The Michigan Wolverines are Big Ten champions

Before the 2021-22 college football season even kicked off, the Michigan Wolverines were given a 2% chance of winning the Big Ten. Saturday night in Indianapolis, Indiana the Wolverines thrashed the Iowa Hawkeyes and in doing so became champions. While the College Football Playoff committee will choose who is the top seed (Alabama or Michigan) that simply does not matter. Michigan is going to the playoffs for the first time.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 04: Michigan Wolverines players celebrate after a defensive stop on fourth down during the Big Ten Championship college football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Dec. 4, 2021 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“Those who stay will be Champions.” That quote from legendary Michigan Wolverines head coach Bo Schembechler was running through my mind last night as I saw Aidan Hutchinson and other Michigan players who could have left after last season and been first round NFL draft picks.

Yet, there was Hutchinson and his teammates standing on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium as maize and blue confetti filled the air and covered the field as Michigan had just humbled the Iowa Hawkeyes to win the Big Ten Championship.

42-3, a lopsided victory to be sure. But, after scoring 42 against the schools biggest rival Ohio State, Jim Harbaugh had his Wolverines locked onto a championship. Nothing short of a championship would do.

Michigan’s offense started the game strong then Iowa’s defense found it’s footing and the game turned into a first half defensive slugfest. Going into halftime Michigan was up 14-3. Coming out for the second half a switch was flipped.

The Wolverines team speed was too much for the Hawkeyes to overcome. Michigan has been described much of this season as one of the most balanced teams in the country. They are a complete in all phases of the game. This is a Harbaugh trait.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 04: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in the fourth quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 04, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

This season has been what Michigan fans have waited for since Harbaugh returned to the school as head football coach. The Big Ten Championship is the kind of launching pad that very well could and most likely will propel the Wolverines back to the yearly top of the Big Ten and nationally.

It does not matter what happens in the playoffs. What matters is that Jim Harbaugh and his football team won the Big Ten and are now set up for great things going forward.