Jim Harbaugh shared praise, simple message after Michigan wins 3rd straight Big Ten crown: 'Bet!'

Michigan won a third consecutive Big Ten championship on Saturday night, outlasting and grinding down Iowa in a 26-0 victory. Following a season packed with tribulations — many self-inflicted — head coach Jim Harbaugh could only think of one thing to say at the podium after the win.

“Bet!” Harbaugh shouted into microphone for all in Lucas Oil Stadium to hear.

Besides repeating the one-word slogan that Michigan players took on after the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh prior to Week 11 of the regular season for the final three games, Harbaugh also learned he’s the first coach in league history to win three consecutive outright Big Ten titles. To celebrate that, he leaned on a classic call-and-response chant he’s known to employ.

“It makes me feel super great. There’s no coach who could have it better than to have these coaches and these players and this staff. I got one question for you Michigan nation? Who’s got it better than us?” Harbaugh said, imploring the Wolverines faithful to respond in unison.

“No-body!” they hollered back, Harbaugh joining on the second syllable.

In a game where the Michigan offense (12 points) was outscored by the special teams (14 points), the game MVP was, unsurprisingly, a defensive player leading the shutout. And having forced a pair of fumbles, it was easy to tab defensive back Mike Sainristil for the honor.

But he shared the love with his teammates and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, all while delivering some shrapnel for the Hawkeyes.

“This MVP trophy is not for me, man. This is for this whole team. The work we’ve put in this offseason, the work we’ve consistently put in every single day, this is for all of us, man. But tonight, coach Minter talked about it yesterday: He said we’ve gotta go out there and be the best defense on the field tomorrow, we’ve gotta get the offense the ball and keep them on the field, get their offense sleepy and really not be able to produce anything,” Sainristil said. “And that’s exactly what we did.”

Iowa possessed the ball for 23:28 and totaled 155 yards and had three fumbles lost, spending most of the game toiling in its own end offensively.

And for all the joy and celebration surrounding yet another Big Ten crown, there’s more ahead for Michigan — more goals the players wish to accomplish.

“This is just another stepping stone along our journey. We set up these goals at the beginning of the year, just like you said. We’re crossing one off right now,” running back Blake Corum said to sideline reporter Jenny Taft on the field postgame. “Now we gotta figure out where we’re going tomorrow, and then we have a month to prepare and get ready and continue to chase our goals. But it was a great win tonight. Felt good to be back. I remember, Dec. 2, last year, I was just getting surgery. So to be back and see all this confetti falling is amazing.”