With Josh Hoover, Indiana's ceiling no longer appears to be winning the whole thing New York Times (Online) Joe Rexrode ANN ARBOR — This is how it looks and sounds for college football's championship programs. Their fans travel in throngs and carve out chunks of real estate in opposing stadiums — even stadiums that house the biggest brands. They play with a confidence and calm that helps them prevail, even on days that produce “C” efforts against talented, desperate opponents. And even when they prevail, everything gets questioned. The quarterback is the biggest question now for defending national champion Indiana. “He's no Fernando Mendoza” can be retired as a statement about Josh Hoover after the No. 6 Hoosiers' 13-6 overtime escape from Michigan Stadium on Saturday. Alberto Mendoza would be dismayed by a day like Hoover had Saturday — 8 for 18, 81 yards and a staredown interception that gave the Wolverines life in the third quarter. And though the numbers were much better for TCU transfer Hoover in the previous two games, and though he made important plays late in all three of those games, the limitations are bubbling to the surface. Hoover has excellent backs behind him and two future pros at receiver. He's getting protection. He's coached by Curt Cignetti. It's not stopping him from missing throws that must be made. From turning those eyes down instead of toward the next read when the first one is taken away. From staring way too long and throwing way too late to Nick Marsh on a third-and-5 from the Indiana 38 with less than four minutes to play in the third and the Hoosiers winning 6-0. Michigan's Zeke Berry, one of the best players on an excellent defense, easily read Hoover's eyes, stepped in front and nearly took it all the way back to give his team the lead. Lee Beebe Jr.'s tackle of Berry was one of the best plays of the day by an Indiana offensive player. Without it, that might have been the losing play. It was the only pass thrown by Hoover in the entire second half. That says more about how Cignetti feels about things than any stated Cignetti defense of Hoover can say. Cignetti has been publicly contesting Hoover scrutiny for weeks now, and on Saturday he made it clear Hoover was “not 100 percent,” after suffering some kind of injury to his right (throwing) arm/hand in last week's 19-15 home loss to Ohio State. Cignetti said there was discussion about going to backup Grant Wilson in the second half, but framed it as a health-related decision. Still, Hoover finished the Ohio State game — he should have had the game-winning touchdown toss but for a Marsh misstep — and he practiced all week. He was not on the injury report. He told reporters after Saturday's game that there was “never any doubt in my mind” that he would finish despite the injury. To the naked eye, admittedly far away in the Michigan Stadium press box, it did not appear the injury was having a large impact on his performance. Hoover's velocity appeared fine. But let's say it wasn't, and go back to the interception. First of all, at that point in a game that featured 12 punts, you have to know that the punt is your best friend. There was zero reason to risk giving Michigan a gulp of air. And if indeed you aren't ripping passes with the same burst as usual, how are you choosing a vulnerable comeback route against a cornerback who is going to play in the NFL? Hoover came into the game ranking fourth nationally in passing efficiency (181.56), completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 1,660 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was the only quarterback in the nation with at least 15 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Indiana (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) came into the game averaging 40.5 points per game in the Cignetti era, tops in the nation during that span. But see, Hoover's and IU's numbers have been helped this season by a schedule featuring North Texas (52 points scored), Howard (55), Western Kentucky (38) and Rutgers (47). In the past three games against Nebraska, Ohio State and Michigan, Indiana is averaging 16.0 points per game. And needed overtime for 7 of those 48 points. And easily could have lost all three to be ruled out of defending its national championship before Halloween. That the Hoosiers won two of the three and have a remaining schedule that screams 11-1 is a tribute to championship DNA, and Cignetti and his staff, and a lot of great players. Hoover deserves some credit too. Schemed wide open or not, he made the right throws late against Nebraska and Ohio State. The first play of overtime saw his second pass after halftime, a strike to Brock Schott in the seam for 21 yards. Hoover kept and barreled into the end zone on the next play. “When we needed him in that overtime,” Cignetti said of Hoover, “he was big time.” And his prior struggles came against a Michigan defense that entered the game first nationally in yards per play allowed (4.1) and among the leaders in virtually every other category. Hoover isn't likely to see corners like this, draping Marsh and Charlie Becker all day. But the next time he sees a great defense, in the postseason, he will be the biggest reason to doubt Indiana's chances of scoring enough against that defense to win. This doesn't quite look like a national championship winner. Sorry, Indiana fans. You might only have a clear top-10 team. You might have to settle for the quarters or semis. This might only be the second-best team in Indiana football history. “If that's the No. 6 team in the country,” Michigan first-year coach Kyle Whittingham said of IU, “then we're pretty good.” Take a moment to inhale the role reversal at play. This has all gone so fast for Indiana, the Hoosiers shouldn't stop enjoying what the rise under Cignetti has wrought. IU fans were heavily represented among the crowd of 111,276 at Michigan Stadium. They may not have had a ton of fun watching their team play, or least its offense, but they saw Indiana's first win in the place since 1967. And it just kind of felt preordained, no matter how much Hoover struggled and the Wolverines (4-3, 1-3) fought. When you get to this level, anything that isn't absolutely elite will be nitpicked. Hoover isn't right now, but you can hope he gets Cignetti'd by January. And know fans of Michigan and all but a handful of other college football programs would trade places with you if they could.