Iowa vs Michigan: Highlights, score and recap

The Michigan Wolverines couldn’t find their offense and fell short, getting upset by the Iowa Hawkeyes for their first loss of 2016.

The Michigan Wolverines had looked like world-beaters for the majority of the 2016 college football season. Jim Harbaugh’s crew simply looked as if their defense was impenetrable. And surveying their matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road coming into Saturday, that appeared to be the case still. It indeed was not.

A Michigan field goal was the only score of the first quarter and that continued through the start of the second frame. However, a Ty Isaac touchdown run gave them the 10-0 lead and things looked like they were about to break the way of the Wolverines. Redeeming himself from an earlier botched fake punt, though, Iowa pinned UM deep with a gorgeous kick. That resulted in a huge Hawkeyes defensive play for a safety.

Riding that momentum, Iowa went down the field 52 yards in just under three minutes and scored again on a C.J. Beathard touchdown pass. They failed on the two-point conversion, but had to feel good going into halftime down only 10-8.

Iowa added a field goal in the third quarter to take the lead, but Michigan stifled the Hawkeyes essentially from then on. That allowed them to start the fourth quarter with a nice drive that fell just short and resulted in only a field goal. That would prove to be a huge difference in this game.

Wilton Speight, who struggled all night against the Iowa defense, had a chance to seal the game with a scoring drive, but instead was picked off. Though Michigan got the ball back to make that feel less costly, Iowa again thwarted the efforts of the UM offense. That gave the home team one last try to move down the field—but they got help right away. On a bad punt to begin with, Desmond King was brought down by his facemask. That gave Iowa tremendous field position, already in Wolverines territory.

They drove the ball a few yards and a pair of first downs to set up a game-winning field goal attempt from short. Though you never know with college kickers, Keith Duncan was money as he drilled it through as time expired. Michigan gets upset by Iowa and is unbeaten no more.

Three Stars

Akrum Wadley, Iowa – Against maybe the best defense in the country, running back Akrum Wadley had himself a day. He finished the night with 115 yards rushing on 23 carries. He also added four catches for 42 yards and the Hawkeyes lone touchdown of the game.

Michigan Defense – Despite what Wadley did, this unit came up big whenever they had to on Saturday night. That includes the huge interception from Channing Stribling late in the game in addition to holding Iowa to only 66 yards passing on the night. Unfortunately, their special teams put them in too big of a hole at the end of the game for them to step up.

Iowa Defense – Yes, this was indeed nothing if not a defensive struggle. The Iowa defense played their best game of the year as they held Michigan to under three yards per carry on the ground and stifled Wilton Speight all night long. Moreover, they came up with the key fourth-quarter stops that allowed the game-winning field goal to happen.

Highlights

Next Game

After falling for the first time this year, Michigan goes back to the Big House next week to face an Indiana team that pushed Penn State to the limit on Saturday. Iowa, now bowl eligible, will take them on the road against the Illinois Fighting Illini.