Michigan vs. Iowa highlights: Wolverines shut out Hawkeyes to win Big Ten title

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.

Here are the top moments!

The scenes from the postgame celebration

When the clock hit zero in Indianapolis, Michigan players wanted to douse Jim Harbaugh with the traditional Gatorade bath. But the coach successfully sprinted away, missing the Gatorade shower. 

Meanwhile, Corum expressed to Jenny Taft just how special Saturday's win was, getting the victory on the anniversary of his knee surgery last season, which prevented him from playing in the College Football Playoff.

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.

"Bet!" Harbaugh yelled.

Harbaugh also dropped his favorite phrase during the postgame celebration.

Multiple Michigan players had MVP-worthy performances in Saturday's game, but no one was as big for the Wolverines as Mike Sainristil, who forced two key fumbles in the win to earn MVP honors.

Michigan's offensive and defensive stars of the game eventually joined the "Big Noon Kickoff" crew after the trophy celebration. Corum quoted Kobe Bryant as he stated that Michigan is still two wins away from its ultimate goal and Sainristil praised his head coach. 

"I love coach Harbaugh, I'll do anything for him." @UMichFootball's Blake Corum and Mikey Sainristil join the Big Ten Champ game postgame show

Forcing another fumble

Even with a 20-0 lead in the fourth quarter, Michigan's defense didn't stop making plays. Braiden McGregor came from Deacon Hill's blindside and knocked the ball out of the Iowa quarterback's hand, forcing a fumble that gave Michigan the ball back at the Hawkeyes' 15-yard line. 

The Wolverines capitalized off the forced fumble a few plays later, kicking a field goal to go up, 23-0.

Michigan still scoring

The Wolverines began to put the game out of reach in the third quarter. After getting a fourth-down stop, Michigan added to its lead when James Turner made his second field goal of the day. The field goal gave the Wolverines a 20-0 lead late in the third quarter.

Fourth-and-stopped

Iowa tried to generate some positive offensive buzz with just over five minutes left in the third quarter, but Michigan prevented it from happening. The Wolverines were all over the Hawkeyes' QB sneak attempt on fourth-and-1 from Michigan's 44-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs. 

Blake brings it home

Blake Corum got the Wolverines into the end zone just one play after they got the ball back, rushing for a 6-yard score that gave them a 17-0 lead. The touchdown was also the 55th rushing score of Corum's collegiate career, tying him with Anthony Thomas for the most in program history.