Michigan football had a tough assignment in Week 5, traveling to Kinnick Stadium to take down an Iowa team it hasn’t beaten in a true road game since 2005. However, the Wolverines prevailed, winning 27-14, in a game that was mostly maize and blue domination, but with a little bit of drama late.
The Wolverines led 20-0entering the fourth quarter, but Iowa scored on the first play, cutting it to a two-score game. Late, Michigan gave the ball back to the Hawkeyes, who threatened with another score, but the maize and blue produced a stop in the red zone before Blake Corum punched in another touchdown to all but secure the victory.
If you were at the game in Iowa City or watching on TV, there are some things about the game you might not have known. MGoBlue.com updated its notes once the clock hit zero, with some facts, tidbits and stats that you may have not noticed coming out of the 27-14 victory.
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Facts/tidbits:
• In the all-time series between Michigan and Iowa, the Wolverines now lead 44-15-4. U-M is the victor in three straight matchups, and the program is 3-1 overall against UI under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
• All-time, U-M has improved to 16-8-1 in Kinnick Stadium.
• In a contest that pitted the nation ‘s top scoring offense (50.0 points per game) against the top scoring defense (5.8 points per game allowed), Michigan ‘s offense came out on top. The Wolverines ‘ 27 points represent the most allowed by Iowa this year and the most scored on Iowa since Wisconsin totaled 27 in October of last year.
• Across the last eight quarters of action between these two teams, the Wolverines have totaled at least 172 rushing yards (211 in Big Ten Championship game, 172 today).
• Michigan scored a rushing touchdown on its opening possession (Ronnie Bell, 16 yards). It was the first rushing touchdown of Bell ‘s career. With that touchdown, the Wolverines became the first team to score on the ground this year against Iowa.
• Across its last 10 Big Ten opponents, only Michigan (today) and Nebraska (Nov. 26, 2021) have registered rushing touchdowns on their first respective drives against the Hawkeyes.
• Michigan has totaled 31 rushing touchdowns across its last nine games, including two today.
• All three of Michigan ‘s first-half scoring drives were among the five longest scoring drives this season (13 plays, 13 plays, 11 plays). The team has completed two separate 14-play scoring drives this year, both against Colorado State, along with several more 11-play scoring drives.
• Blake Corum was the second back to record 100 yards rushing against Iowa this season (Jihrel Brock, 100 yards, Iowa State). It marked Corum ‘s sixth career day with 100-plus rushing yards and his second in a row.
• The 13 points U-M scored in the first half represent the most allowed by Iowa in the first half this season. No other team had reached first-half scoring in the double digits.
• Mike Morris had a pair of sacks and now owns the outright lead of the team ‘s top position (4.0). He also leads the team with 6.0 tackles for loss.
• U-M held Iowa to 35 yards rushing. It was the first opponent U-M has held under 50 yards on the ground since Wisconsin (Oct. 2, 2021) was limited to 43 yards. It also marked the third game out of five this season that saw the U-M defense hold its opposition under 100 yards on the ground.
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