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Iowa and Michigan haven't played each other in the regular season much since the Big Ten Legends Division infamously split after the 2013 season. 

The Hawkeyes and Wolverines have met just three times in the regular season since then, as well as a pair of Big Ten Championship Game matches in 2021 and 2023. Not only is it rare for these two longtime Big Ten rivals to play one another, the 2026 showdown will be the first time these two have played in Ann Arbor in seven years. 

Iowa is seeking its first victory at the iconic Big House since 2010, when a veteran Hawkeye team handled a struggling Michigan squad. 

A lot has changed in college football in the 16 years since that mid-October clash, and it's safe to say that both programs look a lot different compared to what they looked like in 2025. 

The 2026 matchup will be the conference opener for both Iowa and Michigan and take place on Sept. 26 (kickoff and TV times will be announced at a later date). That's just a little over a month away from now, so to keep you in the know, here's your August look at Michigan. 

The Coach 

Michigan desperately needed new leadership after Sherrone Moore's tenure flamed out on and off the field, and opted to go with a surprising hire. 

That hire was 66-year-old Kyle Whittingham, who had just stepped down as Utah's head coach after spending a remarkable 21 seasons in Salt Lake City. The Utes won 177 games and three conference titles (1 Mountain West, 2 Pac-12) under Whittingham's leadership, and he's probably the reason why they are a Power Four football program now. 

There's no question that Whittingham can coach, but analysts do wonder if his success at a lower-level program will translate to one of the best brands in the sport.

Not only that, this will be Whittingham's first coaching job outside of Idaho and Utah. He had short stints as an assistant at Eastern Utah and Idaho State before joining Utah's coaching staff in 1994. 

Key Returners 

Any success Michigan will have in 2026 hinges on the development of quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Detroit native arrived in Ann Arbor as a highly-anticipated five-star recruit last season, but the results were mixed at best. 

Underwood threw a respectable 2,428 passing yards, but the nine interceptions and 11 touchdown passes weren't what Wolverine fans expected from him. He's got all the talent to improve in 2026, but learning a second new offensive system in as many years will be a challenge. 

Fortunately for Underwood, he plays at Michigan, so he's going to have a star-studded supporting cast around him. Leading rusher Jordan Marshall (932 yds, 10 TD) and leading wide receiver (651 yds, 4 TD) are both back, which should help Underwood settle in. 

There's some question marks on defense, but not in the secondary. Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, and Rod Moore were all members of the Wolverines' 2023 national championship squad and look to help Michigan return to college football's elite this year. 

Key Newcomers 

The Wolverines are always one of those programs that will always attract top talent on both the recruiting and transfer trails. Incoming first-year running back Savion Hiter is getting a lot of preseason hype, but he's just one of several new weapons for Underwood and Co. 

Michigan added depth at wide receiver with Utah transfer JJ Buchanan (427 yards, 5 TD) and Texas transfer Jamie Ffrench, so the offense should be just fine if Underwood can make the improvements he's capable of making. 

The defensive line received a huge boost when standout pass rusher John Henry Daley followed Whittingham from Utah. Daley earned first-team All-American honors after collecting 24 tackles and 11.5 sacks last season, and that skillset should be a perfect fit for the ragged Big Ten. 

Season Outlook 

There's certainly a lot of turnover in Ann Arbor right now, but this is still Michigan until proven otherwise. The Wolverines were ranked No. 16 in the preseason coaches' poll and will probably be slotted in a similar position when the AP Poll comes out later on Monday morning. 

There's a lot of big games on the Big Ten slate, but this game between Iowa and Michigan is very crucial. The Wolverines are looking to make a massive splash to open the Whittingham era, while the Hawkeyes could be coming in with increased expectations afer a potential 3-0 start. 

You Can Win FREE Tickets To Iowa's Season Opener! 

HawkeyeRoundtable is giving away TWO tickets to Iowa's season opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5! 

This is easily the biggest giveaway we've ever done on this site, and it's a great opportunity for two lucky fans to experience the joy of attending a Hawkeye football game at Kinnick Stadium. 

Click here to automatically become a member to enter the contest! Additional contest details can be found in our community section, too! 

HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io

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