Ann Arbor — Back in December after taking the Indiana head coaching job, Curt Cignetti boldly went where no Hoosiers football coach had gone. Cignetti, speaking to fans at Assembly Hall, played to his audience by first mentioning Indiana’s in-state rival. Then he took it another step.

That’s because Indiana is rolling, ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the Hoosiers have been clowning every team in its path not too dissimilar from how Michigan has the past three seasons. Thus, the 5-4, unranked Wolverines have an uphill climb in this tough battle.

Kurtis Rourke, QB: Indiana football fans were keeping a close eye on Rourke’s thumb last weekend. He needed surgery to repair a broken bone in his throwing hand, but was back in the lineup just two weeks after the injury occurred.