A closer look at Iowa football’s road trip to face Wisconsin

IOWA CITY — The brass bull has left the building.

Iowa football (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) kicks off its middle portion of the season fresh off a bye week with a quick drive up north to Madison, Wis., to face the Badgers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten). Although Wisconsin hasn’t played its best football in recent years, this Badgers team is determined to find its first Big Ten win of the season.

There’s just a lot of unknown standing in the way. Here’s a few key parts to Saturday night’s game that could make or break the Hawkeyes.

3 keys to victory

Keep up the run defense

Iowa and Wisconsin are two of the best teams in the country for run defense. In fact, they’re the top two teams in the Big Ten, and both sit within the top 10 in FBS.

The Hawkeyes are No. 4, allowing 69.4 yards per game, while the Badgers are No. 6 and allowing 75 yards per game.

The rushing defense has become Wisconsin’s identity this season, and Iowa’s offense has included a lot more rushing yards — especially when quarterback Mark Gronowski has been playing. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester said he likes that back-up QB Hank Brown can also run with the ball, but Iowa hasn’t displayed it much on tape this season.

If this is going to be a classic Iowa-Wisconsin matchup, the defenses on both teams will have to keep up the standard its set all season. Limit the run game on both sides, close off gaps and tackle cleanly.

Go with the offensive flow

There’s a lot still in the air before either head coach decides on a starting quarterback for this game. Ferentz gave the most positive injury-front news Wednesday during his weekly Hawk Talk radio show, saying Gronowski hasn’t had any flare ups or swelling since being cleared by the training staff on Monday.

“Right now, it's realistic to think he'll play,” Ferentz said. “Nothing's written in granite or in ink right now, but we'll see how it goes the rest of the week."

Ferentz said on Tuesday it’s possible that Iowa sees all three of its quarterbacks, Gronowski, Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, play against the Badgers. A lot of it was dependent on how the QBs looked leading up to the game, and how Gronwoski’s injury was progressing.

Brown entered the game after Gronowski’s injury against Indiana, and Hecklinski hasn’t seen the football field this season.

While Gronwoski is Iowa fans’ preferable choice, the Hawkeyes have spent all bye week preparing Brown and Hecklinski for this game. If either one of them becomes the starting quarterback, the offense has to make that adjustment and roll with the punches.

Ironically, the same goes for Iowa’s defense. Wisconsin’s quarterback room is also in some limbo after Hunter Simmons made his first start for the Badgers at Michigan. Billy Edwards Jr., who was the expected Wisconsin signal caller this season, hasn’t played a full game this season.

The Hawkeyes defense, just like the offense, won’t know who’s starting. That’s the wrinkle that could make or break Iowa on either side of the ball.

Keep emotions in the locker room

It almost goes without saying, but Wisconsin’s wanted its chance at revenge after the 42-10 dismantling the Hawkeyes hung on the Badgers last year at Kinnick Stadium.

The Badgers have said since Big Ten media days in Las Vegas that “Iowa 42” has been drilled into their heads. They did 42 push-ups every spring practice with their strength and conditioning coach. This is personal for the Badgers, and they’re hungry.

That being said, discipline is vital for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes are the best team in the country in penalties, only allowing a total 118 yards on 11 calls this season. In comparison, Iowa’s opponents have taken 19 this season.

If Iowa lets Wisconsin’s pent up energy for this game get to it, a classic Heartland Trophy game will get ugly very quickly.

Prediction

This has the making of old school football on full display in Madison. It may just come down to who gets the stop and/or a turnover at the right time

Iowa 17, Wisconsin 10

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