Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh had an interesting response at Big Ten Media Days in July when he was asked about his team’s goal for the season.

“I’m here before you as enthusiastic and excited as I ever am,” Harbaugh said. “To win the championship. To beat Ohio. [Win] our rivalry with Michigan State and [beat] everybody. That’s what we’re trying to do. And we’re going to do it — or die trying.”

Well, the Wolverines are still alive. Michigan upset rival Ohio State, 42-27, to earn a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. Iowa snuck in after Minnesota’s upset of Wisconsin. So much for a Badgers-Buckeyes title game. Neither Iowa nor Michigan was necessarily expected to be here in recent weeks. But here we are. Hawkeye fans should be thrilled. Things like this don’t happen to the Iowa City faithful all that often. Savor this feeling. Because Michigan is going to win the Big Ten title next Saturday.

Iowa has overcome obstacles all season on its way to winning the West outright. But this is an entirely different challenge.

The Wolverines are by far the best team the Hawkeyes have played this year — much better than Wisconsin or Iowa State or Penn State or whichever team currently holds that title. If you watched any of The Game on Saturday, you already knew that.

This is definitely Harbaugh’s best Michigan team. The Wolverines have a more than competent quarterback in Cade McNamara, and one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. Defensively, the Wolverines are also elite. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson has the single-season Michigan record for sacks and had 15 quarterback pressures against Ohio State. Hutchinson, a dark-horse Heisman hopeful, is going to feast on an Iowa offensive line that has struggled to protect the passer at points this season.

Michigan, who may be ranked as high as No. 2 in the College Football Playoff poll this week, may even have a better defensive unit than the Hawkeyes. And believe it or not, their special teams unit may be just as good.

Enjoy this surreal feeling, Hawkeye fans. It may not last very long once Saturday comes around.