A week after stealing a win at Michigan, Iowa is walking into the spotlight with the whole college football world pointed at Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes climbed to No. 14 in the AP Poll this week, up three spots from last week, and they’re now the third-highest-ranked Big Ten team. They’re also one of four unbeaten teams left in the league, joining UCLA, Indiana and Nebraska, all of whom are 4-0.
That ranking comes with some extra noise around town. ESPN’s College GameDay is back in Iowa City for the first time in 20 years, and Pat McAfee will bring The Pat McAfee Show to campus on Friday.
The Big Ten, meanwhile, has six teams in this week’s AP Poll. UCLA entered at No. 23 for the first time this season after beating Maryland in College Park, Md., and is now the league leader at 2-0 in conference play. Penn State and Michigan both fell out of the poll and are receiving votes, while Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Northwestern are also getting votes.
Iowa also has some individual recognition coming out of last week’s win. Braeden Jackson was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after his kick return touchdown against Michigan.
He finished with two kick returns for 119 yards and the score. The Hawkeyes listed Jackson as their primary kick returner on the depth chart ahead of Ohio State.
Kirk Ferentz did not note any major injuries after the Michigan game, and Tyler Brown remained at strong safety on the depth chart. One change came at running back, where LJ Phillips was not listed with Xavier Williams as the second back. Phillips, who was available on the pregame injury report Saturday, did not play against Michigan and has been unavailable since Iowa’s season opener.
Ohio State has its own star coming off a huge week. Jeremiah Smith was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after piling up 217 receiving yards on 12 catches and scoring four touchdowns. He also earned AP National Player of the Week honors for the Buckeyes’ win over Illinois.
The Buckeyes have had to sort through some movement on the offensive line, much like Iowa. Phillip Daniels was hurt against No.
1 Texas and sat out last week against Illinois. Austin Siereveld filled in at right tackle, and Ohio State ran for 151 yards on 32 carries.
Daniels’ availability will matter this week at Iowa, and if he returns, the Buckeyes may have to juggle a rotation with Siereveld.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten slate, Iowa’s next opponent, Washington, travels to Los Angeles to face USC after losing at home to Minnesota. Michigan heads to Minnesota this week for its first road game of the season.
In Other News...
DJ Vonnahme Just Tapped Into A Feeling Iowa Fans Know Well
Iowas week four win over Michigan had the familiar grind-it-out feel that tends to travel well in September, especially against a defense that made the Hawkeyes earn every inch. The breakthrough came late through the passing game, turning a tight road test into a victory that carried more weight than a single mark in the standings. For a program built on patience and toughness, it also stood out as Iowas first road win over a ranked Big Ten opponent since 2015.
DJ Vonnahme saw enough of that finish to connect it with a memory Hawkeye fans still recognize, comparing the moment to Iowas notable 2009 win over Michigan State. It was the kind of reference that says as much about the mood around the program as the box score does, because when Iowa finds a way in that setting, it tends to stick with the team and its supporters for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Exposed A Michigan Problem Fans Still Cant Ignore
Michigans early season has already turned into a test of nerve, and the margins have been razor thin. Two of its first four games have come down to the final play, with the win over Western Michigan arriving amid plenty of controversy and the loss to Iowa following a last-second touchdown that left the Wolverines looking for answers.
Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the penalty issues that have followed the team and offered some context for the defensive approach on Iowas final snap, a sequence that will keep drawing scrutiny as the season goes on. For Michigan, the frustration is not just the result in the standings, but the sense that the same problems keep showing up when the game is hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Gave Fans A Reason To Believe This Team Is Different
Iowas win over Michigan offered a familiar script in one sense, with the defense carrying a heavy load, but the feel of the night was different. Even without much help on the ground, the Hawkeyes found enough timely plays to stay in control of the games most important moments, and that mattered against a program with Michigans roster talent and recruiting edge.
The broader takeaway is what will keep Iowa fans talking. The matchup still exposed some unevenness, from special teams issues to the passing games stretches of inconsistency, but it also showed a team that could absorb pressure and keep answering. Hank Browns performance and the defensive standouts gave the Hawkeyes evidence that this group may have more staying power than past versions, even if there are still parts of the operation that need cleaning up. [Read more 🡒]