This is not exactly the Michigan team Iowa had its sights on coming into the season.

The Wolverines entered the season ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll, and were thought to be among the favorites in the Big Ten. Through four games, Michigan still finds itself ranked but not without some close calls along the way.

Middle Tennessee kept it close with Michigan at The Big House through three quarters in Week 1, but the Wolverines eventually pulled away and won, 40-21. In Week 2, Michigan needed two overtime periods to outlast Army, again in Ann Arbor.

A factor that kept Army in the game against the heavily-favored Wolverines was Michigan’s sloppy offensive play. Michigan lost three fumbles against Army, two of them on strip-sacks of quarterback Shea Patterson.

This was the first fumble of the day for Michigan. Army sent its two inside linebackers on a blitz, with one of them getting through the Michigan offensive line with a clear path to the quarterback.

Patterson attempts to elude the defender but is careless with the football, leading to a turnover.

Michigan ranks 110th in the nation in turnovers, having given the ball up 10 times on offense already this season. The Wolverine offense has tossed 3 interceptions and lost 7 fumbles.

In comparison, Iowa is tied for best in the nation with only 1 turnover on offense this season.

Coming off of a Week 3 bye, Michigan had its first highly-anticipated matchup of the season against Wisconsin. It got stomped.

Wisconsin was leading 35-0 before Michigan put any points on the board. The game ended with the score 35-14, and it felt even more lopsided than the score indicates. It was a statement win by the Badgers and an embarrassing performance by Michigan.

The Badgers succeeded in running the ball against the Wolverines. Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor complied 203 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, including a 72-yard burst to the end zone in the first quarter.

On the play, Wisconsin lined up in the pistol with trips to the right and Taylor lined up in the backfield.

Wisconsin’s No. 3 wide receiver came in motion, causing the defensive back lined up across from him to deepen his alignment and pass the receiver off to the safety on the other side of the field.

When the ball was snapped, Taylor took the inside carry. A blitz by Michigan’s inside linebacker clogged up the middle of the field, so Taylor bounced outside where the play seemed designed to go.

Wisconsin’s right guard and tackle pulled around to the left, both of them securing key seal-blocks on Michigan defenders that allowed Taylor to accelerate and make his way to the end zone untouched.

Iowa may not have a single running back as imposing a threat as Taylor, but the four-headed monster the Hawkeyes feature in the backfield should give the Michigan run defense fits.

Michigan ranks 89^th nationally in rush defense this season, which is an oddity considering how stout the Wolverines have been in that department in recent years. Nevertheless, Michigan is allowing 168 rushing yards per game this year and has surrendered 9 rushing touchdowns.

Michigan rebounded after the loss against Wisconsin with a 52-0 win over a struggling Rutgers team.

It was a tune-up game for the No. 19 Wolverines heading into this week’s Iowa matchup.

Patterson showed his dual-threat capabilities against the Scarlet Knights, scoring 3 rushing touchdowns. After his performance against Rutgers, Patterson ranks second among Big Ten quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns, trailing only Justin Fields (7).

Here, Michigan opts for a play-action pass at the Rutgers 5-yard line.

The fake is convincing, and Patterson rolls out to the right. All four of Michigan’s pass-catchers were blanketed by defenders.

Seeing nobody open, Patterson scrambles and puts his head down, diving into the end zone for the touchdown.

The Iowa-Michigan matchup has been a highly-anticipated game ever since the schedule was released. Which Michigan team shows up on Saturday will indicate whether the game will live up to the hype.