Indiana vs Michigan Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Indiana finally lost a football game. Twenty-two straight wins, and Ohio State ended the streak Saturday with a 19-15 victory in Bloomington. The Hoosiers had a chance to win it at the end, too. One foot in bounds on that fourth-down throw and we’re probably having a different conversation. Instead, Indiana has to get back on the bus and head to Ann Arbor. The Hoosiers visit Michigan on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Michigan Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET on FOX. Indiana has been favored by anywhere from six to nine and a half points in the early market, so make sure you’re looking at the current number. The weather outlook is around 62 degrees, partly cloudy, with a breeze near 10 mph and little chance of rain. Not much to complain about there. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions throughout the season.
Indiana Has To Put Ohio State Behind It
Indiana is 6-1, and the Hoosiers have been one of the best teams in the Big Ten. But Saturday’s loss was a reminder that even good teams can make enough mistakes to lose. Indiana actually outgained Ohio State 369-313 and had the football with a chance to win late. Didn’t matter. The Hoosiers missed two field goals, lost a couple of fumbles, and couldn’t finish the final drive. That’s a tough way to lose your first game. Now they’ve got Michigan on the road, and I’m interested to see how they respond. Curt Cignetti hasn’t had to deal with many losses at Indiana. He gets to find out what his team looks like after one.
The Hoosiers were averaging more than 460 yards per game before facing Ohio State, with better than 220 coming on the ground. Saturday was different. Indiana managed only 73 rushing yards, and the Buckeyes made the Hoosiers work for every first down. The defense wasn’t the problem. Holding Ohio State to 19 points and 78 rushing yards ought to be enough to win most Saturdays. Indiana needs to get its running game back. Michigan has been pretty good defensively, so that won’t be easy, but the Hoosiers can’t spend another afternoon asking their quarterback to throw 40 times.
Josh Hoover threw for 296 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State, but he completed only 20 of 40 passes. He also lost a fumble, and there were several throws he’d probably like back. Charlie Becker had nine catches for 165 yards, so at least somebody was finding room in the secondary. Turbo Richard was held to 46 rushing yards on 16 carries. That’s less than three yards a pop. Indiana needs better blocking and a healthier passing game. Hoover was dealing with an arm issue during Saturday’s game, and I’d want to hear how he’s feeling before laying a big number on the road. He’s too important to this offense to ignore that.
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Michigan Has A Quarterback Question
Michigan is 4-2 after beating Penn State 21-18 Saturday. The Wolverines needed that one. They’d already lost close games to Iowa and Minnesota, and another defeat would have made the season pretty uncomfortable. But don’t let the final score fool you into thinking Michigan suddenly found a great offense. The Wolverines had only 80 yards in the first half against Penn State. Eighty. Then they made a quarterback change, got some help from turnovers, and found enough points to win. That’s a good comeback, but it doesn’t exactly settle everything.
Michigan has been relying on its defense for much of the season, and that unit has generally done its job. The Wolverines have been allowing around 240 yards per game, which is excellent. The offense is another matter. Michigan was averaging roughly 316 yards per game before Saturday, and it hasn’t been getting much consistency from the passing attack. Indiana’s defense just held Ohio State to 313 total yards, so the Wolverines aren’t walking into an easy matchup. Michigan needs to run the football and keep the Hoosiers from getting comfortable. If the Wolverines start going three-and-out, Indiana is going to have plenty of chances to build a lead.
Bryce Underwood started against Penn State, but Tommy Carr came in after halftime and helped turn the game around. Carr scored on a late touchdown run, and Michigan got another big rushing play from Bryson Kuzdzal. That’s encouraging, but now the coaching staff has a decision to make. Who starts against Indiana? Underwood has the bigger body of work, but Carr gave the offense a spark. Jordan Marshall has been an important part of the running game, while JJ Buchanan has been the leading receiver. Michigan needs those guys producing, whoever plays quarterback. Against Indiana’s defense, the Wolverines aren’t going to get away with a bunch of wasted possessions.
Indiana vs Michigan Picks and Predictions
Indiana -6
I’m taking Indiana, but I want six points rather than nine and a half. That’s a big difference. The Hoosiers just lost a heartbreaker to Ohio State, and I think they’re going to be angry about it. They actually moved the ball better than the Buckeyes and held a very good offense to 19 points. Michigan, meanwhile, needed a quarterback change and several Penn State mistakes to win by three. The Wolverines have a good defense, and playing at the Big House matters. I wouldn’t be shocked if this stays close for three quarters. But Indiana has the more reliable offense, provided Hoover’s arm is okay. I think the Hoosiers get back to running the football and win by something like 27-17. I’ll lay six. I wouldn’t be nearly as excited about laying nine and a half.
Under 49.5 Points
I’m going under 49.5. Indiana just played a 19-15 game against Ohio State, and Michigan beat Penn State 21-18. Those aren’t exactly track meets. Both defenses have been good, and Michigan still hasn’t figured out what it wants to do at quarterback. Indiana should move the ball better than it did Saturday, but the Wolverines aren’t going to give away easy yards. The danger is Michigan’s offense putting its defense in bad spots with turnovers. That’s how a low-scoring game can suddenly get away from you. But I think both teams spend plenty of time trying to establish the run, and neither quarterback has an easy afternoon. Give me the under.
Final Picks: Indiana -6 and Under 49.5 Points
This article was completed on October 18, 2026. Betting lines, quarterback availability, and weather forecasts may change before Saturday’s kickoff.
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