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Iowa Football: 3 reasons to be frustrated with loss in Ann Arbor

By Matt Opad

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Head coach Jim Harbaugh waits to take the field to play the Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Head coach Jim Harbaugh waits to take the field to play the Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks to throw a fourth quarter pass against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks to throw a fourth quarter pass against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Iowa Football without discipline equals loss

Iowa football is predicated on playing sound defense and mistake-free offense. Only half of that happened on Saturday.

When I made my bold prediction for this game, I wrongfully assumed that Iowa would win the turnover battle, as they had done in the first four games.

In fact, in the first four games, Nate Stanley did not throw a single interception and Iowa only lost one fumble. Those statistics did not hold up in Ann Arbor.

Unfortunately, Nate Stanley threw three interceptions in Michigan Stadium. Iowa’s first possession started with a Mekhi Sargent fumble, which Michigan promptly recovered.

Even beyond the turnover battle, Iowa committed eight penalties for a combined 60 yards. As already mentioned, Iowa surrendered eight sacks as well.

The eight penalties stick out to me. Four of those penalties were committed on Nate Stanley’s potentially game-tying final drive.

I know that a lot of people want to pin this loss on Stanley and his legacy, but show me a quarterback that can consistently convert a fourth and long. Iowa had the ball at Michigan’s 25 on the second-to-last-drive which ended in a punt.

A lack of discipline eradicated any chance at a comeback. This, however, leads perfectly to the final point.

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