For those of you who tuned in Saturday night hoping for chaos — or at least a competitive game — well, I’m sorry. Actually, I’m not the one who should be apologizing. That responsibility belongs to Iowa’s offense.

Once again, No. 13 Iowa’s offense was pitiful in the 42-3 loss to No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. This was nothing new, of course. Iowa’s offense had a single touchdown in 4 of its previous 6 games, which is a wild stat for any team in this era, much less a team playing for a conference championship. What, it was going to suddenly figure out how to function against the No. 16 defense in the country? Of course not.

With Ohio State watching from the couch, this was a golden opportunity for a West team to win the title game for the first time since this format was created in 2014. So how did we end up with the most lopsided B1G title game since 2014? Because one team was completely useless on offense. Iowa has no one to blame but itself.

When Michigan scored its second touchdown midway through the first quarter, the game was essentially over, because there’s no telling how long it would take Iowa to reach 14 points against Michigan’s defense. Check back in a month. And then in the fourth quarter, we got the perfect bookend: Iowa punting on fourth-and-5 and Michigan gaining 38 yards 2 plays later on a flea flicker and eventually scoring twice more.

This is the kind of game that should prompt major change within Iowa’s program. To get embarrassed like this on national TV is going to fire up an agitated fan base even more. Iowa hasn’t gained 400 yards in any of the last 8 games (there are 67 FBS teams averaging 400 yards or better). How can Iowa not make major changes to its offensive staff and/or philosophy after this?

This game has to drive the point home to Kirk Ferentz: Defense alone doesn’t win championships. We are so far removed from when Alabama pitched a shutout in the national title game 10 years ago; it’s basically a different sport. If Iowa ever wants to win any sort of title, it needs a complete makeover. It’s not like it could ask much more of its defense, which entered Saturday leading the country in interceptions and sixth in yards per play allowed. The improvement has to come from the offensive side, where Iowa once again looked clueless.

After a solid opening drive, Iowa failed to convert a trick play and then missed the ensuing field goal attempt.

I’m not even saying Iowa needs to become some offensive juggernaut, ripping off big play after big play. But it needs a QB that can complete an out route. After Jack Campbell got an interception late in the first quarter, the momentum seemed to be swinging to Iowa, and the crowd sensed it as Spencer Petras dropped back on the next play. But he air-mailed the pass a mile over Sam LaPorta’s head for what should have been a 20-yard gain. Iowa had to punt, and contrary to its motto, punting was not winning.

The Hawkeyes tried to make this a field-position battle, as Tory Taylor pinned Michigan inside the 10 to start 3 straight possessions. But the problem for Iowa is that unless the opponent commits a turnover, it doesn’t matter; the offense can’t take advantage of starting drives near midfield.

Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz couldn’t adjust in the second half, either. Every time Iowa bootlegged in the third quarter, there was a Michigan defender ready to lay a big hit on the QB.

Petras got benched in the third quarter after completing 9 of 22 passes. Bringing in Alex Padilla didn’t make much of a difference. He averaged just 2.5 yards per attempt, constantly having to check the ball down while running for his life. Tyler Goodson, who had run for 130 yards or more in 3 of the last 4 games, managed just 50 yards on 18 carries. Iowa just had no answers.

This was no fluke. Michigan probably beats Iowa 9 out of 10 times, and 7 of them in lopsided fashion like this.

If Iowa doesn’t treat this game as an impetus for change, then the 60 minutes the fan base suffered through will have been for naught.