ESPN ‘College GameDay’ picks for Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa
The ESPN “College GameDay” staff all listed their pick to win Saturday’s primetime showdown between the Wisconsin Badgers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) and rival Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten).
The extended panel for the Week 10 edition of the show included Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard and guest picker comedian Keegan-Michael Key.
Every panelist except one chose the Hawkeyes to prevail. Saban was the only one to pick Wisconsin, citing the Badgers’ better form over the last month.
Big factors in the rivalry matchup include a tough Kinnick Stadium atmosphere, Iowa’s new quarterback, Wisconsin’s offensive line play and a battle between two of the top running backs in the conference.
Iowa has won two straight in the series and three of the last four. The Badgers and Hawkeyes will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on NBC and available via stream on Peacock.
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Top 2025 quarterback, former Michigan commit to visit Wisconsin during game vs. Oregon
Four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith will visit Wisconsin during its contest against No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 16, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong.
Smith recently decommitted from Michigan‘s class of 2025 as the Wolverines reportedly heightened their pursuit of five-star QB Bryce Underwood. He had been committed to Michigan since November 2023 — before the transition from Jim Harbaugh to Sherrone Moore.
247Sports currently ranks the Fort Myers, Florida native as the No. 158 player in the class of 2025, No. 14 quarterback and No. 26 recruit from his home state.
Wisconsin joins a crowded offer sheet that also includes Florida State, Miami, Ole Miss, Penn State and Texas A&M. It’s still unclear which programs will re-open their pursuit after Smith’s decommitment, however, as some on his offer list are likely to have landed a quarterback since last November.
Of note, Wisconsin is currently the only program scheduled to host Smith on a visit.
🚨NEWS🚨 4-star QB Carter Smith will take an official visit to Wisconsin for its game against Oregon on November 16🦡
Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 28 in the nation and No. 10 in the Big Ten. The group has seen some activity lately. It flipped both DL Drayden Pavey and TE Emmett Bork from Purdue and Michigan State, respectively, but also saw DL Wilnerson Telemaque and LB Brenden Anes decommit during that time.
The class currently has one quarterback committed: three-star Landyn Locke — the younger brother of Badgers current starter Braedyn Locke.
The potential addition of Smith would provide a big boost to Wisconsin’s recruiting output. Luke Fickell has compiled classes that rank well nationally, but he has yet to land a highly-touted signal-caller. Carter Smith isn’t quite Drake Maye — a five-star quarterback that led Phil Longo’s offense to success at North Carolina. But he would represent a clear step forward for the Badgers recruiting the position.
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Is Wisconsin playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come.
Will the Wisconsin Badgers be on the field today in Week 10 of the College football season?
After a 28-13 Week 9 home loss to No. 3 Penn State halted the Badgers’ win streak, Wisconsin hits the road in Week 10 for a critical rivalry matchup at Iowa.
Wisconsin and Iowa will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on NBC and available to stream on Peacock.
The Badgers enter the primetime matchup with a 5-3 overall record and 3-2 mark in Big Ten play. Iowa enters with the exact same standing — 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in-conference.
Wisconsin has lost two straight to the rival Hawkeyes and three of the last four. It has not won at Kinnick Stadium since a 28-17 triumph in 2018.
Wisconsin schedule 2024
Aug. 30: vs. Western Michigan (W, 28-14)
Sept. 7: vs. South Dakota (W, 27-13)
Sept. 14: vs. Alabama (L, 42-10)
Bye Week
Sept. 28: at USC (L, 38-21)
Oct. 5: vs. Purdue (W, 52-6)
Oct. 12: at Rutgers (W, 42-7)
Oct. 19: at Northwestern (W, 23-3)
Oct. 26: vs. Penn State (L, 28-13)
Nov. 2 at Iowa
Bye Week
Nov. 16 vs. Oregon
Nov. 23 at Nebraska
Nov. 30 vs. Minnesota
Record: 5-3 (3-2 Big Ten)
Iowa schedule 2024
Aug. 31: vs Illinois State (W, 40-0)
Sept. 7: vs. Iowa State (L, 20-19)
Sept. 14: vs. Troy (W, 38-21)
Sept. 21: at Minnesota (W, 31-17)
Bye Week
Oct. 5: at Ohio State (L, 35-7)
Oct. 12: vs. Washington (W, 40-16)
Oct. 19: at Michigan State (L, 32-20)
Oct. 26: vs. Northwestern (W, 40-14)
Nov. 2: vs. Wisconsin
Nov. 8 at UCLA
Bye Week
Nov. 23 at Maryland
Nov. 30 vs. Nebraska
Record: 5-3 (3-2 Big Ten)
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What is the weather forecast for Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa football on Saturday?
The weather could get a bit dicey for Wisconsin’s rivalry game at Iowa on Saturday.
The Badgers and Hawkeyes are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT. That nighttime kickoff will inevitably bring cooler temperatures, but the forecast also calls for steady rains throughout the night.
Weather.com’s specific forecast projects a low temperature of 47 degrees with 11-mile-per-hour winds out of the East and a 90% chance of rain. It predicts ‘Showers early, becoming a steady rain late’ with the possibility of thunder.
November in the Big Ten usually sees weather play a factor on gameday — at least in the Midwestern states. Saturday’s primetime battle between Wisconsin and Iowa appears to be no different.
Nov 12, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; A general view of Kinnick Stadium before the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Any inclement weather would only heighten the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage and running the football well. Both Wisconsin and Iowa’s offenses are built around the run game. As always, that is a strength-vs-strength matchup.
For more on the specific matchup and the Badgers’ possible advantages, check out our ranking of the game’s biggest storylines. Weather was not a consideration earlier in the week, though it may soon become one if this forecast comes to fruition.
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Wisconsin leads Iowa in a key statistic that often decides the Heartland Trophy
Games in the storied rivalry between the Wisconsin Badgers and Iowa Hawkeyes are often defined by toughness, running the football and field position.
It’s no grand proclamation to say that the winner of Saturday’s matchup between the two teams will be the one that dominates the trenches and controls the game. Any fan of the sport can recognize that.
But there is one other stat that has decided every Wisconsin vs. Iowa game over the last four years — one that also points to a Badger victory in the 2024 edition.
That stat: punting average.
The team with the higher-ranked punter has won every matchup since 2019 — when Wisconsin won 24-22 despite P Anthony Lotti ranking near the bottom of the Big Ten with 39.7 yards per punt.
If the parameters are not clear, here is the result of the last four meetings in the rivalry, paired with where each team’s punter ranks in the Big Ten in season-long punting average:
2020: Iowa 28-7 win. Iowa P Tory Taylor had a season-long average of 44.1 yards per punt (3rd in Big Ten), while Wisconsin P Andy Vujnovich had a mark of 41.7 (10th in Big Ten)
2021: Wisconsin 27-7 win. Wisconsin P Andy Vujnovich at 46.4 (2nd in Big Ten), with Iowa P Tory Taylor at 46.1 (4th in Big Ten)
2022: Iowa 24-10 win. Iowa P Tory Taylor at 45.4 yards per punt (2nd in Big Ten), with Wisconsin P Andy Vujnovich at 43.9 (9th in Big Ten)
2023: Iowa 15-6 win. Iowa P Tory Taylor at 48.2 (1st in the Big Ten), with Wisconsin P Atticus Bertrams at 41.3 (13th in the Big Ten)
The winner of every meeting, as shown, has boasted the punter with the greater season-long punting average. Iowa great Tory Taylor tipped these scales with his All-American-caliber play, which coincided with the Hawkeyes winning three of four meetings.
Entering the 2024 matchup, the Badgers have this trend going in their direction. P Atticus Bertrams enters Saturday with a season-long punting average of 46.3 (4th in the Big Ten). Iowa P Rhys Dakin, meanwhile, is down at 44.8 (7th in the Big Ten).
There are better ways to evaluate punters than by their average. Some combination of punts inside the 10 yard-line, punts inside the 20, punting net (yards-minus-returns) and overall average paint a better picture.
Regardless, this exercise should show that Bertrams and Dakin are at least close in overall production — a reality that Wisconsin could rarely boast during Taylor’s storied career.
“Starting field position, that was the difference in the game, especially early on. That’s why it was so challenging. I think their punter is really good.”
Bertrams notched 257 total yards and a 51.4 average on five punts, plus took a fake punt for a 15-yard rush and a first down. He had a dominant evening, and was far from the reason the Badgers lost.
That form could give Wisconsin the punting advantage on Saturday, which is a key factor in what projects to be a hard-fought game decided by field position.
If trends are any indication, that advantage will lead to a victory.
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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.
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Previewing the Lions ahead of Sunday’s NFC North showdown at Lambeau Field in Week 9.
One of the biggest games of the 2024 season is about to arrive for the Green Bay Packers. In Week 9, the Packers will host the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions — one of the top Super Bowl contenders — at Lambeau Field for a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff. The winner on Sunday will take the lead in the division entering the second half.
Last year, the Packers and Lions split the series, with each team winning on the road.
Through eight weeks in 2024, the Lions look like one of the NFL’s best teams. Dan Campbell’s team has won five straight games and have scored 40 or more points in three of the last four.
Here’s a closer look at the Lions entering Week 9:
Last week (Win, 52-14 over Titans)
You’ve probably never seen a butt-kicking quite like this one. The Lions scored 52 points and won by 38 despite producing only 61 net passing yards and being outgained by the Titans by almost 200 yards. The Lions and Titans were actually tied at 14 at one point in the first half, but the Lions ripped off five straight touchdowns to break the game wide open. Detroit’s offense scored six touchdowns, including rushing scores from both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Lions defense produced four takeaways and the special teams created a 90-yard punt return touchdown. Overall, seven different players scored touchdowns for Dan Campbell’s team. Like all great teams, the Lions continue to prove that they can win in many different ways.
Quarterback play
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage (74.1) and yards per attempt (9.0), showcasing how well he’s operating one of the NFL’s most diverse and dynamic offenses. His passer rating is 115.8, and he has five straight games with a passer rating over 100.0. Over the last four games, Goff has thrown 10 touchdown passes and only 13 incompletions — a ridiculous stretch of accuracy and scoring plays. While he doesn’t have an elite arm or dangerous mobility, Goff plays calmly and confidently from the pocket and is devastatingly effective off play-action. He’s the perfect distributor for Ben Johnson’s scheme. Goff has been sacked 17 times, and he’ll occasionally put the ball in danger under pressure. The Packers have to pressure him on Sunday.
Line of scrimmage
Injuries have drastically affected the Lions’ talent level up front on defense, but Detroit’s offensive line is in the running for the best in football. All five up front on offense are talented veterans. If there’s a weak spot, it’s at left guard, where Graham Glasgow have allowed 15 pressures and committed four penalties this season. Left tackle Taylor Decker has allowed five sacks, but he’s been one of the NFL’s most consistent tackles over the last decade. Right tackle Penei Sewell is an elite player. On the defensive side, the Lions are trying to overcome the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, arguably the best pass-rusher in football. Defensive tackle Alim McNeil has 20 pressures and is a Kenny Clark-like interior disruptor. Last week, Levi Onwuzurike produced five pressures, including two hits. DJ Reader is a big, tough nose tackle in the middle. The Packers are in for a heavyweight fight along the line of scrimmage against the Lions.
Turnovers
The Lions are one of the elite teams in the turnover category to start this season. Detroit has turned the ball over only five times (fourth fewest) while taking away the ball 15 times (second most), creating a plus-10 turnover margin (second best). Jared Goff has thrown four interceptions in seven games, and the Lions have just one lost fumble. Defensively, defensive backs Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch have combined for nine interceptions. The Lions have lost the turnover battle just once this season — a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When winning the turnover battle, the Lions have an average win margin of 29.7 points (three games). Last year, the winner of the turnover battle won both games in this rivalry.
Injury situations
The Lions have 14 players already on injured reserve, including star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end John Cominsky, linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu. Receiver Jameson Williams isn’t injured, but he’s suspended for Week 9. Last week, defensive end Josh Paschal and offensive lineman Christian Mahogany were out with an illness. The first injury report for the Lions will arrive later Wednesday.
Players to know
RB Jahmyr Gibbs: He’s averaging 6.4 yards per attempt with a rushing success rate of 64.1 percent. Gibbs has turned 111 touches into 745 yards and seven scores. He’s officially emerged as one of the NFL’s elite runners.
TE Sam LaPorta: Amon-Ra St. Brown is the top target in the passing game, but LaPorta — a Pro Bowler as a rookie — is starting to heat up. He has a touchdown catch in two of the last three games and is averaging almost 12 yards per target.
DB Brian Branch: The Lions’ primary slot defender has four interceptions and seven other pass breakups through seven games. Branch vs. Jayden Reed — two picks from the 2023 draft — will be a top matchup.
LB Jack Campbell: The second-year linebacker leads the Lions in stops with 17. Campbell is good against the run and in coverage.
WR Kalif Raymond: The speedy receiver has scored two touchdowns on offense, and he’s turned 19 punt returns into 315 yards — including a 90-yard touchdown last week.
K Jake Bates: The rookie kicker and former UFL standout is 11-for-11 on field goals and 27-for-28 on extra points to start his career in Detroit. The Packers had interest this offseason, but Bates picked the Lions.
Iowa two-deep depth chart for Wisconsin game lists new starter at quarterback
The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ permanent change from Cade McNamara to Brendan Sullivan at quarterback looks more and more likely.
The team’s game-week depth chart for its Week 10 matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers lists Sullivan as the starter, with redshirt freshman Marco Lainez listed as the backup.
This update comes after Iowa made an in-game switch from McNamara to Sullivan during its win over Northwestern. The team trailed 7-3 at the time of the change. Sullivan helped lead the Hawkeyes to score 37 unanswered points in the eventual 40-14 victory.
Sullivan, a former Northwestern transfer, finished the contest with 14 passing for 79 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a QBR of 74.8, while also adding 41 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz did not commit to a long-term change while speaking with the media postgame, saying “we’ll see on that” and “‘permanent’ is a strong word.”
The program’s updated depth chart, however, points to that change being made entering Saturday’s important game against the Badgers.
McNamara, a former Michigan transfer, was just 104 of 172 passing for 1,017 yards (127 yards per game), six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 37.1 QBR in 2024. The offense was much-improved over its struggles under former coordinator Brian Ferentz, but much of that can be attributed to the breakout of star RB Kaleb Johnson.
McNamara not presenting a threat in the passing game hurt the team in its blowout loss to Ohio State and road loss to Michigan State. Sullivan’s insertion into the lineup, meanwhile, gave the offense life it hasn’t had in five years.
Wisconsin’s task of stopping Iowa’s offense, let alone winning in a tough road environment, gets tougher with this news. Sullivan’s profile is similar to Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula, who gave the Badgers defense fits in the second half of the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win.
The Badgers will need a dominant effort on both sides of the football for a win to become a possibility.
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Wisconsin upcoming opponent makes significant quarterback change in Week 9 win
The Wisconsin Badgers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) enter the schedule stretch that will likely define how the season is viewed. That is due to the upcoming trio of rivalry matchups, the first coming this weekend on the road at Iowa (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten).
Wisconsin fell to Iowa 15-6 at Camp Randall Stadium in 2023. Saturday’s Week 10 matchup presents a chance at redemption for that loss, and a chance for Luke Fickell’s team to show that its Week 9 loss to No. 3 Penn State doesn’t signal a larger slide.
Iowa enters Saturday after a dominant 40-14 win over Northwestern in Week 9. The Hawkeyes have been mostly up-and-down to start the season, with big wins over Minnesota and Washington, plus tough losses to Michigan State and No. 4 Ohio State.
The dominant victory over Northwestern may signal a turning of the corner, however, because it coincided with the team inserting QB Brendan Sullivan into the starting lineup in place of Cade McNamara.
Kirk Ferentz made the move early in the first half with the Hawkeyes trailing 7-3. Sullivan, a Northwestern transfer, instantly made the move appear to be the correct one. The Hawkeyes went on to score 37 unanswered points, highlighted by three consecutive touchdown drives to begin the second half.
Sullivan’s dual-threat ability changed the game for an offensive unit that only featured star RB Kaleb Johnson up to that point. As seen below, his speed brings a dimension that Iowa has lacked for years.
Sullivan finished the afternoon nine of 14 passing for 79 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a QBR of 74.8. He also added 41 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz did not confirm any long-term plan when speaking with reporters postgame. “We’ll see on that,” he said. “Permanent’ is a strong word.”
From an outside perspective, it would be surprising to see Ferentz go back to a QB in McNamara whose season-long stats tell the story — 104 of 172 passing, 1,017 yards (127 yards per game), six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 37.1 QBR. The Hawkeyes were winning games with him under center, but almost entirely due to a strong defense and the emergence of RB Kaleb Johnson.
The glimpse of the Hawkeyes’ offense with a dual-threat QB in Sullivan under center, albeit against a poor Northwestern defense, should be all the staff needs to make the permanent change.
From a Wisconsin perspective, Sullivan’s emergence changes the calculus of the matchup. The Badgers have famously struggled with dual-threat quarterbacks — including with Penn State backup Beau Pribula just last week.
That emergence, if Ferentz keeps him in, significantly lowers Wisconsin’s chances at escaping Kinnick Stadium with a victory.
We will monitor what the Iowa head coach says during his weekly media availability ahead of the Badgers and Hawkeyes meeting at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night.
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Kickoff time, TV channel announced for Wisconsin Badgers Week 10 game at Iowa
The Wisconsin Badgers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) will travel to Iowa City, Iowa next Saturday for a critical rivalry game against the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten),
As recently announced, the game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on NBC.
Wisconsin will enter the matchup after a tough loss to No. 3 Penn State in Week 9. The Badgers led 10-7 at halftime and were trending toward a season-altering upset victory. The Nittany Lions dominated after the halftime break, however, and reinforced their place as one of the best teams in the conference — even doing so without star QB Drew Allar.
Iowa, meanwhile, defeated Northwestern 40-16 in Week 9. It has had an up-and-down season to date, with blowout wins over Minnesota, Northwestern and Washington, plus demoralizing losses to Michigan State and Ohio State.
One interesting note: Iowa benched QB Cade McNamara during its win over Northwestern. It moved to backup Brendan Sullivan, who had transferred in from Northwestern last offseason.
The Hawkeyes trailed 7-5 at the time of the change. Sullivan led an instant turnaround, en route to the 40-16 triumph.
Saturday will be Wisconsin’s third primetime matchup of the season. The result could come close to defining the team’s season.
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