Michigan's mission isn't over after its huge win over Ohio State. A matchup with Iowa in the Big Ten championship game awaits, which could lead to a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Wolverines slayed the giant. Now they have to finish the job in Indianapolis.
"The thing that hits me, that hits me a lot, is I think of the 1980 Olympic hockey team when they had the great game, but that wasn't the gold medal game," Jim Harbaugh said Sunday. "They had to go to the championship game after that game, so this is (our) championship."
Herb Brooks and the United States took down the four-time defending gold-medal winning Soviet team in the Miracle on Ice -- but had to beat Finland two days later for the gold. Harbaugh and the Wolverines took down the four-time defending Big Ten champs in The Game -- but have to beat Iowa for their first Big Ten title since 2004.
Like the Americans in 1980, Michigan had the attention of the country in its upset of Ohio State. The Wolverines bullied the team that's bullied them for most of this century, especially the last few years. They tore through the Buckeyes' offensive line, led by Aidan Hutchinson. And they ripped through their defensive line, racking up nearly 300 rushing yards. Of the many people who reached out to congratulate Harbaugh after the game, one stood out.
“John Madden said it was as good an offensive line performance as he’s ever seen in a football game,” Harbaugh said. “I texted that to (offensive line coach) Sherrone (Moore) and said, ‘Keep that on your phone forever.’”
The 85-year-old Madden is a longtime friend of the Harbaughs. And his grandson, Jesse, is a freshman quarterback for the Wolverines. Harbaugh said it was "quite a text" to receive, considering Madden knows the ins and outs of playing offensive line as well as anyone in football.
“As he said in the text, ‘As a former offensive lineman, I really appreciate offensive line play.' And the performance in that game was as good as he’s ever seen,'" Harbaugh said.
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Michigan will need a similar performance against Iowa. The Hawkeyes rank ninth in the country in scoring defense (one spot behind the Wolverines), 13th in total defense (one spot ahead of the Wolverines) and 14th in rushing defense, allowing barely 100 yards per game on the ground. Michigan ranks ninth in the country in rushing offense with 225 yards per game. Something has to give.
Trailing Finland 2-1 entering the third period, Brooks told his players, "If you lose this game, you'll take it to your fu*king graves." If the Wolverines lose to Iowa, their season will be buried. The Americans rallied for three goals in the final 20 minutes in Lake Placid. We'll see how Michigan responds in Indy.