Countdown to Kickoff - 20 days

October 18, 1986

Michigan 20 - Iowa 17

Michigan, Iowa and field goals... for a few years in the eighties and early nineties their meetings always seemed to come down to field goals.
The 1986 match-up had both squads coming in at 5-0. Michigan was ranked #4 and Iowa #8. Since their #1-#2 match-up the previous season (you're likely to read about this game here in the coming days), this was quite an anticipated match-up.
The defenses were the story in the first half. Iowa limited Michigan to a 53 yard Mike Gillette field goals while adding 10 points of their own.
Michigan finally got in the endzone early in the second half on a Jim Harbaugh to Gerald White pass. Then after stopping the Hawkeyes again, White scored on the ground - for the first rushing TD against Iowa on the season - giving M their first lead at 17-10.
Mark Vlasic hit Robert Smith to tie it back at 17 in the 4th. With just under 2 minutes left and Iowa driving for a potential field goal attempt, Andy Moeller pounced on an errant pitch giving Michigan the ball back near midfield. A mix of runs and passes got M close enough for Gillette's 34 yard field goal winner as time expired.
The 1986 season was really a year of field goals for Michigan. Besides this game Michigan had 3 others that came down to last second field goal attempts. Notre Dame and OSU missed potential game winning field goals, Minnesota unfortunately hit theirs.