Kirk Ferentz Nov 11, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz enters Kinnick Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Iowa Hawkeyes are entering Saturday night’s Big Ten Championship game as more than a three touchdown underdog against the Michigan Wolverines. But Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz is embracing his team’s role as an underdog.

During a press conference this week, Kirk Ferentz got pretty blunt about how he and his team are approaching this game as heavy underdogs.

“If you don’t embrace it, you’re probably going to be a loser. You may be a loser anyway or come out losing the game — not be a loser but lose the game. You have to relish the opportunity, the challenge, and understand just how significant the challenge is going to be and appreciate that and respect it,” Ferentz said.

“That’s the great thing about sports, too. You just never know what’s going to happen. That’s why all the prognosticists, they get a little frustrated because you can’t predict even a regular season 100 percent, because people are people and a lot that could happen.”

We’ll have to see whether or not Iowa can pull off the proverbial Cinderella story on Saturday night against the Wolverines. Michigan may be a heavy favorite, but there’s still a reason why they play the games.

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