On paper, Iowa had no business winning this game, but games aren't won on paper.
The Hawkeyes were outgained on offense by 144 yards (285 to 429), had nearly 11 fewer rushing yards (58 to 153), nearly ten minutes less of possession time (25:31 to 34:29), and five fewer first downs (16 to 21). With all those numbers stacked in Michigan's favor, they should have won, right? Wrong! Iowa hung around long enough and capitalized on a few Michigan mistakes to win, with four things standing out.
Hank Brown has more toughness and grit than we have given him credit for
Entering the game against Michigan, Hank Brown finally earned the starting nod after an offseason and three-week regular-season battle with Jeremy Hecklinski for the role. Brown started all three games, splitting time with Hecklinski, but ultimately played better. No one knew how Brown would perform in one of the biggest tests of his career in his sixth career start (4 at Iowa, 2 at Auburn), but he proved that Krik Ferentz and the coaching staff made the right choice.
After a perfect 12/12 passing game against Northern Iowa, everyone expected a tough Michigan defense to light Brown up. They pressured him and tallied two sacks, but Brown stayed the course and put together a solid game. He finished with 227 passing yards and two touchdown passes, including the game-winning pass to Reece Vander Zee as time expired, and he led the drive down the field that sealed the victory. Brown was 8/16 for 85 yards, and the offense was 2/8 on third downs. In the fourth quarter, Brown went 13/16 for 142 yards and two touchdown passes, and Iowa was 4/6 on third downs.
Brown also engineered Iowa's 91-yard game-winning drive, and thanks to a few lucky bounces and a boneheaded play on Michigan's defense, Iowa won a hard-fought game. Hats off to Hank Brown.
Iowa's offense has finally turned the corner, which we have all been waiting for
If we said Iowa finished the game with 53 total rushing yards, you would assume it lost. Iowa's offense has always been built on the run, and a limited rushing attack often leads to an Iowa loss. We saw that as recently as last season, when Iowa was forced to throw, and it cost them four close games. Through the first three weeks of the season heading into the Michigan game, Iowa was dynamic on the ground, but was propped up by two huge games against Northern Illinois in week one and Northern Iowa in week three. Iowa's passing attack was ok, putting up 209 yards per game, but it wasn't fully tested.
Brown earned the starting job the week of the game, and while he started the first three games, it was hard to gauge what might happen next. Michigan's defense came out hot, stifling the Iowa run game and holding them to 53 total rushing yards, the lowest all season. The Wolverines forced Iowa to pass, and it was successful for most of the game...until the fourth quarter. Brown and the passing attack carried the offense, putting up 142 passing yards and two touchdowns in the final quarter, leading to an Iowa victory. Brown threw 36 times, something we have not seen an Iowa quarterback do in a very long time, and he did enough to push Iowa across the finish line.
The passing attack will be critical to Iowa's overall success going forward, because teams will load up to stop the run. Brown and the offense must make defenses pay for loading the box, something it finally did in the fourth quarter. Week four was a good first step, and now the offense must build off it.
The new-look special teams unit is still elite
Losing special teams coordinator and recruiting ace LeVar Woods to Michigan State in the offseason was a big blow to the program, but they have responded well. Iowa also lost starting punter Rhys Dakin (transfer to Michigan State), starting kicker Drew Stevens (NFL), and return specialist Kaden Wetjen (NFL), and after some tinkering, new coordinator Chris Polizzi has found the right mix. Kicker Caden Buhr has been solid through the first four weeks, Aussie punter Boston Everitt has looked like the next great Iowa punter, and walk-on running back Braeden Jackson continues making an impact wherever he is on the field.
Even without Wetjen, Iowa has tallied two return touchdowns this season, with Jackson's kick return touchdown keeping the Hawkeyes in the game in the first half against Michigan. It was unclear how the new-look unit would perform, but it's safe to say all those worries were misplaced, and the unit is just fine.
The offensive and defensive lines still ahve some kinks to work out
Iowa has been solid on both sides of the ball this season, but it didn't face a true test until Michigan in week four. The Wolverines are similar to the Hawkeyes, relying on physical play to set the tone. Michigan's offensive and defensive lines bullied the Hawkeyes in the loss, raising some questions about both units moving forward. The program traditionally plays better later in the year, and hopefully that will be the case again this year. A year after winning the Joe Moore Award, the offensive line has looked suspect at times, limiting the running game in weeks two and four. The offensive line has a ton of talent, including potential All-Americans Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, but they aren't invincible.
The offensive line was so good last year that it will be hard to replicate those results with three new starters, but it is early enough in the season for the unit to work some things out. The defensive line was also exposed against Michigan, with Bryce Underwood and the running game dominating. Michigan's offensive line often pushed back Iowa's defensive line, limiting pressure on Underwood and fueling a solid running game. The defense allowed 429 total yards, which is the most it has allowed all season, with 153 coming on the ground.
Iowa's defensive line was the hardest-hit unit heading into last offseason, with all four starters gone from last year. It is still early, but the defensive line must find ways to pressure opposing quarterbacks more to disrupt the quarterback's timing and limit the run game.
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