Michigan routed Iowa, 28-6, on Saturday for the Big Ten Championship to hold all the cards in the playoff race.
Despite losing their first conference game to Ohio State, the Wolverines had already secured a spot in the four-team playoff bracket. However, with a win over the Hawkeyes they would have secured the No. 2 seed and would have only played if undefeated Clemson fell to one of its four remaining opponents (Florida State, South Carolina, Pittsburgh or Virginia Tech).
A loss to the Hawkeyes would have robbed Michigan of the second seed and a semifinal matchup with another Big Ten team (Ohio State likely penciled in as the third seed). Had Ohio State lost in its regular-season finale, the Wolverines would have played Wisconsin instead.
The Hawkeyes didn’t leave any room for error when they were shut out in the first half, but the Wolverines did, leading 24-0 at the break. Michigan scored all of its touchdowns in the first half.
The Hawkeyes led 6-0 before Michigan scored on a 6-yard strike from Wilton Speight to Donovan Peoples-Jones, which was set up by an interception. The Hawkeyes then went three-and-out, and after forcing another three-and-out, Michigan capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Zach Gentry.
After Iowa went three-and-out on its next possession, Michigan struck again on the ensuing possession with a short pass from Speight to Grant Perry, which he turned into a 41-yard touchdown reception. It was Perry’s first career touchdown catch.
With two minutes left in the first half, Iowa punted, and the Wolverines scored a third time in the half when Kyle Kalis caught a 7-yard pass and started to skate down the sideline. The touchdown was ruled a catch, despite a knock-down attempt by Iowa’s Orion Cederholm.
On the Hawkeyes’ next possession, Speight broke the huddle with six seconds left and called a play-action pass for Kalis. His throw was hit in the air by Ives Hubbard, and Kalis brought the ball in for a touchdown.
Despite the six points, Michigan led 28-6 at halftime.
The first drive of the second half saw Iowa score on a 4-yard pass from Nate Stanley to Jake Williams. Iowa was first and goal from the Michigan 2. The Hawkeyes drove 88 yards to score.
Michigan scored its fourth touchdown on an 88-yard drive with 2:13 left in the third quarter when Jim Harbaugh decided to go for it on fourth and goal from the Iowa 10. Peoples-Jones scored from 3 yards out.
Iowa has made it to the Big Ten Championship game in three straight seasons, but has never won it. This is the first time the Hawkeyes have been to the College Football Playoff.