Three Indiana Hoosiers to watch against Michigan

Indiana came in at No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings thanks to a resurgent first season in the Curt Cignetti regime. Several players have stood out, but here are the three that could cause problems against Michigan on Saturday:

There are three games left for Michigan to be bowl eligible in 2024. As stunning as that is to say after coming off a national championship last season, that’s the reality we are living in.

Fairness where due, the Wolverines have had one of the most gruesome schedules in college football. Through nine weeks, their schedule ranks No. 21 in the country per ESPN’s FPI, but that is before contests with No. 8 Indiana this week and Ohio State later this month. By the end of the season, they are very likely to finish in the top-five toughest schedules.

That’s not an excuse for how poorly that have played to this point, but it is a portion of the disappointment this season has been. I’m also bringing this up to show the sharp contrast of their next opponent, the Indiana Hoosiers . Their SOS is ranked 103rd, per the FPI, and they have not even played a top 25 team this season — Ohio State will be their first in just a couple weeks.

In these blowouts, some of their guys have put on monster performances. Today, we’ll be taking a look at a few of them who are sure to tell the story of Saturday’s contest.

QB Kurtis Rourke

If this man had an “O” on his helmet and played about 225 miles east, he would be in the Heisman conversation. Rourke has been excellent for the Hoosiers.

Many people had questions about Rourke’s play translating to the Big Ten from Ohio University. Hitting the portal, it felt like Rourke was a project quarterback that might get an opportunity because of his five seasons of experience and nearly 8,500 career all-purpose yards. But he has proved his worth and is second in the Big Ten to only Dillon Gabriel in completion percentage (73.3 percent). He’s also in a three-way tie with Gabriel and Will Howard for first in the conference with 19 passing touchdowns.

He has accomplished all that despite a thumb injury that took him out of the second half against Nebraska and made him miss one game. He returned with a four-touchdown performance against Michigan State last week.

You can add Rourke to the laundry list of really talented quarterbacks to play Michigan this season. If the Wolverines’ secondary is not healthy, like the last couple weeks, they’ll really need their defensive line to create some pressure.

Edge Mikail Kamara

The 6-foot-1, 265 pounder was lights our for Cignetti at James Madison last season, accounting for 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. In his first full season in Big Ten play, Kamara has taken that next step.

After a three-sack performance against Michigan State last week, he is up to 9.5 on the season, which ranks fourth in the country and No. 1 in the Big Ten. He also has 14.5 tackles for loss which ranks second and first, respectively. He leads the country in pressures with 45, and he had nine alone last week.

Michigan’s offensive line — which has allowed 13 sacks this season — will have quite the challenge ahead with Kamara and trying to keep Davis Warren upright.

WR Elijah Sarratt

Sarratt is coming off a season at James Madison where he had 74 catches for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. Following Cignetti to Bloomington, Sarratt has hardly missed a beat. He’s the large X receiver that is going to catch plenty of balls down the field.

So far, Sarratt has had three 100-plus yard performances, and he had 5+ receptions in each of those contests. He’s third in the Big Ten averaging 17.5 yards per catch, leading him to 72.1 yards per game.

Michigan played without starting cornerbacks Will Johnson and Jyaire Hill last week and did pretty well against Dillon Gabriel. But I can’t imagine the secondary will maintain that level of play for another game. Limiting the deep ball and the Rourke-Sarratt connection will be key in keeping this one competitive.