Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin highlights the best and worst performances from No. 18 Michigan football's 20-19 loss to No. 17 Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Michigan Stadium.
Winners
Bryce Underwood
Michigan knows how WMU feels after stunning loss to Iowa
Ever since his rough 2026 debut against Western Michigan, Underwood has looked more competent and poised while operating the Wolverines’ offense. On Saturday, he jumped out to a fast start, connecting on eight of his first 10 throws for 118 yards and a touchdown. If not for a Salesi Moa drop on Underwood’s second pass attempt, Underwood’s completion percentage would have even been higher. Coordinator Jason Beck put Underwood in position to succeed by utilizing his athleticism. On several occasions, he called plays with designed rollouts that gave Underwood clear throwing lanes downfield. Beck also creatively deployed Underwood in a Wildcat package, lining him up out wide and having him flash across the formation in a jet motion. In one instance, Underwood took a handoff from running back Jordan Marshall and then completed an 11-yard pass to Andrew Marsh. Later in the half, Beck dipped again into his bag of tricks, dialing up a flea-flicker. Underwood executed it to perfection, feathering a layered pass to JJ Buchanan for a 32-yard gain.
But Underwood’s best was yet to come.
In the fourth quarter, after Iowa took the one-point lead, Underwood maneuvered in the pocket, evaded a few oncoming rushers and delivered a 49-yard strike to Buchanan to put the Wolverines ahead, 19-14.
It seemed at that point his touchdown pass would carry Michigan to its fourth win. Alas, it was not meant to be. Still, Underwood could walk away knowing he authored one of the best performances of his career. He finished the game with 17 completions on 28 attempts, 276 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Michigan wide receivers
While no one would claim Michigan has an elite passing offense, the Wolverines do have a pair of talented wideouts who possess dynamic playmaking ability.
That was evident Saturday, as Marsh and Buchanan took turns singing Iowa’s defense.
On Michigan’s second possession, Marsh helped carry Michigan into Hawkeyes territory with two catches that totaled 47 yards. The second one was a remarkable feat of athleticism, as Marsh leapt to snag a pass from Underwood along the sideline while managing to keep one of his feet inbounds. Six plays later, Underwood connected with Buchanan for an 18-yard touchdown, as the Utah transfer outmaneuvered Iowa defensive back Ty Brown to snatch the ball in the end zone.
By the end of the game, Buchanan had contributed five catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Marsh, meanwhile, produced seven receptions for 106 yards.
Losers
Michigan special teams
In a game like this one, where the margin for error was expected to be thin, Michigan couldn’t afford many mistakes.
But the Wolverines had a major breakdown a few seconds after they took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. On the kickoff that followed Buchanan’s 18-yard touchdown catch, Iowa returner Braeden Jackson fielded the ball at the 1, veered right and found an alley. By the time he reached the 30, he was in the clear. Jackson zipped all the way to the end zone. The 99-yard return tied the score and stunned the home crowd.
It also reverberated for the rest of the game, keeping Iowa within striking distance of the Wolverines and boosting a team that managed to produce just 129 yards through the first three quarters.
Michigan tight ends
Throughout its history, Michigan has extracted a lot of production out of its tight ends. Two years ago, Colston Loveland led the Wolverines in receiving en route to an NFL draft first-round selection.
But through the first three games, U-M's passing game was powered almost entirely by U-M’s wide receivers and running backs.
Jalen Hoffman was the lone tight end to catch a pass and he accounted for just two receptions for 22 yards. On Tuesday, when asked what needed to change for his position group to become more involved, sophomore Eli Owens said, "Obviously, what jumps off the page is we need to get open. I mean, that's everybody in the room. We need to get open. That's simply what it is."
Michigan tight ends again weren’t much of a factor Saturday against Iowa.
Collectively, they contributed just four catches for 21 yards.
Zeke Berry
For much of the game, the Wolverines’ fifth-year player was one of Michigan’s top performers.
Targeted seven times, he allowed just three catches for 15 yards. He also produced two pass breakups, according to Pro Football Focus.
But none of that mattered when he committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during Iowa’s final drive, shoving receiver Tony Diaz after a pass toward the sideline fell incomplete. If the foul had not been committed, Iowa would have faced fourth-and-12 at its own 40. Instead the Hawkeyes began a new set of downs at Michigan’s 45. Four snaps after that pivotal moment, Iowa quarterback Hank Brown connected with Reece Vander Zee for on a 16-yard touchdown pass as time expired, lifting the Hawkeyes to an improbable one-point victory.
Certainly, Berry was not the sole reason why the Wolverines lost. But his penalty helped position the Hawkeyes to steal the win.
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football winners, losers as special teams flub too costly
