Nov 12, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes place kicker Keith Duncan (3) watches his game winning field goal against the Michigan Wolverines at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 14-13. Photo Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
IOWA CITY, Iowa — On a stunning Saturday in college football, the carnage continued inside Kinnick Stadium.
Freshman kicker Keith Duncan connected on a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift Iowa to a stunning upset of No. 3 Michigan.
The heavily favored Wolverines (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) were dealt a blow to their College Football Playoff chances, but will likely still qualify if they win their remaining games.
Michigan gave Iowa life when quarterback Wilton Speight threw an interception to freshman cornerback Manny Rugamba, who was filling in place of an injured Greg Mabin. Iowa gave it right back when a deep ball from quarterback C.J. Beathard intended for wide receiver Jerminic Smith was picked off by Michigan cornerback Channing Stribling.
It appeared Michigan would then salt away the win, but the Hawkeyes forced a three-and-out, and the Wolverines’ Grant Perry was called for a face mask during a Desmond King punt return, giving Iowa the ball at Michigan’s 36-yard line.
Iowa (6-4, 4-3) had converted only 3 of 15 third down attempts, but it got a fourth when Beathard ran up the middle on a quarterback draw for eight yards to move the chains and set up Duncan.
Following a slow start where both teams exchanged punts on their opening possessions, Michigan took advantage of an Iowa special teams miscue and went ahead 3-0 on a 26-yard field goal from kicker Kenneth Allen. The scoring opportunity was set up when Iowa punter Ron Coluzzi mishandled a high snap and started running toward the sideline before tripping over himself short of the first-down marker.
Iowa had an opportunity to tie the game early in the second quarter after Michigan was called for consecutive running into the punter penalties. However, kicker Miguel Recinos was unable to connect on a 46-yard field goal try, giving the ball back to the Wolverines.
Michigan responded by marching 72 yards for a touchdown to go ahead 10-0 when running back Ty Isaac ran the ball in from 7 yards out.
But as poor as special teams play was early on for Iowa, it ultimately led to the Hawkeyes’ first points.
Following a 54-yard punt by Coluzzi that was downed at the Michigan 2-yard line, Iowa defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson tackled Michigan running back De’Veon Smith in the end zone for a Hawkeye safety, trimming Iowa’s deficit down to eight points.
Late in the half, Iowa marched 52 yards on seven plays and scored on four-and-goal when quarterback C.J. Beathard threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Akrum Wadley. The Hawkeyes attempted a two-point conversion, but Beathard’s pass to a wide open Adrian Falconer was dropped in the end zone by the sophomore receiver.
Allen’s 51-yard field goal gave the Wolverines a 13-11 with 9:35 remaining.
NOTES: Michigan entered Saturday’s game leading the nation in seven different defensive categories, including scoring, total yards, third-down conversion percentage and red zone defense. The Wolverines came in having only surrendered 96 points through nine games and allowed an average of 246 yards. … Saturday marked the first appearance at Kinnick Stadium for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh since 1985, when he quarterbacked the Wolverines in the memorable No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle won by Iowa 12-10. … Iowa has won four straight at home against Michigan with the Wolverines’ last victory in Iowa City coming in 2005.
