Week 14 of the 2023 college football season continued Saturday with No. 2 Michigan shutting out No. 17 Iowa, 26-0, in the Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
J.J. McCarthy threw for 147 yards as Iowa's pass rush got to him several times, but it didn't matter as Blake Corum rushed for two scores and the Wolverines' defense was outstanding, forcing three turnovers in the win.
With the victory, Michigan secured its third consecutive Big Ten title. The Wolverines almost certainly locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff, finishing the year with a perfect 13-0 mark.
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.
The game saw the return of Harbaugh from the Big Ten's three-game suspension for Michigan's sign-stealing scandal, a topic that was still clearly on Wolverines fans' minds when they loudly booed Pettiti during the trophy presentation.
Petitti was spared having to hand his conference's prize to the man he suspended a month ago when Harbaugh opted to have injured offensive lineman Zak Zinter accept the trophy. However, the coach still played to the crowd, answering his first question on the podium with the refrain his players tweeted following his suspension.
When the Wolverines took the podium, Harbaugh had one request: Give the Big Ten championship trophy to Zak Zinter. Michigan's senior captain suffered a brutal leg injury last week, ending his decorated career in Ann Arbor. But he was still able to celebrate the team's success. As Michigan basked in the glow of winning a third straight Big Ten title, Joel Klatt asked Harbaugh how he felt after Saturday's win. Michigan's coach responded with the word that his players posted on social media after he received a three-game suspension in November.
Michigan's win also means the Big Ten East will stay undefeated in the conference title game. Since realigning into East and West divisions, Michigan (three times), Ohio State (five), Michigan State and Penn State have combined to go 10-0 in Indianapolis.
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