Winter Expected to Miss Iowa at Northwestern
Iowa starting center Cael Winter is expected to sit out Saturday's game at Northwestern with an undisclosed injury, with Michael Myslinski set to step in.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
Iowa starting center Cael Winter is expected to miss Saturday's game at Northwestern due to an undisclosed injury. Sixth-year reserve Michael Myslinski is set to replace him, having taken over during the second half of last Saturday's home win against Wisconsin.
Why it matters
Winter has started Iowa's first seven games this fall, so his absence changes the team's offensive line at the position. Myslinski's appearance against Wisconsin offers an early look at how the line may function without its regular starter.
Winter, a 6-foot-3, 294-pound walk-on, has started the first seven games of the season for No. 21 Iowa after seeing his first game action in 2025. The team's official injury details remain undisclosed, leaving the length of his absence unknown.
The players
Cael Winter
Iowa starting center who walked on at the program and is expected to miss Saturday's game due to an undisclosed injury.
Michael Myslinski
Sixth-year Iowa reserve who has spent his career as a backup and is set to start at center in place of Winter.
Kirk Ferentz
Longtime head football coach at Iowa who confirmed Myslinski will step in for Winter.
The details
Coach Kirk Ferentz said Myslinski is set to step in for Winter at center against Northwestern on Saturday. Myslinski, a reserve throughout his career, first replaced Winter during the second half of last Saturday's home win over Wisconsin.
Timeline
2025: Winter saw his first game action at Iowa.
This fall: Winter started Iowa's first seven games.
Last Saturday: Myslinski replaced Winter during the home win over Wisconsin.
Saturday: Winter is expected to miss the game at Northwestern.
Season Trajectory
Iowa's depth at center is being tested early in a season where Winter has been the starter for seven games. How Myslinski performs at Northwestern will show whether the program's reserve linemen can maintain the offensive line's continuity during a key stretch of the schedule.
With Winter out, Myslinski becomes the starting center, which can affect the offensive line's blocking assignments and the running game for Iowa fans tracking the team's performance. Fantasy and betting observers tracking Iowa's offense will want to watch how the line performs without its regular starter.
The takeaway
Injuries to starters on the offensive line often test depth across the roster, and Myslinski's performance Saturday will show how well Iowa's backups can fill the gap.
What happens next
Iowa plays at Northwestern on Saturday, the date on which Winter is expected to be out.
Further reading
For more on the program's current roster and season, see Football coverage for Iowa.
