Recap: Michigan beats Iowa 27-14 behind strong defense

Jim Harbaugh was finally able to exercise his Kinnick Stadium demons, picking up his first win in Iowa City as a player or a coach as Michigan defeated Iowa, 27-14.

Michigan's defense was a little leaky at times against an anemic Iowa offense, but it came though when it needed to, picking up two huge sacks on Iowa's penultimate drive of the game.

Offensively, J.J. McCarthy continued to play clean football, throwing for 155 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions on 18-for-24 passing. Blake Corum had his second consecutive game with 100 yards rushing, and also picked up his 10th rushing touchdown of the season.

Michigan goes back out on the road to Bloomington to take on Indiana next week.

Final: Michigan 27, Iowa 14

Corum seals the deal

-Q4 1:19: Blake Corum scores from 20 yards out to seal it. Michigan leads 27-7.

Michigan pass rush comes through

-Q4 2:30: Two sacks on that drive for the Michigan defense, one by Mike Morris and one by Eyabi Okie. Iowa turns it over on downs.

-Q4 4:01: Michigan goes three-and-out on the ensuing drive.

Iowa can't find pay dirt a second time

-Q4 5:41: Iowa turns it over on downs deep in Michigan territory.

-Q4 11:27: Iowa is moving the ball, down to the Michigan 38.

-Q4 12:37: Corum is stuffed on 3rd and 1. This ain't over, folks. Iowa is going to get the ball back down 20-7.

Iowa gets on the board

-Q4 14:56: Stop the presses. Iowa has scored points. Kaleb Johnson scores from two yards out and it's 20-7.

End of third quarter: Michigan leads Iowa 20-0

Iowa nearly scores right before the quarter ended, but their tight end was out of bounds at the two-yard line.

-Q3 2:33: McCarthy fumbles on second down, but Edwards recovers it near the end zone to kill the Michigan drive. They are forced to punt. Iowa will have pretty good field position.

-Q3 4:48: Iowa can't get anything going on offense. They have to punt again. Mike Morris with a sack on third down.

McCarthy throws his first TD pass

-Q3 7:51: McCarthy rolls out and finds Donovan Edwards in the end zone for the touchdown. They extend their lead to 20-0.

-Q3 13:23: Iowa goes three-and-out on their opening possession of the half. Freshman DL Mason Graham had a sack for Michigan on first down.

Second half underway

Iowa gets the ball to start the second half.

First half stats

McCarthy: 13-18, 105 yards

Corum: 16 rushes, 79 yards

Edwards: 4 rushes, 29 yards

Bell: 1 rush, 16 yards, TD

Wilson: 4 catches, 28 yards

Halftime: Michigan leads Iowa 13-0

Moody hit his second field goal

-Q2 0:09: Moody hits another field goal, this one from 35 yards out and it's 13-0 Michigan.

-Q2 3:30: Iowa's drive stalls after a really bad clipping call that backed them up 15 yards. They have to punt again.

Michigan adds a field goal

-Q2 8:28: Jake Moody sneaks a 44-yarder just inside the left upright and Michigan extends their lead to 10.

End of 1st quarter: Michigan leads 7-0

-Q1 0:28: Iowa was starting to get into a rhythm, but QB Spencer Petras sailed a couple throws and they have to punt.

-Q1 3:07: Michigan's second drive stalls just past midfield and they have to punt it away.

-Q1 8:28: Iowa goes three-and-out on their first drive. They will punt.

Michigan marches down the field

-Q1 9:53: Ronnie Bell scores from 16 yards out on a reverse. 11-play, 75-yard drive for Michigan. They lead 7-0 early.

-Q1 11:07: Michigan having no issue moving the ball against this Iowa defense as they approach the red zone.

Kickoff

Michigan receives the opening kickoff.

Injury designations

RB Donovan Edwards is expected to play after missing the last two games. Offensive Linemen Trevor Keegan and Karsen Barnhart are both with the team, with Keegan going through warmups. TE Erick All will not play, as he did not make the trip to Iowa City.

Pregame

The Wolverines will take the show on the road for the first time this season as they take on Iowa in a rematch of last season's Big Ten championship game.

On paper, Michigan should have a relatively easy time. Iowa has struggled to move the ball and score points at times, even against inferior competition. But Kinnick Stadium is one of those places where weird things always happen. One truly never knows what will go down on any given Saturday in Iowa City.

Blake Corum will look to build off his career day on the ground last weekend against a stout Iowa defense.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel.

Michigan at Iowa

▶ Kickoff: Noon Saturday, Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

▶ TV/radio: FOX/97.1

▶ Line: Michigan by 9½

▶ Records: No. 4 Michigan 4-0 (1-0 Big Ten); Iowa 3-1 (1-0 Big Ten)

▶ Series: Michigan leads 43-15-4 (Last game: Big Ten Championship Dec. 4, 2021 — Michigan 42, Iowa 3)