Iowa's blowout win over Northern Iowa gave them an expected boost in the rankings

Iowa has started the season strong with three straight wins, validating its preseason top-25 ranking.

The Hawkeyes started the season ranked No. 21 overall, and have proven they are worthy of that ranking and them some. Excluding a close game against Iowa State in the battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy, Iowa has faced little resistence. The offense is putting up ridiculous numbers that we rarely see from the unit, the defense is ranked No. 1 overall, and the new-look special teams unit has skipped a beat. Everything is working well for the Hawkeyes right now, and after manhandling UNI in week three, Iowa is moving up in the rankings once again.

Iowa received a slight boost in the AP Top-25 poll after dominating UNI

The Hawkeyes have steadily climbed the rankings since week one with wins over Northern Illinois (33-0), Iowa State (16-13), and Northern Iowa (55-0), and have looked solid in all three games. The Iowa State game is always tough, but the offense has been the biggest early surprise. With Hank Brown earning the starting job, the offense has no lingering questions heading into the Big Ten schedule. The defense has also played extremely well, limiting teams to 176.7 yards per game.

As Iowa keeps winning, its ranking keeps improving, setting up a top-25 clash in Ann Arbor in week four.

Iowa got a slight boost in the rankings after a dominating display against UNI, moving them from No. 18 to 17 before hitting the road to Ann Arbor. Michigan has also jumped in the rankings after starting the season 3-0, although it had a questionable "win" over Western Michigan in week one. A top-20 clash at the Big House is exactly what fans want to see, and they should get their money's worth when the Hawkeyes battle Michigan. The Hawkeyes haven't traveled to Ann Arbor since 2019, and it is only the third time they have traveled to play Michigan since 2012.

Michigan leads the all-time series with a 45-14-4 record, including a win the last time they played Iowa in the 2023 Big Ten Championship game. This game has a lot riding on it, and even though it is the first game of the conference schedule, it feels like a must-win, as the schedule doesn't get easier in week five when Ohio State comes to town.

The real season starts in week four against Michigan

Iowa hasn't beaten a ranked team on the road since Iowa State in 2021, and hasn't beaten a ranked Big Ten opponent on the road since Northwestern in 2015. This game is set up to be a tightly contested matchup, and that could work in Iowa's favor. The Hawkeyes haven't faced tough competition through the first three weeks, and starting with Michigan isn't easy. Luckily for the Hawkeyes, the Wolverines are still figuring out who they are, and that could give Iowa a small advantage. New Michigan head coach Kyle Wittingham came to a program in turmoil, and he has been given the tough task of steadying the ship.

By all accounts, Michigan should have lost to Western Michigan, but then looked solid against Oklahoma with a dominating defensive display in week two. They also easily handled UTEP in week three, but they still don't seem to have an identity. Regardless of past history, this feels like Iowa's best chance in years to knock off the Wolverines, and it would be a statement win to start the Big Ten schedule. Iowa traditionally plays better later in the season, but they don't have the luxury of waiting this year.

Iowa has to break its Michigan curse and prove to the Big Ten and the rest of the college football world that it is for real and ready to be taken seriously.

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