No. 18 Michigan football continues its 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 26, with a Week 4 matchup against the No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan Stadium. Here is everything you need to know:
Fast facts
Matchup: No. 18
Michigan (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 17 Iowa (3-0, 0-0); Big Ten opener.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: CBS; WCSX-FM (94.7).
Line: Wolverines by 5½.
Scouting report
When Michigan has the ball: Offensive coordinator Jason Beck said it best – U-M is "just barely getting it done" early in the season. U-M has scored more than 17 points just once this year, and in its lone matchup against a Power Four program (Oklahoma), Michigan had just one drive that went more than 35 yards. Now, going against Iowa's defense led by coordinator Phil Parker, it's going to be about protecting the football. The Wolverines have five turnovers in three games (and two additional fumbles it recovered). Michigan will look to target its top two wideouts, Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan, but the key in this one is the running game. Neither Jordan Marshall nor Savion Hiter have run for more than 62 yards in a game this season, and if U-M can't get its traditional run attack going, it could require quarterback Bryce Underwood to get it done on the ground.
When Iowa has the ball: Iowa is averaging more than 37 points per game, but in its only game against a Power Four program (Iowa State), the Hawkeyes scored just 16 points, with a lackluster run game. Against the Cyclones, the Hawkeyes averaged just 3.2 yards per carry. Then again, Iowa had three 100-yard rushers in a 55-0 win over FCS-level Northern Iowa. Michigan's defense is almost certainly better than Iowa State's not to mention Northern Iowa.
Hank Brown is the quarterback, in his second season at Iowa after two seasons at Auburn, and his first season as a starter. This will be the first true road start in his career, and he's yet to be sacked this season. Michigan is No. 10 in the nation in sacks (10) and some early pressure could rattle his cage.
"Right now, uncharacteristically, we have not forced as many turnovers as I'm used to," U-M defensive coordinator Jay Hill said Wednesday. "Over the last two years, BYU's had as many interceptions as anyone in the country, so for whatever reason right now, they're not coming our way. But that might be a great thing because usually when they do, they come in droves."
Know the foe
Phillips power: Iowa has been without its expected top rusher, L.J. Phillips, for much of the season, but position coach Jay Norvell said he will play against U-M. He had just four carries for 5 yards against Northern Illinois before leaving with an injury, but he's a game-changer. Phillips starred at FCS-level South Dakota in 2025, piling up 1,920 yards (at 6.5 a carry) and 19 touchdowns.
Sunny Diaz: Iowa wide receiver Tony Diaz appears to be a more potent weapon than the Hawkeyes usually have in the passing game. The transfer from FCS-level Texas Rio Grande Valley has 17 receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown this season, including eight for 95 yards against the Cyclones. He likely caught some defensive attention this week after he implied he'd feast against U-M's man coverage. "They play a lot of man, and I mean we're gonna have to throw the ball if we want to win," he said. "Especially going man, I mean they're gonna stuff the box, so it's just, we've got to operate how we've been operating. ... It's like candy, yeah, candy shop."
No surprises: Iowa is one of the easiest scouts every year. Not because of talent, but because, in the nearly three decades under Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes' philosophy hasn't changed much: shorten the game, run the ball, stay in third-and-manageable situations and force teams to make mistakes. As always, the Hawkeyes are led by their defense. Keep an eye on linebacker Cam Buffington (27 tackles) and defensive back Zach Lutmer (two pass breakups) among the leaders in Phil Parker's unit. The Hawkeyes rank No. 1 among the 138 FBS schools in total defense (176.7 yards per game), No. 1 in scoring defense (4.3 points per game) and No. 10 in third-down conversion rate allowed (23.3%) – so it will not be an easy task for a U-M offense still searching for its identity.
Tony Garcia's two cents
Special teams showdown: In a likely low-scoring game, special teams becomes all the more important – one long kick or lengthy return could be the difference. “When you play Iowa, you have to try to beat them at their game,” DC Jay Hill said. “You have to play the field position battle. You have to win the turnover battle."
Side to side: Michigan's east-west run game has been shut down this year, at just 2.5 yards per carry. Beck said the same runs were producing 8.5 yards per attempt last year at Utah. If it remains unsuccessful, Beck implied the team might have to scrap it. The Hawkeyes are sound and have good eye discipline, so it feels unlikely this will be the game it breaks. Does Michigan stick with it, or try to get more action going straight downhill? In a game where yards figure to be hard to come by, it's worth watching how U-M attacks on the ground.
Tony Garcia's prediction
This should be an old-fashioned Big Ten game. Don't expect a ton of explosive plays, deep passes or sizzle. This is about the meat and potatoes of football: running, tackling and discipline. Iowa does some of that as well as anybody, but U-M has had time to clean up its act. If the Wolverines are able to protect the ball, they should be able to stymie the Iowa offense and get some short fields. From there, Underwood has to capitalize. The pick: U-M 19, Iowa 13.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Predicting Michigan football against Iowa, keys to the game in top-20 clash
