Iowa Looking To “Screw Up” Michigan Football CFP Chances

For the third time in as many seasons, this weekend’s Big Ten title game has a Michigan football CFP berth at stake, and just like in 2021, Michigan and Iowa are set for a conference championship matchup on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. While Michigan is favored by over three touchdowns, and no one is really giving the Hawkeyes a chance, long-time Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is coming into this matchup with an upset on his mind and is looking to “screw things up” for the Maize and Blue.

Iowa wants to screw up Michigan football CFP chances with a win on Saturday

Since the inception of the Big Ten East and Big Ten West divisions, the East is 9-0 against the West — Michigan football is 2-0 in title games so far and could make it three straight tomorrow evening in Indianapolis.

Fun fact: Jim Harbaugh and Kirk Ferentz are the two winningest active NCAA coaches in the Big Ten right now.

Harbaugh has 142 wins (84 at Michigan), and Ferentz has 208 wins (196 at Iowa).

Harbaugh has coached 16 seasons of college football, while Ferentz has coached 28.

— CJ Mangum (@CJ_BB90) December 1, 2023

That said, the most experienced active Big Ten head coach, Kirk Ferentz, is coming into tomorrow’s game with an opposite outcome in mind: he wants to knock Michigan football out of the College Football Playoff race.

“That’s a commonality, too; when you get in (the Big Ten title game), you’re going to be playing somebody — if they’re victorious, that’s where they’re going (to the playoff),” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said ahead of Saturday’s matchup. “If we would win, that would really screw things up (with the CFP field), I’m guessing. Might be kind of funny, actually.”

Kirk Ferentz has nothing to lose while Michigan is a game away from the College Football Playoff.

As Michigan football deals with some injury issues, such as star cornerback Will Johnson, as well as trying to remain focused following its massive win over Ohio State, Iowa is looking to capitalize.

There is nothing that should frighten anyone about the Hawkeyes aside from the fact that they have nothing to lose — they won’t be in the CFP regardless, they are already a three-touchdown underdog, and Michigan could very well wind up looking ahead to the College Football Playoff.

This isn’t a game that should scare Michigan football at all, but it’s one that the Wolverines absolutely must remain prepared for.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!