After starting the season 2-0, slivers of hope have all but disappeared for the Wisconsin Badgers. There were no grand expectations for the 2025 Badgers, but Wisconsin’s mid-October situation may be worse than expected. Wisconsin, 2-3 (0-2), has lost three straight and will try to turn their season around Saturday against the 3-2 (1-1) Iowa Hawkeyes at 6 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin’s 24-10 loss against the then No. 20 Michigan Wolverines last Saturday seemed like a carbon copy of most losses from the Fickell era. After a beautifully orchestrated 12 play, 75 yard opening touchdown drive, fans were shown an offense with competence for the first time in weeks. But immediately after, a 43 yard scamper from Michigan running back Justice Haynes set the Wolverines up to tie the game.
After tying the game, Michigan never looked back, stifling Wisconsin’s offense for much of the game and doing enough offensively to put the Badgers to rest.
Coming off a bye, Iowa looks to be a tricky opponent for the Badgers. Statistically, the Hawkeye offense isn’t bad, putting up 28.3 points per game. While this statistic includes 34 points against Albany, an FCS team, and 47 more against UMass, the worst team in the FBS, the Hawkeyes did beat Big Ten opponent Rutgers 38-28.
In their losses, Iowa kept it close, losing only 16-13 against their in-state rival, then No. 16 Iowa State. Against Indiana, the current No. 7 team in the nation, the Hawkeyes let up just 20 points, the Hoosiers’ lowest total of 2025 (41.5 PPG).
The fact Wisconsin scored only 10 points against Michigan, 34 total in their last three games and just 18.6 on average for the season shows something must change for the Badger offense. Quarterback Hunter Simmons started strong last week, completing nine of his first 11 passes before the wheels fell off. With the run game nonexistent (3.7 yards/carry), Wisconsin punted seven-straight drives, threw an interception and punted once again before a late field goal.
It won’t be easy, as Iowa is another stout Big Ten defense. They allow just 17.8 points and 76.0 rush yards per game, both top 25 ranks in the country. Senior DL Max Llewellyn has collected five of the team's 12 sacks. He has the eighth most in all of college football.
Iowa QB Mark Gronowski’s (7 rushing TDs) status is up in the air after suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter against Indiana. He did not return, and backup Hank Brown went just 5/13 for 48 yards and an interception in relief.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz also ruled out junior running back Jaziun Patterson and sophomore back Terrell Washington Jr., meaning they’ll be without their top backs against Wisconsin’s #5 run defense (75.0 YPG).
Wisconsin’s defense, despite only allowing 24 points, struggled to contain Michigan’s running back Haynes. He accounted for 119 of the Wolverines’ 175 rushing yards, the most given up by Wisconsin this year. The secondary also could not stop wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who grabbed six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Since suffering multiple injuries, Billy Edwards Jr.’s status is still unknown, and Fickell isn’t opening up about it. He left the statuses of Danny O’Neil and Simmons open Monday.
“Hunter has done a good job. He’ll continue to get more opportunities,” Fickell said. “Danny will have some opportunities as well, and we’ll have to see how that goes.”
Last November, Iowa pummelled Wisconsin 42-10, the worst loss in the series since 1968. The Hawkeyes tallied 329 rushing yards, which was its most against the Badgers since 1990.
Wisconsin leads the series with a record of 49-47-2 and hopes to stop the recent Iowa dominance. The Hawkeyes have won three straight and four of the last five. The annual battle for the Heartland Trophy dates back to 1894.
