Michigan has been lucky with injuries this season, but that doesn't mean they are fully healthy either. As tends to happen when the season begins, players start to play through minor injuries, and right now Jordan Marshall is working through an injury that took him out for some time against UTEP.
Against Oklahoma, Marshall took some hard hits, but kept getting back up and stepping up for the Wolverines. That wasn't fully the case against UTEP, when Marshall actually exited the game in the third quarter with a nagging lower-body injury, putting the ball in freshman running back, Savion Hiter's hands.
Marshall was banged up enough in Week 3 that head coach Kyle Whittingham spoke about his availability for Iowa this week. Whittingham said that Marshall will play against No. 17 Iowa this week, barring any setbacks.
Michigan football injury updates via Kyle Whittingham on Inside Michigan Football:
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) September 21, 2026
- RB Jordan Marshall will play against Iowa "unless there's a setback."
- OL Andrew Sprague's availability is "a tough question. Could be anywhere from this week to several weeks."
Even though Whittngham believes Marshall will be good to go against the Hawkeyes, this is still an injury worth keeping track of this week, and even in the game. Iowa's defense is physical and can deliver big hits, so there is still the possibility that Marshall plays but doesn't make it through the whole game.
Savion Hiter should comfortably step in if Jordan Marshall can't go vs. No. 17 Iowa
If Marshall ends up not being active against Iowa due to a setback, or ends up taking a big hit that takes him out of the game, freshman Savion Hiter will likely be called upon to take over the run game for the Wolverines.
Honestly, Hiter has already ramped up his touches in Michigan's first three games. After hardly getting any carries in Week 1, granted Michigan's offense wasn't on the field for that long, Hiter stepped up against Oklahoma with a few more carries and got in the passing game. Finally, this last week against UTEP was Hiter's breakout game, scoring his first and second career touchdowns, while also facing some adversity with his first career fumble.
With both some success and struggles under his belt, Hiter can definitely step into this run game if Marshall can't play or goes down. Against UTEP, Hiter had a season-high 11 carries for 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, leading the Wolverines in rushing. With how much this offense uses the run game, especially with quarterback Bryce Underwood's legs, Hiter won't have to shoulder everything.
This Iowa defense won't be easy to face. It will probably be Michigan's toughest defensive opponent so far, and they already faced Brent Venables and Oklahoma. The run game will be crucial for the Wolverines, as the Iowa defense is way stronger against the pass than the run. In 2026, Iowa's defense is currently allowing 72.5 rushing yards per game to opponents vs. 115 passing yards per game to opponents.
Granted, those numbers come from their non-conference opponents: Northern Iowa, Northern Illinois, and an Iowa State team under a new head coach. Iowa will face its toughest opponent as well in Michigan, so setting the tone early will be big for the Wolverines, especially in their own home stadium.
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