The fourth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers escaped again on Saturday.
The defending national champions were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief after a 23-16 overtime victory over unranked Minnesota in its second consecutive overtime game. Last week, the Hoosiers won 13-6 at Michigan.
INDIANA OUTLASTS MICHIGAN IN OVERTIME FOR FIRST WIN AT BIG HOUSE SINCE 1967
This week, backup quarterback Grant Wilson found Charlie Becker for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of the extra period. The Hoosiers then stopped Minnesota on its ensuing possession.
The Golden Gophers took a 16-13 lead with 19 seconds to go on Luke Drzewiecki’s career-long 60-yard field goal. But Charlie Becker’s 33-yard catch set up Paddy McAteer for a career-long 60-yarder to tie it as time expired.
Minnesota fell to 0-13 against defending national champs and still has not beaten Top 25 opponents in back-to-back weeks since 1956.
Indiana pulled struggling starting quarterback Josh Hoover at halftime after he took a big hit on his second interception of the season. Two late replay reviews then overturned potential game-changing plays: one erased a go-ahead touchdown pass, while the other nullified an interception that would have put Indiana deep in Minnesota territory in the final minutes.
INDIANA SURVIVES NEBRASKA IN COMEBACK WIN, EXTENDS NATION’S LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK
Wilson finished with 156 passing yards and a touchdown after Hoover recorded 119 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Becker caught eight passes for 149 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey completed 20 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown. Javon Tracy had seven receptions for 40 yards.
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Minnesota will host No. 7 UCLA next Saturday, while Indiana will have a bye before hosting Southern California on Nov. 14.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
