to recover and resolve its offensive and special issues before hosting USC on November 14. The Hoosiers survived another scare. The next step is to make sure they don’t need it.
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