By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Other than maybe the Iowa football team gaining rushing yards against Northern Iowa’s defense, most things are easier said than done.

So when suggesting that Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester should figure ways to utilize Iowa’s top five running backs against Michigan on Saturday, assuming they’re all healthy, of course, that would be much easier said than done.

But it now seems apparent that Iowa has five capable running backs and each one brings a different skill set and dimension.

Kamari Moulton is the leader of the pack, but he isn’t listed on this week’s depth chart due to an injury. He also didn’t play in this past Saturday’s 55-0 victory over Northern Iowa, nor did No. 2 running back LJ Phillips, who has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the season opener.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz was asked about the health of his running backs at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, and about the challenge or likelihood of using five different running backs.

Ferentz didn’t seem too thrilled with the idea of using five running backs in the same game.

“Kamari is still our number one guy and if he can go, he will go, he’ll be in there going and then we’ll just kind of work down the chain,” Kirk Ferentz sad. “But yeah, I don’t envision us playing probably more than three guys, typically.”

That means if everyone is healthy that Moulton, Phillips and third-team running back Nathan McNeil would most likely play against Michigan, while fourth- and fifth-teamers, Xavier Williams and Braeden Jackson, would be ready just in case.

Neither Moulton nor Phillips are listed on this week’s depth chart, but based on what Kirk Ferentz said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, both running backs from a health standpoint are trending in the right direction, as is tight end DJ Vonnahme, who also missed the Northern Iowa game due to an injury.

“Those guys are all working back,” Kirk Ferentz said. “So, hopefully, get them back and see where that goes. But we’ll know by the end of the week on that, but at least optimistic.”

Iowa’s depth at running back was on full display in the lopsided win over Northern Iowa as three players rushed for over 100 yards, led by Xavier Williams with a career-high 151 yards and three scores on just six carries.

“We have a deep room, so there’s only one ball to around,” Williams said. “But just staying ready and being comfortable working on my game, and when I get my chance, just go out there and perform.”

Braeden Jackson finished with 125 yards and one score on 11 carries against Northern Iowa, while McNeil rushed for 111 yards and two scores.

Jackson, who is the son of former Coe College MVP and former NFL running back Fred Jackson, also had a 24-yard touchdown reception against Northern Iowa, while McNeil led Iowa with 37 receiving yards on three catches.

Jackson is probably fifth on the depth chart at running back, but don’t let that fool because he can make plays as a runner and as a  receiver as he showed in the win over Northern Iowa.

Even though the competition left much to be desired, Jackson still showed great vision, elusiveness and breakaway speed.

The decision to only play three running backs certainly makes sense because it would be hard for any running back to find a rhythm as part of a five-player rotation.

But maybe there’s a way for Lester to get three or four of the running backs on the field at same time, put McNeil or Jackson in the slot while either Moulton, Phillips or Williams lines up in the backfield.

McNeil and Jackson both have shown that they can be hard to tackle in space, while Moulton, Phillips and Williams are more effective at running between the tackles.

Imagine having Moulton, Phillips or Williams in the same backfield with either McNeil or Jackson lined up in the slot.

That would give the Michigan defenders plenty to think about.

The Wolverines will also have to contend with Iowa receivers Tony Diaz and Reece Vander Zee, both of whom are talented playmakers, but with different styles. Receiver Evan James also has shown some big-play capability in his first season at Iowa.

And while there is a limit to how many offensive skill players can be on the field at the same time; you also wonder if not using all five running backs in some capacity will keep the offense from reaching its potential.

Jackson already is handling kick returns, but it might be hard for him to get any additional playing time with Moulton and Phillips possibly returning this Saturday.

There is always the chance that pushing to use all five running backs is just an over-reaction to what occurred in the win over Northern Iowa as Iowa rushed for 422 yards.

Kirk Ferentz seemed to be hinting about that on Tuesday.

“Just go back one second on that game, it’s one of those rare games that you get about every twenty years where everything just seems to work,” Ferentz said.

The win over Northern Iowa marked the first time since a win over Minnesota in 1983 that Iowa had three players rush for over 100 yards.

Ferentz was in his third season as the Iowa offensive line coach in 1983.

“The guys played well; I’m not minimizing what our guys did,” Ferentz said. “But when things like that happen, great. I think we had to go back to what was it, 83, where you had three guys over 100? So it gives you a little perspective on how often it does happen.”

No. 17 Iowa (3-0) vs. No. 18 Michigan (3-0)

When: Saturday, 2:38 p.m.

Where: Ann Arbor, Michigan, Michigan Stadium (107,621)

TV: CBS

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Series history: Saturday’s meeting is the 65th meeting all-time between Iowa and Michigan with the Wolverines leading the series, 45-15-4. The series began with a 28-5 Iowa win in 1900. The first meeting between the two teams was played in Detroit and the second in Chicago.

Iowa is 7-26-3 all-time in games played at the Big House. The Hawkeyes’ last victory came in Ann Arbor came in 2010 — a 38-28 win. Saturday’s game is Iowa’s first trip to Michigan since 2019, which ended with a 10-3 Wolverine victory.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has two victories in Ann Arbor, winning 34-9 in 2002 and 38-28 in 2010.

The Wolverines have won the last four meetings in the series, two of which came in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis in 2021 and 2023.