Michigan up, Ohio State down in college football rankings
USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg breaks down this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll and the future of Ryan Day Ohio State.
Sports Pulse
For the second time in three seasons, No. 2 Michigan (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten play) is set to face Iowa in the Big Ten championship game.
The last time the Wolverines and Hawkeyes faced off with the Big Ten title on the line, the Wolverines beat the Hawkeyes 42-3. The margin of victory is irrelevant for Jim Harbaugh and Co.: Win vs. the Hawkeyes (10-2 7-2) and you’re in the College Football Playoff for the third time in as many seasons.
WATCH: Michigan-Iowa in Big Ten championship with Fubo (free trial)
The Wolverines are already coming off their toughest test of the season, outlasting Ryan Day and Ohio State (11-1, 8-1) without Harbaugh on the sidelines. The defense nabbed two interceptions, including one to seal the game, in a 30-24 victory over the Buckeyes. But J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and Co. will have to take on an equally impressive defense on Saturday.
The Hawkeyes have reached this point of the season not on the strength of their offense, but their defensive acumen: Iowa ranks seventh among FBS teams by giving up 279.9 yards per game and fourth nationally (and in the Big Ten) by giving up just 12.2. points per game.
Follow along for live updates and highlights from Michigan’s game vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Championship:
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Michigan vs. Iowa score
| Teams | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
| Michigan | 10 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
11:26 p.m.: Turner adds another field goal, this one from 50 yards. Just 3:38 separates Michigan from its third-consecutive Big Ten title.
11:20 p.m.: An incomplete pass from Hill on 4th-and-5 ends the Iowa drive and gives Michigan the ball at its own 45. Only about seven minutes left.
11:11 p.m.: Turner nails another field goal, this one from 36 yards.
11:06 p.m.: Braiden McGregor strip sacks Hill, with Michigan recovering the ball at the Iowa 17 and taking it to the 15. Another turnover for the Hawkeyes deep in their own territory. Only about 10 minutes left.
11 p.m.: No announcement from the officials, but they determined there wasn’t a fumble. Michigan punts it away and after an illegal block in the back on the return, Iowa will start at its own 15 with 12:13 to play.
10:58 p.m.: Corum is stopped a yard short on 3rd-and-2 and appeared to fumble, but it was ruled that his forward progress was stopped before the ball came loose. Officials are about to review the play.
10:53 p.m.: Iowa punts it away for the seventh time tonight, with Michigan taking over at its own 35 with 14:47 to play.
10:45 p.m.: Turner nails a 46-yard field goal to put Michigan up by 20. Iowa’s averaging just 18 points per game this season, so safe to say this one’s close to over.
10:42 p.m.: McCarthy uses his legs to pick up a first down on a 3rd-and-2, getting down to the Iowa 32. Michigan is bleeding a ton of clock on this drive, with only about 1:30 left in the third quarter now.
10:35 p.m.: Iowa got back-to-back 10-yard passes from Hill to get into Michigan territory, but a sneak from Deacon Hill on 4th-and-1 is about a yard short. Wolverines take over at their own 44 with 5:08 left in the third quarter.
10:27 p.m.: Corum gets his second touchdown of the night on the first play of the drive, plowing ahead for a six-yard touchdown. Wolverines starting to pull away.
10:24 p.m.: It’s ruled a fumble, with Michigan recovering it at the 12 and getting it up to the Iowa six after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz for angrily arguing the call.
10:22 p.m.: We’ve got an official review that could end up benefitting Michigan. A deflected Deacon Hill pass for Iowa was ruled an incomplete pass deep in Hawkeyes territory, but it looks like Sainristil might have gotten there just in time to jar the ball loose before Hill’s arm went forward.
10:16 p.m.: What looked for a moment like a promising Michigan drive stalls just past midfield. Wolverines have to punt, with Doman pinning Iowa down at its own 6.
10:14 p.m.: McCarthy hits Roman Wilson for a 14-yard pickup on 3rd-and-7, getting Michigan to the Iowa 49. Wolverines moving on their opening drive of the half.
10:09 p.m.: Meanwhile, before the second half kicks off, here are some individual stats for Michigan players in the first half…
- J.J. McCarthy: 13-18, 95 yards
- Blake Corum: 7 carries, 15 yards
- Donovan Edwards: 3 carries, 25 yards
- Cornelius Johnson: 5 catches, 39 yards
9:54 p.m.: Some team stats of note from the first half…
- Total yards: Michigan 111, Iowa 61
- First downs: Michigan 7, Iowa 2
- Passing yards: Michigan 95, Iowa 30
- Rushing yards (sacks not included): Michigan 47, Iowa 39
- Yards per carry: Michigan 3.9, Iowa 2.8
- Yards per play: Michigan 3.4, Iowa 2.3
- Sacks: Iowa 3, Michigan 1
- Turnovers: Iowa 1, Michigan 0
- Third downs: Michigan 1-7, Iowa 2-9
9:44 p.m.: McCarthy is sacked for a nine-yard loss and we go into halftime with Michigan up 10-0.
9:43 p.m.: A 17-yard run from Donovan Edwards up the middle gets Michigan to its own 43 with nine seconds left. Edwards got out of bounds, so the Wolverines still have their timeout.
9:41 p.m.: Michigan has a first down at its own 26, but with just 16 seconds left in the half and one timeout.
9:36 p.m.: Colston Loveland drops what would have been at least a 15-yard gain past midfield on 3rd-and-6 and yet again, the Wolverines have to punt. Iowa takes over at its own 24 with 46 seconds left in the half.
9:32 p.m.: Say it with me — another three and out for Iowa. Hawkeyes get a 68-yard punt, though, that rolls all the way down to the Michigan 19. Just under two minutes left.
9:28 p.m.: Nothing doing for Michigan on that drive, going three and out. A 54-yard punt from Tommy Doman, though, pins Iowa at its own nine with 3:21 left in the first half.
9:26 p.m.: Phenomenal play by Sainristil, who gets a helmet on the ball as Iowa’s Jazuin Patterson lunged for the first down on a 3rd and 2. The ball pops out, Michigan recovers and the Wolverines take over at their own 39 and deprive Iowa of a prime scoring opportunity.
9:22 p.m.: Another sack for Iowa, this one dropping McCarthy 16 yards. Michigan punts from its own end zone and it only goes 27 yards, giving the Hawkeyes the ball at the Wolverines’ 38. The Iowa secondary has done a fantastic job preventing separation for Michigan wideouts.
9:18 p.m.: Another three and out for Iowa gives Michigan the ball at its own 28. Wolverines can break things open with a touchdown on this drive, though 10 points may honestly be enough to beat Iowa.
9:11 p.m.: A holding penalty on the Iowa punt return wipes out a 24-yard return that got the Hawkeyes close to midfield. Instead, Deacon Hill and company will get started at their own 20.
9:09 p.m.: McCarthy is dropped for a seven-yard sack on 3rd-and-12, back to the Michigan 39. Wolverines will have to punt for the first time tonight.
9:05 p.m.: Wanted to provide an update since I made note of it earlier, but Drake Nugent is back in the game for Michigan at center.
9:00 p.m.: Mike Sainristil nearly gets a pick near the Iowa 45, but it falls incomplete and ends the Iowa drive. Hawkeyes punt, with Michigan taking over at its own 20.
First quarter: Michigan 10, Iowa 0
8:47 p.m.: Blake Corum finds the end zone from two yards out and now it’s a two-possession lead for Michigan.
Touchdown, Michigan: Michigan 10, Iowa 0
8:44 p.m.: Semaj Morgan with a huge 87-yard punt return to the Iowa 5-yard line.
8:35 p.m.: James Turner connects on a 35-yard field goal to get Michigan on the board and finish off a 13-play, 52-yard drive that took 7:35 off the clock.
8:33 p.m.: Center Drake Nugent is being tended to by Michigan trainers after the Wolverines come up one yard shy on third down at the Iowa 17. Michigan’s already obviously down a starting offensive lineman with Zak Zinter out. Jim Harbaugh will face another fourth-down decision, though if they opt to kick, it will be a much more makeable field goal (about 35 yards).
8:29 p.m.: Wolverines convert on a 4th-and-7 from the Iowa 36, with McCarthy finding Cornelius Johnson for a 10-yard gain. Michigan’s opening drive continues.
8:24 p.m.: J.J. McCarthy steps up into the pocket on a 3rd-and-5 to connect with AJ Barner for a 13-yard gain to midfield.
8:21 p.m.: Michigan forces a three-and-out on Iowa’s opening drive. Hawkeyes gained five yards on three plays. Wolverines will take over at their own 31.
Pregame
8:16 p.m.: Michigan wins the toss and elects to defer. Wolverines will kick off to Iowa to start the game.
7 p.m.: Will Johnson, the Wolverines’ first-team all-Big Ten defensive back, is listed as questionable on the team’s pregame availability report.
What channel is Michigan vs. Iowa on today?
Michigan vs. Iowa will air on Fox, with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt calling the game from the booth and Jenny Taft reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
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Michigan vs. Iowa start time
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 2
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Wolverines and Hawkeyes’ Big Ten championship game is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Michigan vs. Iowa betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Dec. 1.
- Spread: Michigan (-22.5)
- Over/under: 35.5 points
- Moneyline: Michigan -2000 | Iowa +1000
Michigan schedule 2023
| Date | Opponent |
| Saturday, Sept. 2 | Michigan 30, ECU 3 |
| Saturday, Sept. 9 | Michigan 35, UNLV 7 |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 | Michigan 31, BGSU 6 |
| Saturday, Sept. 23 | Michigan 31, Rutgers 7* |
| Saturday, Sept. 30 | Michigan 45, Nebraska 7* |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 | Michigan 52, Minnesota 10* |
| Saturday, Oct. 14 | Michigan 52, Indiana 7* |
| Saturday, Oct. 21 | Michigan 49, Michigan State 0* |
| Saturday, Oct. 28 | BYE |
| Saturday, Nov. 4 | Michigan 41, Purdue 13* |
| Saturday, Nov. 11 | Michigan 24, No. 10 Penn State 15* |
| Saturday, Nov. 18 | Michigan 31, Maryland 24* |
| Saturday, Nov. 25 | Michigan 30, No. 2 Ohio State 24 |
| Saturday, Dec. 2 | vs. No. 16 Iowa (Indianapolis)** |
*Big Ten game** Big Ten championship game
Iowa schedule 2023
| Date | Opponent |
| Saturday, Sept. 2 | Iowa 24, Utah State 14 |
| Saturday, Sept. 9 | Iowa 20, Iowa State 13 |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 | Iowa 41, Western Michigan |
| Saturday, Sept. 23 | No. 7 Penn State 31, Iowa 0* |
| Saturday, Sept. 30 | Iowa 26, Michigan State 16* |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 | Iowa 20, Purdue 14* |
| Saturday, Oct. 14 | Iowa 15, Wisconsin 6* |
| Saturday, Oct. 21 | Minnesota 12, Iowa 10* |
| Saturday, Oct. 28 | BYE |
| Saturday, Nov. 4 | Iowa 10, Northwestern 7* |
| Saturday, Nov. 11 | Iowa 22, Rutgers 0* |
| Saturday, Nov. 18 | Iowa 15, Illinois 13* |
| Friday, Nov. 24 | Iowa 13, Nebraska 10* |
| Saturday, Dec. 2 | vs. No. 2 Michigan (Indianapolis)** |
*Big Ten game** Big Ten championship game
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