Iowa football 2026 opponent, Big Ten foe Michigan lands new head coach

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The Iowa football team will return to the Big House in 2026 for a tough road battle with the Michigan Wolverines. The Hawkeyes will be facing a team with a brand-new head coach and a program looking to reestablish its brand.

A few weeks ago, Michigan football found itself at the center of the college football world again. This time, it wasn't because they had just won a national championship. Another scandal had broken out in Ann Arbor.

In the span of just a few hours, the Wolverinesfired then-head coach Sherrone Moore for cause.

Michigan has spent the last few weeks looking for their next head coach. A guy who can come in, win football games, and settle down the culture around the program. On Friday, reports surfaced that Michigan had found its man in former longtime Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham.

On Dec. 12, the 66-year-old Whittingham announced he would be stepping down from his head coaching position at Utah after 21 seasons in Salt Lake City. While retirement seemed like it could be on the table for Whittingham, the Wolverines have pulled him back into the game.

Across 21 seasons with the Utes, where he was the second-longest-tenured FBS head coach at one school behind only Kirk Ferentz, Whittingham amassed an impressive 177-88 record.

Whittingham coached in 17 bowl games with the Utes, winning 11 of them. He led Utah to three conference championships, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2008. He won the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award for that 2008 season, and also won a pair of Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards in 2019 and 2021. He brings a ton of pedigree to a program that's used to winning.

The Wolverines won a national title just two years ago and are trying to get back to that level in the post-Jim Harbaugh era. They were closer in 2025, winning nine regular-season games, but a late loss to Ohio State dashed their playoff hopes. Michigan is hopeful that Whittingham can get them back to those highs and help calm down the culture in the process.

The Hawkeyes will see Whittingham's new-look Michigan squad next season in Ann Arbor. The date of that game is yet to be revealed.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football 2026 opponent, Big Ten foe Michigan lands new head coach

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