Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, right, and offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe, left, look on during the first half of Saturday's game against Arkansas State. Iowa won 24-21.

The Associated Press

The No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes are off to a 5-0 start, their best ever in coach Kirk Ferentz's 11-year tenure in Iowa City. The record includes an upset of Penn State in Happy Valley.

The Hawkeyes have also escaped with narrow victories at home against the likes of Arkansas State and Northern Iowa, the latter of which is a former Division I-AA team, and their starting quarterback has been prone to interceptions.

So when they host the University of Michigan football team Saturday in a prime-time game, no one really knows what to expect from the inconsistent Hawkeyes. Here's a rundown of Iowa stories to start fans' preparation for Saturday's game:

• The Daily Iowan weighs in on the subject of the Hawkeyes' collective identity in this football forum video. 
• The Iowa defense struggles defending the spread offense. Sound familiar, Wolverines fans? Nonetheless, Rich Rodriguez has kind things to say about the D, according to the Des Moines Register.
• ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg says that while critics cough at Ferentz's $3 million salary, it's reasonable compensation considering the alternatives.
• Iowa 24, Arkansas State 21. Here's a rundown of Iowa's narrow victory last week.
• Ferentz isn't fretting over the play of starting QB Ricky Stanzi, who's thrown seven interceptions so far this season, according to The Associated Press.
• Stanzi may not always look pretty, but he is resilient, says the Daily Iowan.
• A little off topic, but still important: The man accused of murdering legendary Iowa high school football coach Ed Thomas is mentally fit to stand trial, a judge ruled today.