Iowa (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) welcomes in the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) for a game between two teams that have each faced early-season adversity but that enter today on two-game winning streaks.
One of the two will take another big step forward toward a strong finish to the season. The Hawkeyes are looking to reverse recent series history. It’s Wisconsin that’s won five out of the past six meetings and eight of the past 10. Of course, that includes the Badgers’ 27-7 win last October.
“This is a rivalry game, has been for a long time. One thing that’s been pretty consistent over the years, it’s usually a really hard-fought game, very, very competitive against a really good program,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said of Wisconsin.
Ferentz is expecting that same type of one-score challenge that the Badgers have historically presented. Five of the past 10 games between the two have been decided by just one score.
“This year is really no exception from my vantage point. They’ve got a veteran quarterback, outstanding running back, and he’s got a good backup behind him. The receivers and tight ends are doing a good job, and their offensive line is one of the better ones that we’re going to face, if not the best one. It’s going to be a challenge for our guys there.
“Defensively they’ve played several different styles over the years but they’ve certainly settled into a 3-4 front and it’s been really productive for them. They’ve been great defensively. Now for quite some time they got some new faces out there, but production seems to be the same, so they’re really doing a good job there,” Ferentz said.
Here’s how fans can watch and follow the game versus Wisconsin.