What a Performance In the Big Ten title game, No. 2 Michigan defeats No. 16 Iowa 26-0, and the Wolverines are probably going to be selected as the top….

admin | December 3, 2023 | NFL | No Comments

INDIA PARK — In the Big Ten championship game on Saturday night, No. 2 Michigan defeated No. 16 Iowa 26-0, with Blake Corum scoring twice and setting the school mark most touchdown runs with 55. This victory certainly secured the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

The Wolverines (13-0) destroyed Iowa (10-3) to win three straight outright conference crowns for the first time in school history, with coach Jim Harbaugh back on the sidelines for the first time in four weeks.

Furthermore, Harbaugh and the Wolverines are in a position to win the top playoff spot and move up to No. 1 after No. 1 Georgia lost to No. 8 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game. In league history, Harbaugh became the first coach to win three consecutive outright titles, and he celebrated by running evasively to avoid getting doused in a Gatorade bath.

Michigan also extended its school record of consecutive wins over Big Ten foes to 25. Corum tied Anthony Thomas’ school career rushing touchdown mark. Corum, the conference’s running back of the year, finished with 16 carries for 52 yards. J.J. McCarthy, who was selected the Big Ten’s best quarterback this week, was 22 of 30 for 147 yards.

For the Hawkeyes, it was more of the same.

While the defense held stout — allowing touchdowns on drives of 5 and 6 yards and four field goals — the offense produced just 155 yards and became only the second team in Big Ten title game history to be shut out in the final season of the East-West division format. Ohio State opened that era with a 59-0 rout against Wisconsin in 2014.

Deacon Hill went 18 of 32 for 120 yards, and the Hawkeyes rushed for 35 yards on 24 carries. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak and was the second in three years for Iowa in the title game against Michigan.

The difference: The Wolverines capitalized on Iowa’s errors; the Hawkeyes could not do the same.

On its opening drive, Michigan jumped out to a 10-0 lead with a 35-yard field goal. Two plays later, Corum scored from 3 yards after Semaj Morgan broke loose for an 87-yard punt return, setting a record for the Big Ten championship game.

This season, Corum is the only player in the FBS that has scored in every game.

Early in the second half, a replay review overturned an incompletion and determined it to be a fumble, which allowed him to score again. After Michigan rallied, retiring Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz made matters worse by being called for unsportsmanlike behavior and forcing the ball to the six. From there, Corum raced in, making the score 17 to 0.

Michigan kicked three field goals to end the game, the last one being a 50-yarder from James Turner to set a title game record.

After a 25-yard punt placed Iowa at the Michigan 38, it presented its best scoring opportunity. After three plays, Jaziun Patterson fumbled at the thirty.