We've reached the middle of game week, which means it's time for another chapter of one of my favorite pieces during Iowa football game coverage - film review. 

I've never claimed to be a football schematic expert, but since I have this amazing platform to provide great Hawkeyes coverage, I figured I'd give it a try this year. Our analysis of Iowa State and Northern Iowa was fun, but it just feels even more special now that we're finally in Big Ten play. 

No. 17 Iowa (3-0) will open its Big Ten calendar on the road for a fifth consecutive season, but unlike last season where it traveled to New Jersey to take on an unranked Rutgers squad, the stakes are a bit higher in 2026. 

Saturday's challenge? A rare trip to Ann Arbor to take on the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (3-0) at Michigan Stadium (2:30 CT, CBS). I believe in evaluating opponents when they have to be at their best, so to get the full scope on the Wolverines, I'm going to share a few of my observations from my rewatch of Michigan's Week 2 triumph over then-No. 11 Oklahoma. 

Here we go. 

The most obvious prediction I can make for this football game is that it will be decided in the trenches, specifically the battle between Iowa's offensive line and Michigan's defensive line. We know how good the Hawkeyes' offensive line can be, and though they certainly showed it against Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa, there weren't many rushing lanes to be had against the aggressive Iowa State defensive front. 

Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill isn't as aggressive as Iowa State, but he does have the luxury of having one of the best pass rushers in the nation in John Henry Daley. Daley followed head coach Kyle Whittingham from Utah to Ann Arbor in the offseason, and he was simply all over the football in this Oklahoma game, tallying eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. 

Containing the 6-foot-5, 252-pound Daley will be a priority for George Barnett's group, but Iowa must also keep an eye on Michigan's 4-2-5 nickel scheme. For those that are unfamiliar with schemes, that means the Wolverines prefer to use four down lineman, two linebackers, and five defensive backs. 

The 4-2-5 is a very common system in football, but it's what Michigan does with it that could wreak havoc on Hank Brown and this offense. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer had absolutely no answers for this Wolverine defense, and it's because of the confusing rushes Michigan likes to use. The Wolverines will line up with four down lineman, but they sometimes will drop one (LB Troy Bowles and DE Dominic Nichols did this in the OU game) into coverage to tighten passing windows. 

Any success Iowa will have through the air in this game may be through short, quick passes, and Michigan's style could take that away. 

Quarterback Bryce Underwood has been criticized by Michigan fans, media, and even his head coach because of his inconsistent play to begin the year, but it feels like he's one game away from putting everything together. The former five-star quarterback has all of the tools (arm strength, size, speed) to be a talented quarterback in this league, but he struggled mightily through the air against the Sooners. 

Yes, I know he rebounded with a strong game against UTEP, but going 9-for-17 against a good defense isn't a great sign for Underwood. Iowa's defense is just as good as Oklahoma's, so Saturday will be a big prove it game for him. 

When I watched Underwood, the thing that stuck out the most to me was his ability to make plays on the run. It's clear that he's still working on going through his progressions to be a better pocket passer, but when he gets outside of the pocket, he's tough to beat. Some of his best plays against Oklahoma were when he was on the run, including a 38-yard touchdown scramble in the first half. 

Iowa's key to slowing down Underwood is definitely to keep him in the pocket, but remember that defensive coordinator Phil Parker has a wrinkle of his own: the 3-3-5. The Hawkeyes have occasionally used the style this season and it could be just enough to confuse the sophomore quarterback. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]