Michigan watched a potential upset over Indiana slip away on Saturday as the Hoosiers held onto a late lead and drained the clock, drawing criticism toward Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore for missed opportunities. With three timeouts in hand, Moore let nearly 30 seconds elapse after a first-down run with 1:41 remaining in the fourth quarter before using the first timeout. Indiana then converted a crucial first down on the next play, leaving Michigan with only two timeouts and no way to stop the clock effectively. The broadcast team, Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson, questioned Moore’s decision-making.
“That cost them almost 30 seconds to decide on that play,” Nessler observed, while Danielson added, “That’s like gold. That’s just precious gold ticking away.”
Other analysts joined in criticizing Moore’s handling of the clock. Stewart Mandel from The Athletic described it as a “completely inexcusable clock management lapse,” while Local 4 News’ Derick Hutchinson warned that these coaching mistakes could overshadow the positive recruiting momentum. “Recruiting momentum be damned, if your staff isn’t capable of coaching a football game, you cannot have sustained success,” Hutchinson posted on X, adding that Moore’s lapse has raised “legitimate long-term concerns.”
The loss was particularly painful for Michigan, which needed one more win to secure bowl eligibility—a milestone Moore had emphasized earlier in the week as vital to the program’s growth. “We have to get it; it’s huge for us and for the program,” Moore said, as quoted by SB Nation. “It just gives you another chance to continue to play football, get better, and impact this team. We’re just going to keep fighting. It’s my job to make sure the players are in a good headspace so we can continue to push forward positively and try to win.”
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