Michigan will host Iowa on Saturday afternoon in the first Big Ten game of the season for two pretty similar teams.
While the focus will be on what happens Saturday afternoon, the Michigan Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes have a history that dates back to 1900. The Wolverines enter this year's matchup with an all-time record of 45-15-4 against Iowa, including a home record of 23-6-3.
Michigan and Iowa are 5-5 against each other over the last 10 games and the two teams haven met since the Big Ten Championship game in 2023.
Michigan's longest winning streak in the series is 11 from 1933 to 1956. For Iowa, its longest win streak is three from 2009 to 2011.
Last Meeting
The most recent matchup between Michigan and Iowa came in the 2023 Big Ten title game, with the Wolverines coming away with a 26-0 victory.
Michigan's defense was the story of the game in this one as U-M obviously pitched a shutout against the Hawkeyes in what was supposed to be a matchup of the Big Ten's best teams. The Wolverines only gave up 155 yards of total offense and really squeezed the Hawkeyes on third and fourth down attempts. Iowa went just 4-of-18 on those tries.
Like a lot of Michigan wins during the Jim Harbaugh era, no one player really stood out much. Quarterback JJ McCarthy was 22-of-30 for 147 yards but did not throw a touchdown pass. Running back Blake Corum scored twice, but only had 52 yards on 16 carries. The Wolverines won behind a team effort and very solid defense.
That game was a neutral site game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On Saturday, the Wolverines will host Iowa inside The Big House, which should be pretty juiced up for the conference opener.
Recent History
Over the last five meetings, Michigan has gone 4-1 against Iowa.
2023: Michigan 26, Iowa 0
2022: Michigan 27, Iowa 14
2021: Michigan 42, Iowa 3
2019: Michigan 10, Iowa 3
2016: Michigan 13, Iowa 14
This series is interesting because it goes back a long way and both of these teams have had stretches of dominance in their storied histories. In 1902, Michigan beat Iowa 107-0. Six years later, the teams tied 0-0. Michigan has been the better team by quite a bit, but Iowa is always viewed as a tough out.
What History Says About Friday
Of course, past results don't determine what happens on Saturday. The two teams entering this year's matchup are different from ones that played in all previous matchups.
Both teams are sitting at 3-0, and both are ranked inside the top 20 — Iowa No. 17 and Michigan No. 18. Michigan has been up and down, but does have a huge win over Oklahoma, while Iowa was dominant in Week 1 and Week 3, with a 16-13 battle against rival Iowa State sandwiched in between.
Still, the history between these programs adds another layer to Saturday's matchup. Michigan will look to keep improving by beating another solid opponent, while Iowa will try to take down the Wolverines in their house.
With another chapter about to be written, Saturday will add to a series that already includes 64 meetings and plenty of memorable moments.
