(Madison, WI) – Iowa travels to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers in a battle for the Heartland Trophy. Iowa is just coming off their 20-14 win over Purdue last week and looks for their third straight win at Camp Randall Stadium this afternoon.
Iowa is fighting for their second trophy win this season as they are 25-8 in their last 33 rivalry trophy games against Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Even based on that statistic, the Hawkeyes have not won a game in Madison in eight years with their last win in 2015 over Wisconsin, and are 19-29-1 in Madison. The Hawkeyes are matching up against Wisconsin for the 97th time in a series that began in 1894. Iowa didn’t win a game in the series until 1924 when they beat the Badgers 21-7.
The Heartland Trophy is a newer award in college football as it was inaugurated in 2004 and goes between the winner of Wisconsin and Iowa. Wisconsin leads the series 7-5 but the trophy remains currently in Kinnick Stadium after Iowa’s 24-10 win last season at home.
Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill is returning to his old stomping grounds where he appeared in one game for the Badgers in Madison. The Hawkeye is 21-56 for 274 yards and two touchdowns this season. Iowa rushed for 181 total yards last week, which was the most against a Big Ten opponent since the last time Iowa played Purdue. The rushing game was a success due to Kaleb Johnson as he returned from injury to get his first 100+ yard rushing game. Johnson rushed for 134 yards on 17 attempts, including a 67-yard touchdown run. Tight-end Erick All has nine receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the Hawkeye’s last two games.
Iowa’s defense has shown up to play in the last two games as they have allowed 14 points or fewer in 12 of their last 19 games. They also had a season-high six sacks and 12 tackles for loss in their win over Purdue. Their offense had a total of three sacks in weeks 1-5.
Iowa will take on Wisconsin today with a kickoff at 3:00 p.m.