Big Ten Championship: Michigan, Iowa release availability reports
Michigan and Iowa have released their availability reports for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The Wolverines will only be down two players for the game — Jimmy Rolder and Zak Zinter. Rolder is taking a redshirt year and Zinter suffered a season-ending injury in last week’s victory over Ohio State in The Game. Cornerback Will Johnson and offensive lineman Drake Nugent are both questionable.
As for the Hawkeyes, they will be without TJ Hall, Beau Stephens and Luke Lachey. In addition, Deontae Craig is questionable.
In the last year of divisions in the Big Ten, Michigan and Iowa are the final winners of the East and West, respectively. That puts them on a collision course in Indianapolis, and the stakes are high for the heavily favored Wolverines.
Michigan, as the No. 2-ranked team in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, can lock up a spot in the top four with a victory at Lucas Oil Stadium. It would mark a third straight trip to the CFP for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, and Kirk Ferentz and Iowa are looking to stop that run.
In fact, Ferentz said he’s ready for the opportunity to try and “screw things up.”
“We’re 0-2 over there. Both teams have gone on to the College Football Playoff,” Ferentz said, regarding Lucas Oil Stadium hosting the Big Ten title game. “That’s kind of a commonality too. When you get to this game, you’re going to be playing somebody who if they’re victorious, that’s where they’re going.
“If we win, that would really screw things up, I’m guessing. Might be kind of funny actually.”
As for Harbaugh — who’s been suspended twice this year — he knows how special it would be to get another Big Ten title given everything that’s happened.
“It would mean a great deal,” Harbaugh said. “As I said, this team. It’s a true team. Selfless, they play for each other. If you wondered what’s in another man’s heart on this team, it’s about each other. So many things. I mean, 12-0, back-to-back seasons. We’d like to make that 13-0. 12-0, it’s the first time in Michigan history, 12-0, back-to-back, first time ever. So many things about this team, and they all talk about it, there’s more to do.
“I know our focus will be on going out and giving it our very best, and taking a shot at that third championship.”