The Badgers have a tough road schedule ahead this coming season. This includes games Michigan State (11-2) and Ohio State (11-2). However, the most important road game of the season is against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Almost every season, the Big Ten West title comes down to either Wisconsin or Iowa. Apart from last season, the winner of that game usually clinches a spot in the Big Ten Championship. For the Badgers to get back to Indianapolis, beating the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium must happen.
Recapping 2021 Against Iowa
Last season, the Badgers upset ninth ranked Iowa at Camp Randall Stadium 27-7. The Hawkeyes were ranked second in the country the previous week for context. The “Grit Factory” defense had one of its best performances of the season. They registered six sacks, recovered three fumbles and held the Hawkeyes to just 156 yards of total offense. Iowa also only had nine first downs in that game and only converted on third down twice in 13 attempts.
Offensively, the Badgers did enough to win the game. The Hawkeyes defense held them to just 270 total yards of offense. Despite gaining less than 300 yards of offense, the Badgers didn’t have a turnover for the first time all season. Graham Mertz completed 11 passes on 22 attempts for 104 yards and one touchdown. However, Mertz would score two rushing touchdowns in that game as well.
Running back Braelon Allen rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries, which was his season low at the time. However, he averaged an efficient 5.2 yards per gain. His backfield mate Chez Mellusi was slowed down the most by Iowa’s defense. Mellusi would gain a season low 48 yards on 19 carries and would only average 2.5 yards per rush.
This Badgers win was their fourth of what would be seven in a row. It also was their second consecutive win against a ranked opponent. They had beaten the 25th ranked Purdue Boilermakers the previous week. The win also shot Wisconsin to being ranked 21st in the country and also back into the Big Ten West race. However, Iowa would win the west last year due to the Badgers losing to Minnesota and the Hawkeyes beating Nebraska.
What Might Happen This Season In The Big Ten West
Next season, I am expecting a trip to the Big Ten Championship game to come down to either Wisconsin or Iowa. The rest of the teams in the aren’t title contenders. The recruiting gap between those teams and Wisconsin and Iowa is very wide. The only team that might be able to be relevant in the race for the west division title is Purdue.
Iowa will once again be a tough game for Wisconsin. They return 15 total starters from their west division winning team from last season. This is tied for the most in the Big Ten with Purdue and Maryland. The biggest strength of the Hawkeyes from last season was their defense. In 2021, Iowa was ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense trailing only Minnesota and the Badgers. They also led the conference in interceptions with 25.
Past Success Against Iowa In The Paul Chryst Era
Badgers head coach Paul Chryst has a 5-2 record against the Hawkeyes. When his teams face the Hawkeyes in Iowa City, he is 2-1. Prior to losing to Iowa in 2020, he was undefeated when his teams visited Kinnick Stadium. For comparison, Barry Alvarez had a 5-9 record against Iowa and only won twice in Iowa City. Alvarez’s successor, Bret Bielema had a 2-3 record against the Hawkeyes winning both times in Iowa City. However, Bielema didn’t play the Hawkeyes his last two seasons due to the Big Ten moving Iowa to the other division.
Why Wisconsin Must Win
Winning against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium is not easy. However, the Badgers journey to the Big Ten Championship takes them through Iowa City. Only once has a team made it to the Big Ten Championship with more than two losses. The Badgers accomplished the feat in 2012 with a Big Ten record of 4-4. However, Ohio State and Penn State had a better conference record then the Badgers but were banned from the postseason that year. This enabled the Badgers to get to the Big Ten Championship by default. Although the Badgers would win the game with the destruction of Nebraska in that game.
Winning this game not only gives Wisconsin the best chance of winning the west but they’ll be able to keep the Heartland Trophy. Every year Wisconsin has made it to the Big Ten Championship they’ve beaten Iowa during the regular season. Wisconsin experienced the bad taste of losing a trophy and having their Big Ten Championship aspirations dashed last year against Minnesota. I doubt they want to experience that again. The Badgers know what it takes to get back to Indianapolis and winning against Iowa is a part of that process.
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