Big Ten Championship preview: Michigan and Iowa need to win quickly in this possible defensive matchup.

Insiders for the Wolverines and Hawkeyes provided insight into important matchups for Saturday’s championship game.

The Big Ten Championship Game could be the most lopsided of this week’s title matches, according to betting odds, with Michigan starting the game as more than a three-touchdown favorite. The Wolverines’ outstanding defense may not be challenged by Iowa’s stuttering offense, but the Hawkeyes’ ability to prevent teams from scoring has been the great equalizer this season.

Michigan is playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Iowa is trying to play spoiler and pull off one of the biggest upsets in conference title games in recent memory. This could be the most explosive game of the 2023 college football season. Given how much the Wolverines are favored, the first quarter may reveal whether the Hawkeyes can maintain their competitiveness or if the game will get out of hand.

Staff writers David Eickholt of Hawkeye Insider and Alejandro Zuniga of The Michigan Insider met to preview the highly anticipated game between the Wolverines and Hawkeyes. They discussed storylines that could affect the result of the game and highlighted important players.

ZUNIGA ON MICHIGAN’S KEY TO VICTORY: “Taking an early lead and scoring first is one of the keys for Michigan to win this game, and to win it comfortably. I don’t think anyone thinks Iowa has the offensive firepower to close the gap if Michigan takes a two-score lead. When you reflect on the 2021 game you mentioned, Michigan led 14–3. Suddenly, the score is 11 points, and that’s when the game is lost.

“I do believe that Michigan is pretty well-positioned if this turns into a field-position game, if this turns into an Iowa-type game, which it very well could.” They’ve defeated Maryland and Ohio State the past two weeks by doing what Iowa does best—winning special teams games and field position battles. Safeties against Maryland came from that. Last week, Ohio State had lengthy drives but ended up with no points as a result. Michigan is in a good position to use its strengths to defeat Iowa.

EICKHOLT ON IOWA’S ESSENTIAL TO WINNING: “I’m closely monitoring the plays that are written. When you think back to two years ago, Iowa made a good first drive with the ball. In actuality, they had a very good chance of scoring. After a trick play that was somewhat mishandled in the end zone, Iowa’s kicker, Caleb Shudak, who had been the team’s mainstay the entire season, failed to convert a chip shot field goal. I predicted that Michigan would find a way to win the game because Iowa appeared rattled just as they were about to miss that.

Therefore, Iowa must keep the score low if they are to win this game. As he did in that 2019 bowl game versus USC, Brian Ferentz will need to call the game of his life. It will be against Ohio State in 2017. However, I wonder if Iowa will actually take some chances and reveal all of its tricks. I believe it’s also very important. Therefore, Iowa must move the ball quickly, hit Michigan in the mouth, and gain any kind of momentum going forward—whether it’s a touchdown or a field goal. Because, let’s be honest, this Iowa team is not designed to play from behind if Michigan strikes first.

ZUNIGA REGARDING JIM HARBAUGH’S RETURN: “It’s amazing to consider that, out of the 12 games Michigan has played this season, Jim Harbaugh has only missed half of them due to injury. Out of the 12 games this year, he has been suspended six times. And if there’s one thing that the suspension has demonstrated for Michigan supporters, the team, and the administration, it’s how adored Jim Harbaugh is at the moment in Ann Arbor. It’s been abundantly evident from the “Free Jim Harbaugh” t-shirts to Sherrone Moore’s post-game sobs, F-bombs, and declaration that “This was for you, Jim.” For him, there is a lot of love.

“Over the course of the last almost ten years, this program has been developed in his image. Jim Harbaugh elevated the program to unprecedented heights. And I believe that having him back on the sidelines will mean a lot to J.J. McCarthy, as the quarterback will be going up against an extremely stingy Iowa defense. It will be extremely beneficial for him to have Jim Harbaugh, a former quarterback, there to support and mentor him. It will also be crucial for Michigan for Sherrone Moore to be able to step back and carry out his duties.