No. 3 Michigan Aims to Become Second Big Ten Team in History to Go Unbeaten on the Road

Wolverines need win at Iowa to accomplish rare feat last achieved by Bob Knight's 1976 Indiana team

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Third-ranked Michigan is one road win away from becoming only the second Big Ten team in history to go unbeaten on the road, a feat last accomplished by Bob Knight's 1976 Indiana team. The Wolverines, who are top 10 nationally in several key statistical categories, will face a tough challenge at Iowa, which is coming off an upset loss to Penn State but boasts one of the best guards in the country in Bennett Stirtz.

Why it matters

Michigan's potential unbeaten road record would cement the team's status as a national title contender and one of the most dominant Big Ten squads in recent memory. The Wolverines' balanced attack and defensive prowess have made them a force to be reckoned with all season.

The details

Michigan (27-2, 17-1) is coming off an impressive 84-70 road win over then-No. 10 Illinois, limiting the high-powered Fighting Illini to 26-of-63 shooting. The Wolverines are top 10 nationally in several key stats, including points per game, field-goal percentage, rebounds, assists, and blocked shots. However, they suffered a blow with the season-ending ACL tear of key reserve L.J. Cason. Iowa (20-9, 10-8) is looking to bounce back from a surprising 71-69 upset loss to Penn State, but will have its hands full trying to slow down Michigan's balanced attack.

  • Michigan can become the second Big Ten team in history to go unbeaten on the road with a win at Iowa on Thursday, March 7, 2026.
  • Michigan's last regular season game is at Iowa on March 7, 2026.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines basketball team.

Yaxel Lendeborg

The leading scorer for the Michigan Wolverines, averaging 14.3 points per game.

L.J. Cason

A key reserve for the Michigan Wolverines who suffered a season-ending ACL tear.

Ben McCollum

The first-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball team.

Bennett Stirtz

The star guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, averaging 20.5 points and 4.5 assists per game.

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What they’re saying

“We looked like a team that was motivated but also still fresh mentally this late in the season, which is a good sign going forward. They genuinely care about each other and playing the game with each other the right way.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines (statenews.net)

“They individualized us a lot. They took individual matchups and tried to punish them. They punished us inside, gambled for a few steals and they punished us on the perimeter in individual matchups.”

— Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan-Iowa game on March 7, 2026 will be one step closer to securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant season has put them on the verge of making history as only the second Big Ten team to go unbeaten on the road since 1976. Their balanced attack and defensive prowess make them a serious national title contender, but they'll need to get past a tough Iowa squad led by star guard Bennett Stirtz to cement their place in the conference record books.