Michigan sat out Week 6, but the Big Ten didn’t exactly sit still. A handful of results across the league shifted the picture in ways that matter for the Wolverines, especially with conference opponents still waiting on the schedule.
The cleanest takeaway came from Iowa, which answered its ugly 17-point loss to Ohio State by flattening Washington on the ground. Kamari Moulton was a problem the Huskies never solved, especially when they tried to bring him down with arm tackles.
Kamari Moulton takes it 56-yards to the house 🔥 @HawkeyeFootballWatch on FOX pic.twitter.com/B9BC1uLWZQ
The game also turned into a showcase for backup quarterbacks. Jeremy Hecklinski, filling in for the injured Hank Brown, looked comfortable enough to throw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Washington had its own quarterback issue, as Demond Williams Jr. left in the first half and never came back.
For Michigan, the important part is simple: the Wolverines don’t play either team again. But their Week 4 loss to Iowa at least looks a little less brutal now. It was still an ugly finish, but the Hawkeyes didn’t go out and make that defeat look even worse by collapsing afterward.
Another result that should matter in Ann Arbor came in Indiana’s win over Nebraska. For most of the afternoon, the Cornhuskers looked like they might pull off the upset against the defending national champions. They scored on the opening drive, then hung around until the final seven minutes, when Nick Marsh caught the second of his long touchdown receptions to put the Hoosiers in front.
THE HOOSIERS HAVE THE LEAD IN THE 4TH!Hoover finds Nick Marsh for six! @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/0Owzu06spV
By the end, Nebraska had nothing left. Its last four possessions ended with a punt, a turnover on downs, or a desperate lateral-heavy series that never reached the end zone.
From Michigan’s perspective, Indiana’s defense still looks suspect, particularly against mobile quarterbacks. Whether Bryce Underwood stays at the controls long enough to face the Hoosiers in two weeks remains to be seen, but he has the tools to stress them in the same way Nebraska did.
Oregon also handed Michigan plenty to think about, and not in a good way for the Ducks. In place of the concussed Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola got the start and struggled badly.
He threw two interceptions, lost another possession on a fumble, and was benched by Dan Lanning in the fourth quarter. Brock Thomas then got a shot to spark a comeback, and it nearly happened.
Evan Stewart makes it a one-score game 👀 @oregonfootballWatch on CBS pic.twitter.com/6cTEQPJDLE
UCLA, though, controlled the game where it mattered. The Bruins held Oregon to 73 rushing yards and forced seven turnovers in all.
That result has obvious implications for Michigan’s upcoming stretch. The Wolverines face both teams next month, and UCLA’s win in Eugene makes the Bruins look even more dangerous heading into Ann Arbor on Nov.
- As for Oregon, the game laid bare how much the offense can lose without Moore, whose return timetable is still unclear.
If he’s still out when Michigan gets Oregon on Nov. 14, the Wolverines could catch a major break.
In Other News...
Iowa Suddenly Has A Quarterback Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Jeremy Hecklinski did enough in his first career start to make Iowas quarterback situation impossible to ignore. Thrust into the job after starter Hank Brown was injured, the Hawkeyes newcomer settled in quickly, completing 14 of 19 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns while giving the offense a spark it had been searching for.
Hecklinski also became the first Iowa quarterback since 2017 to throw three touchdown passes in a debut, which only sharpens the pressure on the coaching staff as it weighs its next move. With Brown expected back in the conversation and the competition now more complicated than it was a week ago, Iowa suddenly has a decision at the position that could shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas 5-1 Start Has Hawkeyes Fans Arguing They Deserve More
Iowas 5-1 start has the Hawkeyes in a familiar but still interesting spot, sitting No. 17 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll as the calendar turns deeper into October. The record looks strong on its face, and the road wins at Michigan and Washington give the resume a little extra shine, even if both opponents have had their own issues this season.
Still, the debate around Iowas place in the rankings has not gone away, especially when compared with other teams carrying similar records. For Hawkeyes fans, the question is less about whether the team belongs in the poll and more about whether 5-1 with those road wins should have earned a better spot, or whether the committee of voters is still waiting for Iowa to prove the rsum is as sturdy as the record. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Playoff Path Suddenly Feels Real After Its Bye Week
After the win over Washington, Iowa heads into its bye week at 5-1 with a legitimate sense that the season has changed shape. The Hawkeyes have banked an important early victory, and now the conversation around this team is less about simply staying in the mix and more about how far a strong finish could carry them if they keep handling business.
What comes next is a stretch that will tell the story. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois and Nebraska all remain on the schedule, and each one matters in a league where one slip can quickly shrink the margin for error. If Iowa keeps stacking wins through that run, the College Football Playoff talk stops sounding far-fetched and starts feeling like a real part of the November picture. [Read more 🡒]