REPORT CARD

INDIANAPOLIS – Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia grades Michigan football after the Wolverines' 26-0 victory over Iowa in Saturday's Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium:

Offense: D

Iowa's defense is one of the best in the nation. And the Wolverines knew even with an extremely conservative game plan they could likely outscore a feeble Hawkeyes attack. But U-M's offense put on the field Saturday evening was concerning heading into a third straight College Football Playoff. Both of U-M's touchdown drive came on extremely short fields, needing just 5 and 6 yards respectively. Blake Corum, who tied Anthony Thomas' all-time program touchdown record (55) with his two scores, ran 16 times for just 52 yards (3.3 yards per carry). J.J. McCarthy didn't turn the ball over (however an Iowa linebacker did drop one potential pick), but completed just 22 of 30 passes for 147 yards. The 11 first downs and 213 total yards of offense were season lows. As a team, U-M ran 31 times for 106 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and converted just 3 of 15 third downs. Michigan's passing game has scored one touchdown in the past five weeks.

Coaching: B+

Michigan was held to a season-low in total yards and a late field goal is the only reason it didn't score its fewest points of the season, too. But the staff had U-M well prepared to do what it needed to do to win. One rule against Iowa is you have to win the turnover battle and Michigan did so, 3-0, as it stays undefeated in games under Harbaugh in which it hasn't turned the ball over. Harbaugh, meanwhile, was back on the sideline after his second three-game suspension this year. Sainristil welcomed him back at the postgame news conference to which Harbaugh turned, grinned and said, "I never left!" Minter's defense was exceptional and Jay Harbaugh's special teams was great in the kicking game and with a game-changing return. The Wolverines didn't show any offensive imagination, but did enough to never leave any doubt.