Michigan Football: Wolverines Fall to Iowa, Still Control Playoff Destiny

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Michigan football team lost its fourth straight game to Iowa, but despite the loss, the Wolverines still control their playoff destiny.

Iowa City really is a house of horrors for Michigan football. And Saturday night, the Hawkeyes proved it once again, upsetting the unbeaten Wolverines 14-13 on a last-second field goal.

The game was one that was plagued with strange plays. There were consecutive running-into-the-punter penalties at one point, a safety, two-fourth quarter interceptions and a walk-off field goal.

At the end of the day, Iowa just beat Michigan football at its own game. The Hawkeyes ran the ball better, out-rushing UM 164 to 98. The Hawkeyes also used a dominant defense that held the Wolverines to just three points in the second half.

Yet, if it wasn’t for a roughing call on the center, Michigan football wouldn’t have even gotten that.

Wilton Speight, who has been outstanding in recent weeks, struggled mightily. He was just 11-for-26 for 103 yards and an interception.

Iowa’s FG is good.

Tough loss tonight. A lot more football left. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/AWilDOiXgk

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 13, 2016

Michigan football had two drives in the fourth quarter up 13-11. They ended with an interception and a punt. And thanks to a phantom face mask call on Iowa’s final punt return, the Hawkeyes got into field goal range and won the game.

The loss hurts. It ends a perfect season. But Michigan football is far from done.

The Wolverines still control their own destiny in the Big Ten race. If they beat Indiana next week at home and Ohio State to end the season, they will play for the Big Ten title.

If Michigan football wins that and is sitting at 12-1, with 4-5 top-10 wins, its not getting left out.

Certainly, there were many concerning things Saturday, a poor offense being chief among them. But in the end, Michigan still has all its goals in front of it.

Win out and this bad night in Iowa City will become nothing but a bump in the road.