Cael Winter out, Michael Myslinski starts at center

The news came out of Ferentz's Tuesday presser, and the beat writers had it within minutes.

Sean Bock

@SBock247

Iowa Football Injury Report: Starting Center Cael Winter Likely Out Against Northwestern Michael Myslinski is expected to fill in at center for Winter, as he did this past weekend against Wisconsin. Story: t.co/ln1Yk9HX7u

Winter went into the medical tent late in the 3rd quarter of Saturday's 30-0 shutout of No. 25 Wisconsin and never came back. Iowa hasn't said what the injury is. Myslinski came in and played the rest of the way, and Ferentz liked what he saw. That's a big deal for a guy who's spent most of his time in Iowa City on the bench, or in the training room.

Chad Leistikow🆑

@ChadLeistikow

With Cael Winter out against Northwestern, Kirk Ferentz is confident Mike Myslinski will step in and play well at center. Just celebrated his 25th birthday!

Winter's own story is a good one. He's a former walk-on, listed at 6-foot-3 and 294 pounds, and he started his career in 2025 before winning the starting center job this fall. In an offense that lives on running the ball and keeping its quarterback clean, the center is the guy calling out protections and taking every snap. Losing him in November is not nothing.

Myslinski, though, isn't some freshman getting thrown in. He's a 6th-year guy from Jacksonville, Florida, whose career got wrecked by injuries again and again. Iowa got him a final year of eligibility through a medical hardship ruling this past May, after he played in 8 games in 2025 and won the team's Comeback Player of the Year award. He just turned 25. Six years in the program and he finally gets a start in a Big Ten road game. Pretty hard not to root for that.

The other injury news from the presser was all good, and the receiver room gets its guy back at full speed.

David Eickholt

@DavidEickholt

Kirk Ferentz confirms that Tony Diaz is “fine” and “100%” for Saturday against Northwestern.

So here's what to watch Saturday in Evanston: the snaps and the interior protection. Wisconsin was Myslinski's audition, and it went well enough for Ferentz to hand him the job without a second thought. If the line holds up with a 6th-year backup in the middle, Iowa can ride a shutout win straight into the stretch run without missing a beat. If Northwestern starts winning up the middle, the Winter injury becomes the story of the week. Either way, keep an eye on whether Winter gets a return timeline after this one.