BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It was a puzzling decision, one that saw Michigan play its third-string running back early in a hard-fought game against the No. 8 team in the country.

At the end, a 20-15 loss to Indiana on SaturdayKalel Mullings had won more races than redshirt freshman Ben Hall — but now that’s how it all started.

Hall, who had seven carries for 35 yards in three games all season, was called by the Michigan staff on a second-and-goal play from the 3-yard line on the very first drive of the game. It was an unusual move, especially when Mullings was apparently healthy and available to play.

Instead of relying on him, however, they turned to Hall – who picked up just one yard and scored on third-and-goal, a play that saw quarterback Davis Warren lose his grip on the ball, fumble it and derail any hopes of a match. landing.

“We just wanted to get Ben to make some carries,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said of Hall, who turned four carries into nine yards. “Throughout the year he did a really good job and I thought it was time for him to get some work too.”

A bit of work, sure, but at such an important time? Hall would assign Donovan Edwards as the team’s backup running back for much of the first half, picking up gains of five and three yards in the second quarter, respectively, before an early goal-line carry. of the third quarter does not result in a gain.

That’s when Michigan (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) finally returned to Edwards and Mullings, its best runner this season (710 yards, 7 touchdowns). Mullings finished the game with 10 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown, helping bring the Wolverines back to within two points. But his first carry didn’t come until 7:04 of the second quarter.

Edwards ended up leading the team on the ground, converting 15 carries into just 46 yards, but failing to have a run of more than 8 yards.

“Donovan was practicing a little better and we have two good guards,” Moore said. “We rotated (Hall) and ended up putting Kalel in the second half.”

Mullings has struggled in recent weeks, rushing for just 18 yards in a win over Michigan State on Oct. 26 and 16 yards in a loss to Oregon on Nov. 2. When asked if Hall had also outperformed Mullings in practice, Moore doubled down on his previous answer:

“Ben was training really well and it was time to give him more runs,” the coach said. “I just felt like it was the best decision we had to make.”

Ultimately, Michigan turned two goal-line drives with Hall into field goals and not touchdowns, leaving as many as eight points off the scoreboard in a five-point loss.

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