Wisconsin saw its three-game winning streak and red-hot momentum come to an end in Week 9, as it fell to No. 3 Penn State 28-13.
The Badgers are now 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in Big Ten play entering a critical Week 10 rivalry game at Iowa.
Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s rivalry battle with Iowa
Wisconsin and Iowa are tough to separate through eight games of action. Each boasts the same conference and overall record, and the two rank similarly in most ranking systems and metrics.
Iowa has a slight edge over Wisconsin, as its resume is boosted by blowout wins over both Minnesota and Washington. Wisconsin has three dominant conference victories, but it has yet to beat any team ranked in the top 60 in ESPN FPI.
CBS Sports latest college football re-rank reflects that current standing. It dropped Wisconsin to No. 38 overall after its Week 9 loss to Penn State, while Iowa rose to No. 36 after its big win over Northwestern — jumping Wisconsin in the process.
Wisconsin and Iowa appear to be evenly-matched entering Saturday’s primetime matchup at Kinnick Stadium. The Badgers enter as slight underdogs, a standing that CBS Sports accurately reflects in its latest full-sport ranking.
For more on the upcoming matchup, check out our ranking of the game’s biggest storylines and what Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz said about the Badgers in his preview press conference.
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