The kickoff time for Iowa’s trip to Michigan is set, and it gives the Hawkeyes something they can appreciate before the real grind of Big Ten play begins.
Iowa will head to Ann Arbor for a Saturday, September 26 matchup against the Wolverines at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. After this weekend’s home game against Northern Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes will turn from an all-home nonconference slate straight into one of the toughest road tests on the schedule.
There was already a strong sense this one would get a marquee window, and now it’s official. With Iowa having beaten Iowa State and Michigan knocking off Oklahoma, both teams have put themselves in position for a showdown that could feature two undefeated, ranked Big Ten teams, assuming neither stumbles in Week 3. Iowa faces Northern Iowa, while Michigan gets UTEP.
For Iowa, the timing matters. Any trip to Michigan is a brutal assignment, and the environment in Ann Arbor is going to be loud no matter what.
Still, avoiding a night game is a real plus. A primetime start would have meant dealing with that crowd under the lights to open conference play, and that is the last thing Iowa wants.
The other upside is more subtle, but just as important: the Hawkeyes won’t have to deal with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff.
That would have been the first of the season for Kirk Ferentz’s team and by far its earliest start so far. Instead, Iowa gets a more normal rhythm for the day, with time to settle in, go through its routines, and prepare without being rushed.
In a game that figures to be tight, those details can matter. Iowa got a kickoff time that lets it breathe a little before walking into one of the biggest challenges on its schedule.
In Other News...
Iowa Escaped Cy-Hawk Trouble But One Concern Just Got Louder
Iowa left the Cy-Hawk game with a win, but the margin did little to soften the familiar concerns that followed it out of the stadium. A game-winning field goal was enough to settle a tense afternoon, yet the broader picture still pointed back to an offense that struggled to find rhythm for long stretches, even as the defense supplied the kind of steady work Iowa fans have come to expect in rivalry games.
Special teams again played a central role in the outcome, and the defense had plenty of moments worth spotlighting, including strong showings from a few key players who helped keep Iowa State from taking control. Still, the most lasting takeaway may be how loudly the offensive issues now stand out, especially after a game in which the Hawkeyes needed every bit of their edge in field position, defense and composure just to survive a competitive Cyclone team. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Beat Iowa State But One Offensive Concern Isnt Going Away
Iowas win over Iowa State came with the kind of grind-it-out feel these rivalry games often deliver, and the Hawkeyes found just enough offense to leave with a 16-13 victory. Caden Buhr supplied the game-winner, while Hank Brown handled the passing game cleanly, completing 21 of 30 throws and avoiding any sacks behind an offensive line that held up well overall.
Still, the same concern that has followed Iowa at times did not disappear. The rushing attack never found much room, finishing at 93 yards on 29 carries, and the offense also sputtered on third down by converting only 5 of 15 chances. For a team that can lean on defense and field position, that kind of inconsistency is the sort of thing that tends to linger even after a rivalry win. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Week 3 Depth Chart Keeps One Big Offensive Question Alive
The Week 3 depth chart gave Iowa some clarity before its matchup with Northern Iowa, and Kamari Moulton is set to remain part of the plan after leaving the previous game late in the fourth quarter. Kirk Ferentz said Moulton is expected to play, which matters for an offense that wants to establish some stability early in the season.
The biggest question, though, still sits at quarterback, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski remain listed without a decision made public. Elsewhere, the special teams picture stayed the same, with Reece Vander Zee holding the punt return job and Zach Lutmer behind him, but the Hawkeyes still have one notable offensive spot that has yet to settle into place. [Read more 🡒]