What areas to watch when Wisconsin football hosts rival Iowa
It's homecoming week for the Badgers. Can they reverse the tide in the Iowa series, along with their season's fortunes?
MADISON, Wis, — It’s a familiar heavyweight fight this weekend between Iowa and the University of Wisconsin football program.
One that very much went the Hawkeyes’ way last season.
Iowa decimated Wisconsin in the proverbial trenches, accumulating 329 yards rushing on 6.1 yards per carry and five rushing touchdowns, on way to a 42-10 win last season at Kinnick Stadium.
This year’s matchup between the two rivals should be much different thanks to Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson off to the NFL and the Badgers rebuilding its defensive front with lengthy veterans on the line and off the edge. Wisconsin ranked second in the Big Ten (behind Iowa) and sixth in the nation in rush defense this week in allowing only 75 yards rushing per game.
Iowa’s averaged 178.8 yards rushing per contest on 4.4 yards per attempt through five games with four players who have gained 150 yards rushing.
“It’s the same Iowa O-linemen as always, really super physical,” outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III said. “Won’t mess up really. You’re gonna have to beat them, if you want to beat them. They won’t beat themselves.
“So I think we’re gonna have to play sound and be more physical.”
Here are other things to watch before Wisconsin (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) and Iowa (3-2, 1-1) clash during a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday (FS1).