The Hawkeyes' 2010 season was a forgettable one, but it remains Iowa's last victory at the Big House.
Welcome back to our countdown to the 2026 Iowa football season!
Since May 28, we've been counting down the final 100 days until the Hawkeyes storm out of the Kinnick Stadium tunnel to "Back in Black" for their season opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5.
Each day of the countdown has primarily featured an article profiling every member of the 2026 team based on the jersey number that happens to fall on the respective day of the countdown. Iowa doesn't issue a jersey number for every number, though, which means we'll have to get creative on some of those empty days.
Well, today is one of those days. Today marks 69 days until kickoff, but since the Hawkeyes don't issue a No. 69, we're going to go back in time to 2010. Iowa fans don't like to remember the 2010 team because the season ultimately went down as a disappointing one, but it's significant for one reason - it represents the Hawkeyes' last victory over Michigan at the Big House.
Iowa has played in Ann Arbor just twice since then, but will finally make its long-awaited return to the iconic stadium in 2026.
So in honor of that, enjoy this throwback article.
The Rundown
Though the Hawkeyes' 2010 season would crumble later in the season (more on that soon), they entered this Oct. 16 matchup against Michigan in fantastic shape to contend for another Big Ten title and BCS bowl berth.
Iowa came in ranked 15th in the AP poll, but the Wolverines were mired in an uncharacteristic down period in their storied history. Rich Rodriguez's spread offense clearly wasn't working, which showed in Michigan's 34-17 loss to Michigan State the previous week.
The Wolverines opened this game with a touchdown, but it was all Hawkeyes after that. Quarterback Ricki Stanzi was one of the best passers in the Big Ten in 2010, and he flashed that to the tune of 248 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Adam Robinson also had a fantastic day, collecting 143 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Iowa had leads of 28-7 and 35-14 in the fourth quarter, but Michigan still had time for a desperate comeback attempt.
Backup quarterback Tate Forcier, who replaced the injured Denard Robinson earlier in the game, cut the Wolverine deficit to one score with a rushing touchdown with 6:55 to go, but the Hawkeyes put the game away with a field goal on their next possession to get out of town with a 38-28 victory.
Iowa improved to 5-1 with the victory. The Hawkeyes would suffer a heartbreaking loss against Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium the following week, but recovered to run their record to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in league play by November.
A perfect month would've given Iowa a share of the Big Ten crown, but the Hawkeyes instead lost all three contests to Northwestern, Ohio State, and Minnesota by a combined 10 points to finish the regular season at 7-5.
2010 would be the final season without divisions, as the Big Ten switched to the controversial Legends and Leaders divisions in 2011. The Hawkeyes and Wolverines would be placed together in the Legends Division, but would play just once at the Big House during the division's three years in existence.
Michigan won that 2012 game by a lopsided score of 42-17. The two teams wouldn't meet in Ann Arbor again until 2019, when the Wolverines beat Iowa in a defensive battle, 10-3.
If the Hawkeyes are going to reverse that trend of losing at the Big House in 2026, history won't be on their side. Michigan owns a 23-6-3 record over Iowa at home, and the Hawkeyes have won just twice in Ann Arbor since 1990.
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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]
