SB Nation • 4 min read

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes 1st Half Game Thread: It’s time for the Game of the Year

The Wisconsin Badgers are facing off against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Week 7, looking to take back the Heartland Trophy after three straight losses to their rival. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. on FS1.

Wisconsin

is coming off a 24-10 loss to the Michigan Wolverines last weekend, marking their third straight loss and seventh straight in conference play dating back to last season. It was a good start for the Badgers, who had a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time all season, but that was pretty much all the positives offensively.

Defensively, the Badgers had one of their better performances of the season, but they gave up 175 yards on the ground (5.1 yards per carry), and the passing defense gave up a few plays in the second half.

Saturday could be Wisconsin’s best opportunity for a win all season long, and it comes amidst a tough October for the Badgers, with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Oregon coming up in the next two weeks.

Wisconsin will start Hunter Simmons for the second straight week after he took a surprise start against Michigan over sophomore Danny O’Neil. On the flip side, Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski is expected to play after battling through a knee injury over the past two weeks.

Starting center Jake Renfro is back after battling knee and ankle injuries, providing a boost to the offensive line, but Wisconsin will be without safety Preston Zachman and cornerback D’Yoni Hill.

Here’s the full Injury Report for the game.

QUESTIONABLE

WR Dekel Crowdus

DL Charles Perkins

OUT

CB D’Yoni Hill

QB Billy Edwards

WR Joseph Griffin Jr.

S Preston Zachman

OLB Evan Van Dyn Hoven

OL Kevin Heywood

OL Leyton Nelson