No. 17 Iowa Opens Big Ten Play at No. 18 Michigan on CBS
The short version
- No. 17 Iowa (3-0) plays at No. 18 Michigan (3-0) on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. CT, on CBS
- First road game of the season for Iowa; Michigan Stadium is the largest in the country
- Iowa QB Hank Brown is completing 72.6% of his passes; Iowa ran for 422 yards last week
- Iowa has not won at Michigan since 2010; FanDuel line: Iowa +5.5, O/U 38.5
- Iowa then hosts No. 7 Ohio State before a short-week trip to Washington
Unbeaten Iowa begins its road schedule and conference slate Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium, the largest venue in college football.
No. 17 Iowa visits No. 18 Michigan on Saturday, September 26, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game airs on CBS. Both teams enter at 3-0 overall and 0-0 in conference play, making this the Big Ten opener for each side.
The matchup marks Iowa's first road game of the season, and it comes in an imposing setting: Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the country, with a crowd of roughly 107,000 expected. Iowa has not won in Ann Arbor since 2010, adding a historical hurdle to an already difficult assignment. The forecast calls for sunny skies with a high temperature in the low 70s.
Iowa quarterback Hank Brown arrives with notable momentum. He completed all 12 of his pass attempts in his most recent outing and is connecting on 72.6% of his throws this season, a start no Iowa quarterback has matched over the past decade. Saturday will be his first career road start.
The Hawkeyes' ground attack is also coming off a big performance, having racked up 422 rushing yards against Northern Illinois... rather, against Northern Iowa in the previous game. How that production holds up against a Michigan defense ranked in the top ten nationally in total defense is one of the central questions of the afternoon.
Michigan's offense presents its own puzzle. The unit ranks 98th nationally in total offense despite the significant investment in quarterback Bryce Underwood, who leads the Wolverines in rushing. Iowa's defensive ends will be tasked with keeping Underwood contained in the pocket, after previously holding an opposing quarterback, Jaylen Raynor, in check. The game total of 38.5 points suggests oddsmakers anticipate a low-scoring contest; FanDuel lists Iowa as a 5.5-point underdog.
The stakes extend beyond a single Saturday. The game opens a demanding three-game stretch for Iowa that includes a home date with No. 7 Ohio State next week, followed by a short-week trip to Washington. How the Hawkeyes fare against Michigan will shape perceptions of a team that had a strong September.
For viewers planning ahead, Iowa at Michigan kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, with the broadcast on CBS.
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