Badgers Lose Third Straight; Fall to Hawkeyes for First Time Since 2015

#16 Iowa 28, Wisconsin 7

–The Badgers offense struggled against a stout Hawkeyes defense, being held to just 56 yards rushing and 225 total yards as Iowa snapped a four-game losing streak at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. 

Wisconsin’s only score came on a one-yard run by Nikia Watson with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter. That score was set up by a muffed punt by Iowa after the Hawkeyes went up 14-0 on Spencer Petras’ first of two touchdown passes to Ihmir Smith-Marsette. 

It was all Hawkeyes after that, after Petras and Smith-Marsette connected for a 53-yard score late in the third and Tyler Goodson iced the game with an 80-yard touchdown run with 4:09 left in the game. 

The Badgers finished the game 1-for-3 on scoring opportunities in the red zone – including two consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter. On one drive, Graham Mertz threw incomplete to Chimere Dike on 4th & 11 from the Iowa 19 to turn the ball over on downs. Then, after a fumbled snap on a punt by Iowa set the Badgers up on the five yard line – the drive ended with Mertz throwing an interception on 4th and goal. 

STAT LEADERS: 

Wisconsin: 

Passing: Graham Mertz – 20-38, 169 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Nakia Watson – 13 carries, 29 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Jack Dunn – 5 catches, 55 yards

Iowa: 

Passing: Spencer Petras – 14-25, 211 yards, 2 TD

Rushing: Tyler Goodson – 11 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Ihmir Smith-Marsette – 7 catches, 140 yards, 2 TD

UP NEXT: 

The Badgers have lost three in a row to drop to 2-3 on the year. They will play next week in the Big Ten’s “Champions Week”, against an opponent that is yet to be determined. 

Other Big Ten Games: 

#14 Northwestern 28, Illinois 10

Minnesota 24, Nebraska 17

Penn State 39, Michigan State 24

Rutgers 27, Maryland 24 (OT)

Top 25 College Football: 

#1 Alabama 52, Arkansas 3

LSU 37, #6 Florida 34

–Tigers kicker Cade York booted a game-winning 57-yard field goal with under 30 seconds left to help the Tigers upset the Gators

#9 Georgia 49, #25 Missouri 14

#17 North Carolina 62, #10 Miami (FL) 26

–The Tar Heels recorded 778 yards of offense – including 554 rushing yards – in the blowout win over the Hurricanes. 

#13 Coastal Carolina 42, Troy 38

#15 USC 43, UCLA 38

#18 BYU 28, San Diego State 14

Utah 38, #21 Colorado 21

#22 Oklahoma State 42, Baylor 3