By Pat Harty

Though it’s still way too early to know if the the Iowa football team is on the verge of doing something special in Kirk Ferentz’s 28th season as head coach, the opportunity is certainly there after what occurred on Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Hawkeyes could’ve easily wilted under the pressure of trailing in the fourth quarter in a hostile environment, but instead, they seized the moment in spectacular fashion.

Iowa quarterback Hank Brown, making his first start on the road in college, and his first start against a Big Ten opponent, connected with wide receiver Reece Vander Zee for the game-winning touchdown pass from 16 yards as time expired.

So many things had to happen on the game-winning play, including Brown making close to a perfect throw to Vander Zee into a tight window in the far corner of the end zone.

Vander Zee then had to make the catch without stepping out of bounds as he did, much to the dismay of Wolverines fans, who watched as their team failed to protect the lead in the fourth quarter.

His touchdown catch brought back memories of Marvin McNutt’s touchdown catch that defeated Michigan State as time expired in 2009 in East Lansing.

Iowa would go on to finish 11-2 that season.

Iowa only rushed for 58 yards in Saturday’s win and was outgained 429 to 285 on offense.

Those kinds of statistical shortcomings usually result in a loss, especially on the road against a ranked opponent.

But not this time.

Two seconds was all the time Iowa needed on the play clock, and the fact that it happened against Michigan of all teams certainly added to the drama, considering the Wolverines beat Western Michigan on a Hail Mary pass in the season opener after officials had put one second back on the clock after a failed Hail Mary pass attempt.

“It wasn’t looking good there in the fourth quarter, certainly, ” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said on the CBS post-game interview on the field. “But one thing about these guys, though, they don’t quit. They fight. It wasn’t perfect, but they don’t give up.”

It will take more of that don’t-give-up attitude when Iowa (4-0) faces Ohio State (3-1) and star receiver Jeremiah Smith next Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. Smith had four touchdown catches in Saturday’s 42-19 victory over Illinois at home.

Iowa’s three-game stretch to start Big Ten play, which also includes a game against Washington on Friday Oct. 10 in Seattle, was considered perhaps too much of an obstacle to overcome heading into the season.

And it still could prove to be just that, but right now the Hawkeyes are one-third of the way through this grueling three-game stretch and still are undefeated.

Iowa freshman punter Boston Everitt did his best Tory Taylor impersonation by punting five times for a 42.3 average in Saturday’s win. Three of his punts were downed inside the Michigan 12-yard line, including his last one that was downed at the Michigan 1.

Everitt’s clutch performance brought back memories of Taylor, the fellow Australia native who punted for the Hawkeyes from 2020 to 2023, earning All-America honors.

All-Big Ten defensive back Zach Lutmer also made plays all over the field for Iowa as he finished with a team-high 12 tackles.

Linebackers Cam Buffington and Landyn Van Kekerix, both of whom are first-year starters, also did their part with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.

Iowa certainly had some luck on its side in Saturday’s game as two deflected passes fell directly in the hands of Iowa players for significant gains.

However, those catches probably wouldn’t have mattered if Iowa had let Michigan build on its lead in the second half.

It seemed down the stretch that Michigan was playing not to lose, but Everitt’s punting probably had something to do with that as he repeatedly buried the Wolverines deep in their own territory.

The Iowa offense sputtered throughout most of the first half, but Braeden Jackson’s 99-yard kick return for a touchdown late in the first quarter helped to shift the moment after Michigan had taken a 7-0 lead.

Fifth-year cornerback Deshaun Lee, who grew up near Detroit, also intercepted a pass thrown by Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood deep in Iowa territory in the first half to stop another drive.

Lee and Underwood were high school teammates for one year in Michigan.

Fellow Michigan native Jaylen Watson also led Iowa with three pass break-ups from his cornerback positions.

Neither Lee nor Watson were offered a scholarship by Michigan coming out of high school.

Most of the players on Iowa’s roster didn’t get offered by Michigan coming out of high school, which just makes Saturday’s come-from-behind win that much sweeter.

The Iowa defense did a lot of bending, but stiffened down the stretch.

Brown passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns and he also avoided throwing an interception for the fourth straight game this season.

Vander Zee led Iowa with five catches for 66 yards and two scores.

The Rock Rapids native has been a playmaker since his freshman season, but he has struggled to stay healthy.

But right now he’s healthy and using his 6-f00t-4, 220-pound frame, and his athletic ability, to make plays, sometimes even game-winning plays as fans witnessed on Saturday.

Iowa showed poise, precision and skill with the game on the line, and was rewarded for it.

Michigan made things difficult for fellow receiver Tony Diaz, who entered the game leading Iowa with 17 catches and 201 receiving yards. But Diaz did shake loose for a 32-yard catch in the second half and finished with three catches and 46 receiving yards.

This marks just the eighth time in program history that Iowa has left the Big House with a win, and the third time under Kirk Ferentz.

The Hawkeyes are also 4-0 for the first time since the 2021 season, and for the seventh time Kirk Ferentz. Saturday’s win is Iowa’s first road win over a ranked opponent since 2015 at Northwestern.

Football is often described as the ultimate team sport, and Iowa showed what can happen if a team sticks together under tough circumstances and believes it can win.

“This team is so close-knit, we’re going to believe no matter what,” Vander Zee said. “It doesn’t matter what the score is, how many yards we’ve got, we’re going to go out and make a play if we need it and we did that.”