How to Watch: Michigan vs Indiana in Week 11

Can Michigan pull off a top-10 upset on the road? The Wolverines take on No. 8 Indiana in Bloomington this weekend. Here’s all you need to know about how to watch this game:

The Michigan Wolverines have only lost to the Indiana Hoosiers twice since 1968, putting the maize and blue at 40-2 in that stretch. Of the 72 times these two programs have met, Michigan has won 62 of them. This is a series that has been severely dominated by U-M.

For at least 2024, the tides have turned for these programs. Indiana is a perfect 9-0, the best start in program history, in the first season under head coach Curt Cignetti. Michigan also went through a regime change, but is fighting for bowl eligibility at 5-4 following a loss to Oregon. The results have led to Indiana being a 14-point favorite over what has been a far superior program compared to the history of this series.

Cignetti has surely made a statement and he is looking to live up to a statement he made right after being hired at Indiana last December:

Ironically, these are the final three opponents on Indiana’s schedule in 2024 and are the one’s in the way of the Hoosiers making the College Football Playoff in his first season.

Let’s break down this game and how fans can watch as the Wolverines hope to play spoiler.

Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers

• Day: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
• TV: CBS/Paramount+
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Bloomington, IN
• Weather: 56 degrees, cloudy
• Odds: IND -14 O/U: 48.5

Indiana’s ascent has been one of the most unexpected in the country. The over/under for wins was set at 5.5, and the Hoosiers easily breezed through that in their first six games. In fact, the Hoosiers have not played a single-digit game all season; their worst win was 14 points in games against Maryland and Washington.

It sometimes takes a second for this team to get clicking, but when they do, they can put up points in a hurry. Last week they trailed Michigan State 10-0 at home before scoring 21 in the second quarter and finished with 47 straight points. Similarly, Maryland only trailed 14-7 at halftime in Bloomington until the Hoosiers scored four second half touchdowns for a 42-28 win.

Now, the Hoosiers’ schedule has been favorable, and that’s the hope many Michigan fans and skeptics have sat on this season. They have yet to face a top-25 opponent and have played Northwestern, UCLA, and Michigan State on the road in conference play thus far. The record of their opponents is a staggering 34-44, and Washington (3-3) is the only Big Ten opponent they have faced that is currently .500 or above in conference play.

I’d say that was an indicator for Michigan to have a chance in this game, but Indiana hasn’t played any of these opponents particularly close. Every win has been convincing, at home or away from Bloomington. They actually lead the country with the best average scoring margin at +27.8. Texas is second at +26.1 while Ohio State is +25.8. Despite a weak schedule, the Hoosiers have earned every bit of their No. 8 ranking.

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke is one of the most underrated in college football, and if this team goes undefeated, he should earn some kind of recognition in Heisman voting. He’s averaging about 275 passing yards per game and has thrown 21 touchdowns to only three interceptions. ESPN ranks him at No. 2 in QBR with only a .1 difference between Rourke and Miami’s Cam Ward.

Michigan has struggled against these efficient quarterbacks all season. Texas’ Quinn Ewers ate a healthy Wolverines’ secondary up in Week 2, and Dillon Gabriel did the same last week. With injuries throughout the secondary, Rourke will have the opportunity to put up a similar performance.

Fans are hopeful this Indiana run is a fluke and that Michigan is good enough to earn a top-10 win on the road. Even with Davis Warren playing well, it still feels like Michigan has not figured out enough offensively to keep up with Cignetti’s squad. I’ll be taking Indiana and the points, as the Wolverines still haven’t won a road game in 2024.

The play: IU -14

Other top games in Week 11

• Noon ET – Florida Gators vs No. 5 Texas Longhorns

The play: O47.5

• 7:30 p.m. ET – No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide vs No. 14 LSU Tigers

The play: LSU +120

Betting Record: 13-18