The Iowa offensive line has lived up to the preseason hype, but they haven't faced a defense like Michigan's through the first three weeks.
The offense has looked solid through the first three weeks, putting up gaudy numbers in weeks one and three. Iowa struggled against Iowa State, but that was because they had limited film on any of their 83 players, and new head coach Jimmy Rogers was throwing a bunch of different looks at them. Iowa's offense has been a pleasant surprise through the first three weeks, but it faces one of the season's toughest challenges in Ann Arbor in week four.
Trevor Lauck knows it won't be easy against Michigan's stout defense
Iowa's offense has been unusually solid through the first three weeks, averaging 37 points and 477 total yards, boosted by weeks one and three. The Hawkeyes tallied 507 total yards in week one against Northern Illinois and 640 in week three against Northern Iowa, but the Wolverines are a whole different animal on defense (pun intended).
Iowa LT Trevor Lauck on facing Michigan: “It’s not Xs and Os, it’s Jimmy and Joes. They’ve got really good Jimmy and Joes. ... We’ll just have to be ready to go and play hard.”https://t.co/147NOKnzPn
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) September 22, 2026
Returning starter Trevor Lauck went from a first-year starter last season to an anchor of the offensive line this season, and he knows they are facing a difficult challenge. When asked about facing Michigan, Lauck broke out an old cliché to describe what they will face on Saturday. Lauck said that it's not about the X's and O's; it's about the Jimmys and the Joes, and they know Michigan has some excellent Jimmys and Joes on its side. Michigan has been up-and-down on offense, relying on its defense to keep them in games. Through their first three games against Western Michigan, Oklahoma, and UTEP, the Wolverines' defense has allowed an average of 220 yards per game, ranking No. 10 overall.
Michigan's defense has been better against the pass (ranked No. 8 overall) than the run (ranked No. 31 overall), but they are solid in both areas. The unit has also been solid at getting to the quarterback, averaging 3.3 sacks per game. Michigan will stack the box to limit Iowa's lethal rushing attack, forcing Hank Brown to throw more often. The offensive line will need to lock in to create holes for the running game and give Brown time to throw. Iowa's offense excels when it can use the run to set up the pass, and if the offensive line can't create the necessary holes, the offense could be in trouble.
Iowa must use the play-action passing game to keep Michigan off-balance
Everyone in the college football world knows Iowa's offense wants to run the ball and use its big offensive line to set the tone physically, but Michigan will be prepared for that. If the Hawkeyes try to run the ball down Michigan's throat, the Wolverines will stack the box to prevent it. Iowa State gave teams a blueprint for stopping Iowa's rushing attack, using multiple different looks and pressure at the point of attack to confuse the offensive linemen, and Michigan could easily do the same.
The Wolverines have been better against the pass than the run, but they haven't faced a team that runs the ball as well as Iowa. If Michigan's defense is overly aggressive, Brown and the offense can exploit it with the play-action pass. Brown has been excellent at the play-action this season, and it could be a weapon for the Hawkeyes offense. Tony Diaz was very quiet in the passing attack last week after having two straight solid games to start the season, so look for him to be more involved this week. Michigan likes to play a lot of man coverages, so if the Hawkeyes can effectively use the play-action pass, Diaz and Iowa's talented tight ends could have a field day.
It won't be easy, but if Iowa can establish the run to open up the play-action passing game, they have a good chance to knock off the Wolverines at home in front of a raucous crowd.
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