Kirk Ferentz expecting third time to be a charm at Lucas Oil Stadium

IOWA CITY, Ia. — The Hawkeyes will make their third appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday night, and their head coach is looking to change the narrative.

After all, Iowa’s last two trips to Lucas Oil Stadium ended in defeat, as the opposition hoisted the hardware. Those were moments that Kirk Ferentz will never forget, which is why he’s planning on fielding a team on a mission. It just so happens that Saturday’s matchup is going to be another David against Goliath clash.

No. 2 Michigan is undefeated, and heavy favorites against Iowa. That’s because the Wolverines handed the Hawkeyes a 42-3 loss in Indianapolis in 2021. Michigan (12-0) also beat Iowa 27-14 at Kinnick last season. Not to mention Iowa has only played one ranked opponent all season, and that was a shutout loss.

Regardless of the history, Ferentz believes he has a team that knows how to win close games. It’s hard to argue against that when three of the Hawkeyes’ last four victories were by three points or less. There’s no denying Iowa is one of the scrappiest teams in the nation, and Ferentz has no shame in winning ugly.

In a contest that’s likely going to be won in the trenches, Ferentz is anticipating a defensive slugfest with Michigan. He feels it’s beneficial that the Hawkeyes have been in those tight battles. Meanwhile the Wolverines won each of their first nine games by double-digits, so Ferentz plans on exploiting that area.

“The challenge this week is going to be to get it into that fourth quarter where it is competitive, at least we’ve had experience at that,” Ferentz said. “That maybe one of their downsides; they haven’t had a lot of that experience.”

Iowa (10-2) beat Iowa State, Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois and Nebraska all by single-digits. Everyone knows a Ferentz-led team is fundamentally sound and disciplined. The ingredients to the Hawkeyes’ success is running the ball, causing turnovers, attacking on defense, stellar punting and clutch kicking. That’s the recipe he wants to use against a vaunted Wolverine team.

Iowa is No. 7 nationally in total defense, and that side of the ball needs to set the tone early. Michigan is going to try and pound the ball, so Phil Parker’s bunch has to stop the run.

The Wolverines last three games were closer than the rest. Ferentz is studying film on what Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State did to stay within striking distance of Michigan. Anything to prevent a blowout from happening like two years ago in the same venue.

“Although, obviously the last three weeks they’ve been in some pretty good ball games, too, but they’ve had a lot of them where they just hit the gas and went,” he said. “If you don’t have a respect for their ability and their talent the way they play that can happen to you real fast.”

No one is really giving the Hawkeyes a chance to win this game, and that’s adding fuel to the fire for Ferentz. Iowa having the worst offense in the FBS, and the Wolverines one of country’s best on defense, has a lot to do with it. However, Ferentz is embracing the underdog role, considering the Hawkeyes have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

“I’m not too worried about us having the respect it takes to win a game, in this game,” the 68-year old coach said. “I’m not worried about that one, but just knowing our opponent, knowing what we have to do, and doing it with real precision, like a real high level of precision.”

The Wolverines are trying to make it three-straight Big Ten Titles, and Playoff appearances with a win. Over the last two Big Ten Championship Games, Michigan has outscored the opposition 84-25. Still, Ferentz and his players are going against all odds, and up for the challenge. If the Hawkeyes can do all of the little things right, and limit the mistakes, Ferentz is confident they’ll be in this game late in the second half.

“First thing we have to do is try to get it to the fourth quarter and then we have to try to find a way to win it.”