Wisconsin’s loss to Iowa looks even worse after the Hawkeyes’ loss at UCLA
Wisconsin’s 42-10 blowout loss at Iowa last weekend was as bad as the final score indicates.
The 32-point margin is the Badgers’ biggest loss to the rival Hawkeyes since 1968, Iowa’s 42 points are the most Wisconsin has allowed in the rivalry since 1975 and Iowa’s 329 total rushing yards are the most the Wisconsin program has allowed in a single game in nearly 12 years.
Related: Bye Week Report Card: Grading Wisconsin’s offense and Grading Wisconsin’s defense
Those numbers should paint the proper picture. The startling result was the low point of the Luke Fickell era to date — one that has had several of them.
That’s all reaction from last Sunday afternoon directly after the game. Somehow, now seven days later, the loss looks even worse.
That is because Iowa lost 20-17 to a 3-5 UCLA team on Friday night.
UCLA out-gained Iowa 415-265 and dominated the flow of the game. The margin would have been greater if it weren’t for two red-zone turnovers by Bruins QB Ethan Garbers.
The most striking stat, especially when compared to Iowa’s output against Wisconsin: UCLA out-rushed Iowa 211 (5.4 yards per carry) to 80 (2.6). The Bruins dominated the Hawkeyes in the trenches.
Normally, using the transitive property for results between teams isn’t a fair measure. Football is a week-to-week sport, with each game having its own identity and flow. That said, UCLA out-rushing Iowa by 131 yards one week after the Hawkeyes out-rushed the Badgers by 205 continues to shine a poor light on Wisconsin’s performance.
That perspective unavoidable, as is the context surrounding Wisconsin’s three-game win streak, for example. Purdue is 0-3 (1-7 overall) since losing to the Badgers, Rutgers is 0-2 (4-4 overall) and Northwestern is 1-1 (4-5 overall). There is a general trend surrounding Wisconsin’s schedule: its wins look less impressive and its losses continue to look worse — USC is now 2-5 in Big Ten play, as a further example.
These added pieces of context do not change Wisconsin’s 5-4 record and likely bowl fate. But they must be considered when discussing the quality of the Badgers’ wins, as well as the uncompetitive nature of some of the losses.
Wisconsin is back on the field in Week 12 at home against No. 1 Oregon. It then closes at Nebraska and vs. Minnesota. Positive on-field results are needed badly as Luke Fickell works to build momentum entering 2025.
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