No. 17 Iowa is bringing the nation’s stingiest defense into Ann Arbor for a Saturday afternoon Big Ten matchup with No. 18 Michigan, and the game comes with a familiar twist: these two haven’t met since the December 2023 Big Ten Championship Game.
That kind of gap has become normal in this series during the 21st century. Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham, in his first year with the Wolverines, spent 35 years at Utah as either a head coach or assistant, and the Utes never lined up against Iowa during that stretch. He and Kirk Ferentz have crossed paths only a few times, but Whittingham came away with a clear read after a brief conversation and Ferentz’s long run in Iowa City.
"My initial impression is," Whittingham said, "great person and absolute rock-solid football coach. And he has done it the right way for a lot of years."
Iowa enters at 3-0 with the kind of defensive profile that jumps off the page. The Hawkeyes lead the country in scoring defense and total yards allowed per game after blanking Northern Illinois in Week 1 and Northern Iowa this past week, with a 16-13 win over Iowa State in between. Through three games, they’re giving up only 4.3 points and 176.7 yards per contest.
The offense has done enough to support that elite defense, too. Iowa ranks 10th nationally in rushing and has piled up 804 total yards despite losing Kamari Moulton and L.J.
Phillips at times because of injuries. Ferentz said he’ll know closer to kickoff whether the running backs, along with tight end DJ Vonnahme, are ready for Michigan.
Even with some uncertainty on that side of the ball, Ferentz said this group feels more complete than the one that got shut out 26-0 by Michigan in the 2023 Big Ten title game, a loss that helped launch the Wolverines’ national championship run and extended their winning streak over Iowa to four.
"The last time we got together we were a little bit depleted offensively," Ferentz said. "I think we got a little more octane now in the tank than we did then."
Michigan also comes in 3-0, but the road has been bumpier than the record suggests. The Wolverines needed a last-second - and extra-second - Hail Mary to escape Western Michigan in their opener, then followed with a 17-10 win over Oklahoma in a game that was uneven even against a team ranked No. 11 at the time. Against UTEP, they were up only three at halftime before settling in.
Whittingham said the issue has been Michigan’s edge from half to half.
"We definitely need to be more consistent with our enthusiasm, passion, energy -- it seems to ebb and flow a little bit," Whittingham said. "We've had three really poor halves in that regard -- the entire Western game, and then the first half of this last game. We've got to find a way to get that passion and energy at a high level from start to finish."
There were signs of progress against UTEP. Whittingham said Michigan’s run game improved, at least between the tackles, and Bryce Underwood delivered his best all-around performance of the season.
The defense has been reliable as well, entering the week tied for 21st in points allowed. Ferentz pointed to the Wolverines’ front seven as a major problem, especially because of how well it can get after the quarterback.
Whittingham also suggested some of Michigan’s uneven play may tie back to youth, with his team the youngest in the Big Ten. Now the calendar has turned to Week 4, the Big Ten schedule is here, and a longstanding rival is waiting.
"We realize obviously the degree of difficulty gets much higher this week, but I think it was a step forward for our offense," Whittingham said.
In Other News...
Michigan Heads Into Iowa With One Injury Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Michigans offensive line had to absorb a jolt last week when right tackle Andrew Sprague was unavailable against UTEP, forcing a reshuffle up front at a time when the unit is trying to find some continuity. Kyle Whittingham said Spragues return window is still unclear, with the staff waiting on a more precise diagnosis and treatment plan before it can settle on a firmer timeline.
Jordan Marshall offers a steadier note heading into Iowa. The starting running back has been working back through nagging injuries, but he is expected to be available unless something changes, which at least gives Michigan a chance to keep some balance in the offense while the line situation sorts itself out. The real question now is how long the Wolverines may have to manage without Sprague, because the answer could shape more than just one game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Young QB Just Made A Bigger Roster Debate More Urgent
Tommy Carr got his first real taste of game action against UTEP, and the freshman quarterback made the most of a small sample. He completed both of his passes for 23 yards, threw a touchdown, and added 18 yards on the ground, a tidy debut that gave Michigan a quick look at what it might have in a young arm behind center.
Kyle Whittingham praised Carr afterward, but the larger conversation around the program is already growing beyond one outing. With the transfer portal making retention harder and the NCAAs new 5-for-5 rule giving coaches more freedom to play younger guys without burning a redshirt, Michigan has even more reason to weigh development against depth management. Carrs outing only sharpened that debate. [Read more 🡒]
Whittingham Sees One Michigan Issue That Early Wins Havent Fixed
Michigan has taken a step forward since its close opening game, but Kyle Whittingham made clear there is still a larger test ahead. Speaking to reporters, the coach pointed to the need for greater consistency and resilience when games get difficult, noting that progress is real but not yet complete. For a team trying to build on early wins, the message was less about celebrating what has already been cleaned up and more about sustaining it.
Whittingham said the Wolverines have to keep the same enthusiasm, passion and energy for the full length of games, especially once the pressure rises and the margin tightens. The improvement is encouraging, but the issue he flagged is one that tends to show up only after the easy moments are gone, and Michigan will keep facing that challenge until it proves it can hold its level when things turn messy. [Read more 🡒]