There have been plenty of bad losses during the Luke Fickell era, but Iowa’s 37-0 dismantling of Wisconsin on Saturday could be the worst.
Since beating Middle Tennessee State in Week 2, the Badgers have lost four straight, leaving them at rock bottom in the Big Ten standings. At the top sits Ohio State, the No. 1 ranked team in the country, which has comfortably won each of its first six games. The reigning champs look to easily dispose of Wisconsin on Saturday.
Against Iowa, the Badgers totaled just 209 yards, bringing their weekly average to 292.5 yards per game which is good for an embarrassing 123rd in the country. Quarterback Hunter Simmons, coming off a solid start at Michigan, went 8/21 for 82 yards and two interceptions. Wisconsin’s longest drive of the game was just 40 yards.
Iowa stormed ahead with 17 first-quarter points, immediately silencing Camp Randall. Despite a mediocre game from QB Mark Gronowski (107 yards, 1 INT), the Hawkeye rushing attack proved too physical for Wisconsin’s defense. Iowa’s 210 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns were the most the Badgers have allowed this season by a wide margin.
Conversely, Ohio State took care of No. 17 Illinois 34-16 on the road. After taking a 20-3 first-half lead, Illinois crept back into the game, but the Buckeyes forced three turnovers en route to its sixth win of 2025 and 10th dating back to last season.
Week after week, Wisconsin’s offense has progressively gotten worse. They now average just 15.5 points per game, the 15th worst in all of college football. The offensive line didn’t allow a sack last week, but they struggled to pave any running lanes for the backs (3.5 yards per carry). Dillin Jones was the lone bright spot, doing all he could to propel the Badger offense (16 car, 69 yds).
Going against a formidable Ohio State defense, Wisconsin’s miserable offensive output looks to be a recipe for disaster. Led this season by longtime New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes allow just 8.2 PPG (#1) and 241.6 YPG (#3). Linebacker Arvell Reese (4.5 sacks) and DE Caden Curry (6.0 Sk, 9.5 TFL) have ransacked backfields each week, providing a nightmare matchup for an inferior Wisconsin line.
Offensively, Ohio State may hardly face a challenge against Wisconsin’s defense. Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin has been incredibly efficient, leading the country in completion percentage (78.4) and passer rating (188.1). The streaky Wisconsin secondary also must deal with future first round wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith’s seven receiving touchdowns leads the Big Ten, and the duo’s combined 981 yards is nearly equal to the entire Badger receiving corps (1082 yards). After giving up 37 points to Iowa, Saturday looks increasingly horrifying.
Wisconsin is 18-63-5 all time against OSU, losing their last 10 matchups. In those games, the Badgers averaged just 17.0 points. The last Badger victory in the series dates back to October 2010 when Wisconsin won 31-18.
Fickell made 50 consecutive starts (1993-96) at defensive tackle for Ohio State, a school record. He also coached the Buckeyes for 15 years from 2002 through 2016, serving as a low-level assistant before becoming defensive coordinator and interim head coach. With the recent firing of fellow Big Ten head coach James Franklin at Penn St., all eyes are on Fickell once again. If he comes out flat, chants to fire him will surely ring out.
