Iowa Hawkeyes Face Their Toughest Test Yet: Michigan's Bryce Underwood
The 17th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes head to Ann Arbor this Saturday for a showdown with the 18th ranked Michigan Wolverines, and the Hawkeye defense will have its hands full with one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football. Bryce Underwood, Michigan's second year starting quarterback, brings a dangerous combination of speed and power that has given Big Ten defenses fits all season.
At 6'4 and 230 pounds, Underwood is a physical presence under center. But it is his ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs that has opposing coordinators losing sleep.
''He's big,'' said Tyler Brown, the Hawkeye starting safety. ''He's a big guy, but it's football.''
The Hawkeyes have already faced three dual threat quarterbacks this season, including Iowa State's Jalen Raynor. But defensive players say Underwood presents a unique challenge.
''There are some similar plays that helps that we've dealt with some of these,'' said Bryce Hawthorne, a starting defensive tackle for the Hawkeyes. ''But there's a lot of new quarterback run games that we're looking at that we haven't seen before so that's definitely going to be challenging.''
Iowa's defense has been the story of the season so far. The Hawkeyes lead the nation in fewest points allowed at just 4.3 per game and fewest yards allowed at 176.7 per game. The 4-2-5 defensive scheme relies heavily on a strong front four, a unit that entered the season with plenty of question marks.
Players like Hawthorne, Will Hubert, and Luke Gaffney have locked down the interior, giving the Hawkeyes a foundation to build on.
''I think Underwood, he's definitely an athlete and he's definitely one of the bigger quarterbacks that we've seen so far,'' said Gaffney. ''And I think that although we are preparing for that scramble-esque quarterback one of the big things is just having confidence in what we have.''
That confidence is well placed. The defensive line has been disruptive all season, clogging running lanes and putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Against Michigan, the focus will be on keeping Underwood contained in the pocket.
''With the defense that we have, with the lineman and linebackers, we have to close off gaps,'' said Hawthorne. ''That's what we have to do, like we have to close off an extra gap. Cause we have four down linemen, they have five linemen.''
Once those gaps are sealed, the defense can get aggressive and attack the quarterback. But against a runner like Underwood, containment is easier said than done.
''Mostly just keeping him in our area, not letting him get outside of the box to where he can go for a lot of yards,'' said Kenneth Merrieweather, a starting defensive end for the Hawkeyes.
Even the best game plan will fail a few times against a talent like Underwood. That is where the chemistry of this Iowa defense comes into play. These players have been together for years, and that experience shows in their communication on the field.
''A lot of it's just your visual reaction, we've all played with each other for years now,'' said Gaffney. ''I think we all are just ready to read and react and make each other right.''
What does Iowa need to do to win?
The formula is simple in theory: keep Underwood in the pocket, close off running lanes, and force Michigan to beat them through the air. The Hawkeyes have the nation's best defense, and they will need every bit of that dominance on Saturday.
When and where to watch the game
The Hawkeyes take on Michigan at 2:30 pm on Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game can be watched on CBS.
For Iowa fans, this is the kind of game that defines a season. A win on the road against a ranked Big Ten opponent would cement this defense as one of the best in the country. And for a team with championship aspirations, there is no better time to make a statement.