BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover spent the second half of Saturday's game against Minnesota watching helplessly from the sideline after taking a big hit on an interception just before halftime.
Whether he returns as the starter after next week's bye may depend on how healthy he is.
Hoover has struggled since injuring his right arm two weeks ago against Ohio State, often overthrowing receivers, putting the ball behind them or wide of the mark. As a result, Indiana had to win back-to-back overtime games — 13-6 at Michigan last week and 23-16 at home against Minnesota on Saturday — to avoid a damaging second loss as they try to repeat as national champions.
“Josh, obviously, took that hit at the end of the first half — I can't remember the exact moment I made up my mind (to make the change),” coach Curt Cignetti said. “But Grant went in and did a good job.”
Cignetti didn't provide any additional details about Hoover's injury.
On Monday, Cignetti said he expected Hoover to be healthier and perform better this week than he did last week at Michigan when he was a season-worst 8 of 18 for 81 yards with one interception, his first of the season. He also ran for the winning TD.
But Saturday didn't start any better for Hoover or Indiana (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten).
The former TCU quarterback appeared to reinjure his right arm on the Hoosiers' first offensive play, his 2-yard run. The one scoring drive he led came after Indiana recovered a fumble at the Minnesota 14-yard line.
And as he continued spraying the ball around the field, frustrated fans started booing and Hoover and Cignetti had several sideline discussions.
So perhaps Hoover's fate had been determined even before the final pass of the half was batted at the line of scrimmage and picked off by Jaxon Howard. But when Minnesota defensive back Zack Harden shoved Hoover hard to ground, landing first on his injured shoulder before his head bounced off the turf, it didn't take long for Cignetti to make the switch to seventh-year quarterback Grant Wilson. Harden's play drew a flag for a personal foul.
“He just told me my number was being called so get ready to go,” Wilson said. “Emotions at halftime were just go do your job. That’s how it is no matter what. Even at Ohio State when Josh went down for that one play. It’s the same thought process — be prepared and ready to go all throughout the week, make sure you’re doing the right stuff. It’s the same.”
Wilson delivered in the most critical moments, too.
Despite finishing just 9 of 17 for 156 yards with one TD, he made the two biggest throws of the game — a perfect 33-yard completion to Charlie Becker with 13 seconds left in regulation to set up the tying 60-yard field goal and a 25-yard TD pass to Becker on the first play of overtime. A few plays later, Tobi Osunsanmi sacked Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey on fourth down to close out the game.
Now Hoover will get some extra time to rest and recover, and Wilson will get some extra time to prepare for Southern California — if he needs to fill in again.
“He’s got some real good qualities,” Cignetti said. “He started, obviously, I saw him up close at ODU (Old Dominion), and he’s a tall, strong guy who can make plays down the field. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
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