Indiana survives Minnesota: No. 4 Hoosiers get last-second FG, OT touchdown to keep Big Ten title hopes alive

FINAL: No. 4 Indiana 23, Minnesota 16 (OT)

For the second straight week the Hoosiers pull out a 7-point win in overtime thanks to a sack on fourth-and-goal as the Indiana front was able to swarm Drake Lindsey and get him to the ground before he could pull the trigger on a pass to the end zone. 

It was a frantic, wild finish to the game with a pair of 60-yard field goals from both teams in the final 30 seconds of regulation to send it to overtime. Just like last week, it was a quick strike to Becker to start overtime that shifted all the pressure to their opponent, and despite a dart from Lindsey to get the Gophers inside the 10, Minnesota couldn't punch it in to give themselves a chance at going for two and the win. 

OT: No. 4 Indiana 23, Minnesota 16

The Hoosiers got the ball first in overtime and immediately went up top to Charlie Becker for a touchdown on the first play of the OT period. 

Much like last week against Michigan, Indiana dragged its feet on offense all game but dialed up a shot play to open overtime and now Minnesota has to find a touchdown to extend the game -- or, more likely give themselves a chance to win by going for two. 

End 4Q: Minnesota 16, No. 4 Indiana 16

We are headed to overtime after an outrageous final minute. After a 60-yarder from the Gophers, Indiana hit a big play into Minnesota territory on the first play of their final drive, with Grant Wilson finding Charlie Becker.

However, Curt Cignetti again didn't call timeout and didn't realize they hadn't ruled Becker out of bounds, which meant the clock ran and Indiana only got one more play off, an incompletion to Nick Marsh, before having to send their kicker out for a 60-yarder themselves. 

Out went Paddy McAteer who drilled his own new career-long at the buzzer to keep the Hoosiers alive and force overtime. 

4Q: Minnesota 16, No. 4 Indiana 13

After Indiana bizarrely declined to call timeout after a third down stop, Minnesota trotted Luke Drzewiecki out for a 60-yard attempt with 24 seconds on the clock and he banged home a new career long with plenty of leg to spare to put the Gophers on top again with 19 seconds on the clock. 

Now Indiana needs a miracle from Grant Wilson starting with the ball on their own 25 with 19 seconds and two timeouts remaining to try and force overtime. 

4Q: Minnesota 13, No. 4 Indiana 13

The Hoosiers decided to settle for a field goal on fourth-and-1 on the Minnesota 17, with Curt Cignetti calling his first timeout of the half to mull it over and ultimately sent his kicker out who was 1-for-3 on the evening for the 34-yarder. 

It was a curious choice given the special teams disasters Indiana's had today, but it paid off with a make to tie it up. The defense almost made Cignetti look even better when they nearly came up with a pick on the first play of the Gophers ensuing possession, but the ball hit the turf to keep Minnesota alive in a tie game. 

4Q: Minnesota 13, No. 4 Indiana 10

Indiana finally hit a big pass play to jump start their drive with Grant Wilson finding Charlie Becker deep down the middle, but once again the Hoosiers couldn't pay it off. A 3rd down pass to the front pylon was initially ruled a touchdown catch, but got overturned on review as Shazz Preston regripped the ball as he went out of bounds. 

That led to another short field goal attempt for the Hoosiers, and after missing from 31 yards earlier in the game, they botched the snap on a 35-yard attempt and never even got a kick in the air. 

That gives Minnesota a three-point lead with just under nine minutes to play, as Indiana's special teams put together one of the all-time worst performances. 

4Q: Minnesota 13, No. 4 Indiana 10

The Gophers picked up a 4th and short to start the fourth quarter but saw another drive stall out from there, but were still able to reclaim the lead with a 51-yard field goal from Luke Drzewiecki that was drilled down the middle to quiet the Indiana crowd again. 

Now it's Indiana's turn again to try and answer, with Grant Wilson about to face the biggest drive of his career as he tries to lead the Hoosiers to a win in his first extended playing time at Indiana. 

End 3Q: Minnesota 10, No. 4 Indiana 10

We head to the 4th quarter deadlocked at 10 in Bloomington as the Hoosiers find themselves in a familiar position playing a tight, one-score game for the fifth straight week going into the final 15 minutes. This time they'll hope Grant Wilson can lead them to a victory after taking over for Josh Hoover at halftime, but first the defense has to hold up with the Gophers into Hoosier territory after a big run from TJ Thomas for a rare explosive play in this game. 

3Q: Minnesota 10, No. 4 Indiana 10

Indiana finally got something to go their way on special teams with a 46-yard field goal after a quality drive led by Grant Wilson got them out of the shadow of their own goal posts and all the way inside the Minnesota 30 before stalling out. 

The big play of the drive was a 2nd and 13 conversion from Wilson with his legs on a read option pull from Indiana's own 3 that gave them some breathing room and helped settle the nerves for the young quarterback thrust into action. 

What will be interesting to see is both teams had their most successful running drives the last two series, with Minnesota getting to midfield before stalling, and whichever team can continue to pick up yards on the ground and take the stress off their quarterback's shoulders will gain a serious advantage in a slugfest. 

The Hoosiers are starting the first half with a change at quarterback, with backup Grant Wilson coming in under center for Josh Hoover. Hoover was 8 for 19 for 119 yards a touchdown and an interception. Hoover's struggles have been documented the past few weeks as the Hoosiers have hit the meat of Big Ten play, but he also took a big hit after an interception, so it's unknown whether the quarterback change was a result of an injury or poor play. 

HT: Minnesota 10, No. 4 Indiana 7

We've got a potential stunner on our hands in Bloomington. Despite just 89 total yards of offense, the Golden Gophers have a 10-7 lead on No. 4 Indiana on the road at halftime. Minnesota has taken advantage of a number of Indiana special teams miscues to get their 10 points and have posed a problem on defense by stopping the run and asking Josh Hoover to consistently make plays. 

As has been the case for weeks, Hoover hasn't been able to deliver and he was hearing the boo birds from the home crowd in the second quarter, raising the possibility of a quarterback change with Indiana trailing at the half. We'll find out if that's the case when Indiana gets the ball to start the third quarter, but nothing is working right for Indiana on offense or special teams right now and they now find themselves in real danger. 

2Q: Minnesota 10, No. 4 Indiana 7

The special teams disasters continue to pile up for the Hoosiers who had their best drive of the game stall out in the red zone and then missed a 31-yard field goal attempt wide left. 

The Hoosiers special teams today: 

• Running into the punter (probably should've been roughing)
• Shanked punt (led to Minnesota FG)
• 52-yard FG attempt blocked
• Fair caught a punt at the 3
• Shanked punt again (led to Minnesota TD)
• Missed 31-yard FG attempt

That is the recipe for how to lose as a big home favorite, especially when your offense is struggling to move the ball. The defense is at least doing what they're supposed to, but at some point the other phases of the game have to help them out. 

2Q: Minnesota 10, No. 4 Indiana 7

Another Indiana three-and-out led to boo birds for Josh Hoover in Bloomington and the Indiana fans are only going to be more frustrated after a quick strike TD for the Gophers after a second shanked punt today. 

Special teams disasters have been the story (along with continued offensive ineptitude) for Indiana, and it's kept Minnesota close enough to strike on some trickery on their first play from the Indiana 39. 

A little reverse flea flicker saw Indiana's defense get caught peeking at all the eye candy in the backfield, losing the tight end down the field for the first big play of the day from the Gophers to give them the lead again. Now the pressure is back on Hoover and the offense to finally put together a complete drive and avoid going into the half down at home. 

2Q: No. 4 Indiana 7, Minnesota 3

Special teams has been the Achilles heel thus far for the Hoosiers. After a shanked punt gifted Minnesota their three points, the Hoosiers set up for a 52-yard field goal attempt after their drive stalled out to start the second quarter and had it blocked with the Gophers recovering the ball at midfield to see if they can pay off a short field. 

After having a chance to take full control of the game, another special teams miscue means Indiana faces more stress as they try to create some separation from Minnesota. 

End 1Q: No. 4 Indiana 7, Minnesota 3

The Hoosiers and Gophers aren't exactly setting the world on fire on offense to start the game, but it's Indiana on top heading into the second quarter at home. After a pair of three-and-outs to star the game, Indiana found the end zone to pay off a short field given to them by their defense following a Drake Lindsey fumble. 

That seems to have jumpstarted the Indiana offense, which is in the midst of its best drive of the game as the two teams get ready to change ends, marching into Minnesota territory with a pair of solid throws from Josh Hoover down the field. The touchdown seems to have loosened up an Indiana offens that was incredibly tight early on and if they can open the second quarter with another score, it's going to create a serious challenge for a Gophers team that can't do anything offensively. 

Minnesota has 12 total yards of offense after 15 minutes of play, with Lindsey an unbelievable 8-of-9 passing for 9 yards, as he's throwing quick and checking the ball down on nearly every play. 

1Q: No. 4 Indiana 7, Minnesota 3

The Gophers had control of the game and the field position battle early, but a disastrous fumble by Drake Lindsey to open their third drive of the game put the Hoosiers in business inside the red zone. 

Two plays later, Josh Hoover found Nick Marsh in the end zone for a touchdown to give Indiana the lead to ease the nerves in Bloomington after another slow start for the offense. 

Turnovers have been a problem for Lindsey all season, as he came into the week with the most interceptions of any Big Ten QB with six, and this time it was a fumble that flipped momentum in favor of the Hoosiers in what is setting up to be a defensive struggle in Bloomington. 

1Q: Minnesota 3, No. 4 Indiana 0

After a three-and-out of their own, the Hoosiers shanked a punt just 10 yards and gave Minnesota the ball inside field goal range. The Gophers made forward progress on their second drive, which was an improvement from their first drive, but still failed to pick up a first down and settled for a gift of a field goal courtesy of Indiana's special teams to take the first lead of the game. 

1Q: Minnesota 0, No. 4 Indiana 0

We are off and running in Bloomington where the Golden Gophers were rudely greeted to the field by the Indiana defense. Minnesota went three-and-out on its opening series, losing a yard on three pass plays, before punting. Indiana got flagged for running into the punter -- generously on a big hit on the punter that could've been roughing -- which Minnesota declined and now Josh Hoover will take over for Indiana's first offensive possession on his own 16. 

The Gophers have collected two of their four rivalry trophies so far this season, but the last time Minnesota beat a rival at hom e(Michigan), they followed it up with a blowout loss to Purdue on the road. Now Minnesota, fresh off winning the Floyd of Rosedale at home against Iowa, heads back on the road into the state of Indiana, this time to face the No. 4 ranked Hoosiers. Minnesota's been at its best this season when they've dug in defensively and turned a game into a rock fight, which we've seen teams do successfully against this Indiana squad. However, they'll need to be at their best to pull that off against Indiana's talent, and will need to have put their win over Iowa behind them quickly to do so. 

After scoring just 48 points combined the last three weeks, Indiana fans are a bit restless despite the team coming into Week 9 ranked No. 4 in the country at 7-1. Josh Hoover has struggled to consistently move the ball through the air and the stop-start nature of the Hoosiers offense has been a big departure from last year's machine-like efficiency under Fernando Mendoza. If the Hoosiers are going to be a title contender this year and defend their national championship, they'll need Hoover to show some improvement over the back half of the season, with the first opportunity to do so coming this afternoon against a Minnesota defense that's been a bit Jekyll & Hyde this year as well.