Wolverines overcome QB woes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 3 Michigan had its weakest passing performance in 15 years. Playing without quarterback Wilton Speight was quite a challenge.
Fortunately for the Wolverines, senior running back De’Veon Smith had the best game of his career.
Smith ran for two touchdowns in a 3: 33 span late in the third quarter and finished with a career- high 158 yards rushing, helping Michigan ( 10- 1, 7- 1 Big Ten) shake off Indiana ( 5- 6, 3- 5) for a 20- 10 win Saturday.
John O’Korn made his first start for the Wolverines, and the redshirt junior struggled to lead an offense that was averaging 45 points and 232 yards passing.
“Luckily, our run game and our O- line had my back,” O’Korn said.
O’Korn completed seven of 16 passes for just 59 yards, the fewest yards passing for Michigan since John Navarre threw for 58 in a win over Wisconsin on Nov. 17, 2001.
“I’m not real pleased with the way I threw the ball, but that’s part of battling the elements,” O’Korn said on a blustery day that left the field covered in snow in the fourth quarter.
The Wolverines desperately need to get Speight healthy enough to play at No. 2 Ohio State. He beat out O’Korn for the job this season behind closed doors at practice. In public, it was easy to see why.
O’Korn, a Houston transfer, missed open receivers when he had time and looked flustered when his offensive line didn’t do its job in pass protection.
The Buckeyes are waiting, aiming for their fifth consecutive win in the series and 12th in 13 years.
If the Wolverines pull off the upset, they will advance to the Big Ten title game with a chance to win their first conference crown since 2004 and earn a spot in the playoff.
“This one is for all the marbles,” Jabrill Peppers said. “Everything we want is right in front of us.”