Let’s just say it right up front – Kirk Ferentz has Luke Fickell and Wisconsin in the torture chamber. And there is no escape in sight.
Since Wisconsin’s last win in this series, in 2021 – a football lifetime ago – the Badgers have scored a grand total of two (2) touchdowns and 26 points against Iowa. They scored a touchdown late in the first half of the 2022 game, and early in the fourth quarter of the 2024 game. Two in five meetings. The margin the last five years is 148-26. Since that late 2024 touchdown,
Iowa’s on an 81-0 run against the Badgers.
“81-0 run” really rolls off the tongue.
They managed to go eight (8) quarters without scoring a single point against the Hawks. Eight quarters. Two games! Iowa with consecutive shutouts against the Badgers – what a time to be alive! Wisconsin hasn’t been shut out in consecutive games against an opponent since Michigan from 1977-1980. Neither team’s done this in the series before. It’s crazy just how much Iowa’s in their heads. This feels a bit like the mid-90s, when no matter how good Wisconsin was, they couldn’t beat Iowa. Just couldn’t do it.
And that’s part of what makes this so shocking. Wisconsin dipped some as a program, but they feel like they’re improving and back on a solid trajectory under Fickell. They (mostly) look the part again. The USC win was impressive and takes on added weight given the Trojans just defeated Ohio State. Say what you will about Penn State, but it takes a big pair to win in Happy Valley.
But then you watch this and wonder if Fickell heads back to the hot seat in Madison. They do not have the answer against Iowa right now. Nowhere close to the answer against the Hawkeyes. And this is an Iowa team coming off last week’s disappointing Minnesota showing, down their starting running back, and generally searching for answers. And that game was over in the first 10 minutes of the first quarter.
Iowa completely dominated this game, from start to finish. Watching yesterday, I wonder how there was ever a quarterback battle in Iowa City. Hank Brown had easily his best game at this level. His 190 passing yards in the first half were the most by an Iowa quarterback in the first half of a game since Nate Stanley against Illinois in 2019.
He was in total command of the Iowa offense, pushing all of the right buttons, hitting throws from the start. His early 45-yard completion to DJ Vonnahme set the tone out of the gate. The drive didn’t end with a touchdown – Kade Pieper went the wrong way on third down – but Iowa immediately got it going on a day that looked dreary in eastern Iowa. Even throws on which Brown was hit, he was getting it on target. He was in total control, start to finish.
And look at that – Iowa got their skill guys going right away too. Iowa had targets for all of DJV, Tony Diaz – the Boogeyman was out and about on Halloween – and Reece Vander Zee. Those three combined for 17 touches. It’s right around where you’d want to be for those three.
And that doesn’t go into the defense, which handled Wisconsin all day. Or the solid special teams play (nice returns from Evan James, Cayden Buhr hitting a career-long field goal, great coverage by kickoff and punt teams.) This was Iowa approaching their ceiling. This Iowa performance wins last week by a similar scoreline. But that’s enough on Minnesota – Iowa’s still good and we’re on to Northwestern. I bet no one’s written that before.
- I’m not a huge Xavier Williams guy but he kept us ahead of the chains most of the day. He did put the ball on the ground twice, though one of those was a great punchout by the Wisconsin defense. That’s seven fumbles in two weeks by Iowa. Goodness. Far too many.
- Even with the fumbles, it was Wisconsin committing all of the errors Iowa did last week. Untimely turnovers. Penalties galore. They just don’t stack up with Iowa at all.
- Iowa’s defense had Wisconsin in the headlock all day. It was bad enough the Badgers changed quarterbacks midway through the fourth quarter. They had no shot in any phase. Special shoutouts to Cam Buffington and Jayden Montgomery. Wisconsin had no answer to those two. They combined for 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 3 tackles for loss.
- I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween!
