Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from a strengthening road win at Iowa

For the first time since 2005 Michigan football confidently walked into Kinnick stadium and valiantly came away with their fifth win in as many tries.

Jim Harbaugh’s offense won the coin flip and took the opening kickoff 75 yards to the endzone. It was an efficient start capped off by a Ronnie Bell house call on the ground. There wasn’t much more to delve into after that in the first half. Jake Moody added a pair of field goals to go into the pink locker room with a 13-0 advantage over the Hawkeyes.

Mason Graham began the third quarter with the first sack of the game which led to a three and out for Iowa. The Wolverines regained possession of the football following the punt and scored on third down with J.J. McCarthy scrambling to find Donovan Edwards wide open for six. It stretched the lead to 20-0 midway through the third.

Iowa’s offense finally got on the board on the initial play of the fourth period. The maize and blue responded with a three-and-out of their own that gave the Hawkeyes hope. Iowa then drove the length of the field only to turn the ball over on downs with about six minutes left. Iowa got the ball back one last time and Michigan football’s pass rush arrived right on time to close it out.

The offense iced it away with a late touchdown by Blake Corum to put the bow on the Big Ten championship rematch victory. Michigan’s defense went into prevent mode and gave up a meaningless score. When the dust settled though Michigan football faced its toughest road test head-on, until Columbus, and passed with nothing but successful flying colors.

Here are the three takeaways.