The Iowa Hawkeyes head into Week 4 at 3-0, and the first road trip of the 2026 season comes with a stage big enough to change how people talk about them. A win over Michigan would not only push Iowa to 4-0, it would also pull the Hawkeyes deeper into the College Football Playoff conversation as the schedule starts to tighten up.
That opportunity comes with pressure, and it also comes with a chance for a few Iowa players to announce themselves in a hurry. To leave Ann Arbor with a win, the Hawkeyes may need three breakouts in particular.
Trevor Lauck is first on that list. He’s already regarded as an NFL prospect, the latest in a long line of Iowa offensive linemen to carry that label, but this matchup gives him a chance to put real force behind that reputation. Michigan’s John Henry Daley is the kind of edge rusher who can wreck a game if he gets loose, and Lauck will be the one asked to slow him down.
That task matters for more than just the matchup in the trenches. Hank Brown has largely had a clean pocket so far this season, and if Lauck can keep Daley from getting home, Brown should have more time to work through his receivers. It would also give Lauck one of the strongest film reels he could hand to NFL teams.
There’s another Iowa specialist who could loom large in a game like this: Boston Everitt. The Aussie punter has only been called on nine times through three games because Iowa’s offense has moved the ball so well, but he has made those chances count. He’s averaging just under 44 yards per punt, and six of his nine boots have ended up inside the opposing 20.
That kind of field-position edge can matter a lot in a game that looks like it could stay tight and low-scoring. Everitt has already shown the kind of precision Iowa wants from that spot, and Michigan may force the Hawkeyes to lean on it again.
On defense, Cam Buffington has grabbed plenty of attention with what he’s done early this season, but this matchup also sets the table for Jayden Montgomery. Michigan wants to pound the ball downhill and between the tackles, and that gives Montgomery a clear chance to flash the physical style that fits this kind of fight.
The Wolverines are expected to come straight at Iowa, which means Montgomery’s tackling will be tested right away. Buffington will still have an important role, especially when it comes to limiting Bryce Underwood’s runs, but Montgomery has a real opening to make his presence felt for the Hawkeyes.
In Other News...
Iowa's Backfield Suddenly Looks Different Entering Michigan Week
Iowas backfield has been the kind of moving target that can force a staff to adjust on the fly, and Michigan week arrives with that picture still unsettled. Running backs coach Jay Norvell said L.J. Phillips Jr. is expected to be available for the week four matchup, giving the Hawkeyes another option as they try to keep the ground game on track after a stretch in which the group has already had to absorb injuries and still produce.
Kamari Moultons status is less clear after he was not listed on the depth chart, even though Kirk Ferentz had offered some optimism about his availability. The encouraging part for Iowa is that the running back room has shown it can function even when the pieces keep changing, with multiple backs topping 100 rushing yards in a recent game, and that depth could matter again with Michigan on deck. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Has A Real Shot To Make A Statement At Michigan
Rece Davis gave Iowa a nice spotlight heading into Saturdays trip to Michigan Stadium, picking the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes to knock off No. 18 Michigan in a game that should carry plenty of postseason weight in the Big Ten race. ESPNs College GameDay host pointed to Hank Browns play at quarterback and Iowas defense as the reasons the Hawkeyes can walk into one of the sports toughest road environments and leave with a statement win.
Michigan still brings its own issues to the table, with a defense that can make life difficult and a recent run of ball-security problems that has invited pressure in close games. For Iowa, the chance is simple enough: handle a ranked opponent on the road, at a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS, and turn a national prediction into the kind of result that changes the conversation around the Hawkeyes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Defense Faces Its Biggest Test Yet At Michigan
Iowa heads into week four at 3-0 and No. 17 in the AP poll, but the trip to Michigan looks like a different kind of measuring stick for a defense that has been excellent on both levels. The Hawkeyes are preparing for a Wolverines team built around a strong defense and a rushing attack, which makes this one feel like the sort of Big Ten game that can turn into a grind long before it turns into a shootout.
Cornerback Deshaun Lee said the key for Iowa is simple: slow down Michigans run game and give itself a real chance to win. Michigans offense has had its own problems through the first three weeks, especially through the air, but Iowas defense will be tested in a way it has not been yet this season, with the Hawkeyes trying to prove their early ranking is backed by more than just a fast start. [Read more 🡒]