Five keys to a Wisconsin victory over Iowa on Saturday

The 2-2 and No. 25-ranked Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes are set for a December battle that will decide who finishes…

The 2-2 and No. 25-ranked Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes are set for a December battle that will decide who finishes second in the Big Ten West.

Entering the season, this matchup could have been for the division, but thanks to Northwestern’s victories over both schools the Wildcats have punched their ticket to Indianapolis and the winner of this game will now decide who faces Ohio State during Big Ten Champions Week.

Kinnick Stadium is never an easy place to win, and even when the Badgers have found success there it has been a hard-fought, closely-contested football game.

Related: Film room: Graham Mertz has a lot of room to grow after yesterday’s loss to Indiana

Expect that to be the case on Saturday, with the Hawkeyes riding the momentum of five straight victories and the Badgers looking to continue their four-game winning streak in the schools’ all-time series.

Saturday’s loss to Indiana happened in large part because the Badgers did not accomplish any of the five keys to victory I outlined heading into the contest.

Now, for Paul Chryst’s team to turn around on Saturday and end their two-game losing streak, here are five things they must do:

Team preview: Iowa Hawkeyes

You know you’re living in a wild time when the Wisconsin Badgers and No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes are kicking off their game on December 12…

You know you’re living in a wild time when the Wisconsin Badgers and No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes are kicking off their game on December 12.

That is obviously the case right now with the 2-2 Badgers looking to end their 2-game skid and finish the regular season above .500, while the Hawkeyes are set out to end Wisconsin’s four-game win streak in the series and finish the regular season second in the Big Ten West.

Related: Film room: Graham Mertz has a lot of room to grow after yesterday’s loss to Indiana

Iowa’s football team–as they always do–mirrors that of Wisconsin in many ways. They are also, however, unlike the Hawkeye teams we’ve seen during the past four years with quarterback Nate Stanley, edge rusher A.J. Epenesa, offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and others gone to the NFL.

Here is a team preview of the 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes: