The first-year Indiana coach explained his decision.
“I didn’t want to punt, but we were doing
nothing on offense. And our defense was fighting. That was the only positive really that I could draw, was our defense was still fighting. Because our offense was doing nothing. And I didn’t want to go 4th-and-10. It’s like you’re just wishing and hoping. You have nothing to base it on that you can convert 4th-and-10 at that point.
And there’s still time if you punt to win the game. So that was the reason why. I didn’t want to do it, but I felt like it was the best move.”