Week 4: Big Ten opener for the Heartland Trophy

We were honored to have the 1958 National Champions with us last night. Look forward to honoring them tonight inside Kinnick Stadium! #LegacyHawks #LeaveTheJerseyInABetterPlace pic.twitter.com/K3DThuP8Hy

— Hawkeye Legacy (@LegacyHawks) September 22, 2018

Iowa City, IA  --- Fifty years ago, Iowa had one of the best college football teams in America. Tonight, the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0) take on the Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) to kickoff the 2018 Big Ten football season at Kinnick Stadium, with a 7:30 PM kickoff on FOX. As the Badgers and the Hawkeyes seek to win another West division, which has gone to the winning team over the past four seasons, since the West was created in the Big Ten.

Battle for the Bull!
📍 Kinnick Stadium
🕢 7:30pmCT
📺 FOX
👉 @IowaFBLive#Hawkeyes #ANF pic.twitter.com/yzZHh9PAWv

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 22, 2018

This weekend, in addition to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1958 team. The Hawkeyes are looking to take back the Heartland Trophy, which has remained in Madison for five of the last six seasons, as the Badgers come to Iowa City to open conference play. It is also the ANF Game for 2018, America Needs Farmers, which began back in 1985, when Hayden Fry placed a gold ANF decal on the Hawkeye helmets is the effort's signature.  This year marks the 33rd anniversary of ANF, a longstanding tribute to America's farmers and program connecting Iowa's farm families to consumers to learn more about the production of food, fuel, and fiber.

This one's big: No. 18 @BadgerFootball at @HawkeyeFootball.

It's under the lights, and the driver's seat in the #B1G West is on the line. pic.twitter.com/J2yDXuLacY

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 18, 2018

Wisconsin has been a Top 10 team over the past decade, but they couldn't take care of business to close out non conference play last weekend, in a 24-21 home loss to BYU. The haven't lost back to back games, since 2016, when they opened Big Ten play with back to back losses @ Michigan and against Ohio State. The Badgers have won two straight in the series, and lead overall 45-43-2. The visiting team has also won eight of the last 11 games in this series, as well.

In 2015, Iowa beat Wisconsin 10-6, in a tight four quarter game. Wisconsin
has won the last four games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes last beat
Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium in 2008, by the score of 38-16, as sophomore
QB Ricky Stanzi lead the Hawkeyes offense, with junior RB Shonn Greene.

Last year, Wisconsin dominated Iowa 38-14, holding the Iowa offense to 66 yards and only five first downs. But, it was only a 14-6 game heading into the fourth quarter in Madison last season. The Hawkeyes rushed for only 25 yards and passed for 41 yards. Wisconsin had 18 first downs, ran for 247 yards for a 5 yard average, and passed for 135 yards. Iowa's 14 points were two Pick-6 touchdowns by Green Bay back rookie CB Josh Jackson, a junior on the Hawkeyes team last year.

The Wisconsin Badgers are lead on offense by sophomore RB #23 Jonathan
Taylor, who was a 2nd team all-American as a true freshman last season.

The Badgers enter the game thinking "all things considered there may not be a better starting point than Saturday's rivalry game" since the Badgers have won 17 of their last 18 trophy games against Iowa (Heartland Trophy), Minnesota (Paul Bunyan's Axe) and Nebraska (Freedom Trophy).

Iowa hasn't had much offensive success, since 2014, when the current seniors
were either red-shirts or in high school. The Hawkeyes did win in 2015, but
that was on the road. With a night game, the Hawkeyes are hoping for some
home cooking. And, Kinnick Stadium is often a good place to be for a night game.

Iowa needs to improve in the line of scrimmage, where the Badgers have dominated lately on both sides of the football in this series. The Hawkeyes have stepped up the defensive line play heading into the first three games of 2018. Iowa ranks number two, behind Stanford, among Power 5 programs allowing the fewest points (8.0 per game). Wisconsin has a NFL ready group up front on the offensive line, but injuries and three departures have been an issue is the once dominating 3-4 defensive line for the Badgers in 2018.

Wisconsin junior QB #12 Alex Hornibrook leads the Badgers offense. He split
time as a freshman, but took over the full reigns in 2017. His biggest knock is
he threw 15 interceptions as a sophomore and 7 interceptions in a half time role
as a freshman. The Hawkeyes hope to continue that trend, if possible, tonight.

What can we expect from the Badgers, coming off the loss against Brigham Young?

"It's always the same message, it's another week of football," said senior offensive guard Michael Deiter, who likes the change of pace of traveling by bus to a road game. "You have to learn from what caused you to lose and get better from it. And you're playing Iowa. The message when you're playing Iowa is always the same.

"It's a trophy game, it's a big rivalry, it's going to be physical. It's not going to be a bunch of new stuff. It's just going to come down to that physicality and who wants it more that day.

"We play a similar style of ball. We like to control the clock. It's not going to be 80 plays a side. The games go fast because we both stick to the run. And it's physical. That's the way we want it. You definitely feel it the next day."

On Saturday afternoon, the Wisconsin Badgers began their walk through at
Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, ahead of tonight's battle for the Heartland Trophy.

What can we expect from the Iowa Hawkeyes against the Wisconsin Badgers?

1. Iowa will attempt to establish the run game, as Scott Dochterman pointed out recently in The Athletic - staying ahead on first down and improving 2nd down play calling, as he wrote on trends in the past two games in the series
2. Balance is always important offensively, while it will be difficult to repeat the 243 yards rushing/244 yards passing split, Iowa's QB Nate Stanley achieved leading Iowa to a 55-24 win over Ohio State last year
3. Win the battle in the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football
4. Avoid turnovers, miscues and penalties, which often lead to losing the game of field position and being constantly behind the chains
5. Special teams - Wisconsin senior PK Rafael Galianorne missed a 42 yard field goal attempting to take the BYU game into overtime last week. Iowa senior PK Micquel Recinos hasn't been as consistent in 2018. Teams prefer touchdowns over field goals, but all points are important
6. Coaching adjustments - Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard are both second year coordinators, so these are two guys to watch tonight

Does Iowa get sophomore RB Ivory Kelly Martin back against Wisconsin?
He was the starter for the season opener, but was injured and hasn't played
in the past two games. Fellow sophomore RBs Toren Young and Mekhi Sargent
are #2 and #3 in the Iowa running back committee in 2018.

The Hawkeyes have improved their roster over the past four seasons. Leadership is always important for success.

Our Prediction: Iowa Hawkeyes 26, Wisconsin Badgers 24

The University of Iowa football program has 12 players among its 2018 Leadership Group. The group includes six seniors, five juniors, and one sophomore. The Leadership Group votes on the weekly game day captains, is involved in team decision-making throughout the season, and provides feedback to the head coach.  Players were selected by team vote.

2018 Iowa Leadership Group

     The group consists of seniors WR Nick Easley, DB Jake Gervase, DE Parker Hesse, LB Aaron Mends, DL Matt Nelson, and OL Keegan Renders, juniors DB Amani Hooker, LB Amani Jones, DL Anthony Nelson, FB Brady Ross, and QB Nate Stanley, and sophomore RB Toren Young.

Week 4: Game Day Saturday in College Football

Saturday, September 22nd 

Akron at Iowa State, 11:00 am on FSN - it will be an emotion day in Jack Trice Stadium, as Cyclones look to honor Celia Barquín Arozamena, who was tragically murdered on Monday, while enjoying the game of golf that she loved ....

Boston College at Purdue, 11:00 am on ESPN2 - Boilermakers may be the best 0-3 team in the nation, but Eagles look to build on strong 3-0 start in 2018 ....

Buffalo at Rutgers, 11:00 am on BTN - the Bulls seek to continue the Scarlet Knights' woes ....

Georgia at Missouri, 11:00 am on ESPN - big SEC East showdown in Columbia!

Kent State at Ole Miss, 11:00 am on SEC Network 

Minnesota at Maryland, 11:00 am on BTN - P.J. Fleck and the Golden Gophers are 3-0 and hit the road to open B1G season!

Navy at SMU, 11:00 am on ESPN News 

Nebraska at Michigan, 11:00 am on FS1 - the Wolverines open Year 4 under Jim Harbaugh, as the Huskers kickoff the B1G season under Scott Frost!

Nevada at Toledo, 11:00 am on CBSSN 

Notre Dame at Wake Forest, 11:00 am on ABC 

Ohio U at Cincinnati, 11:00 am on ESPNU 

Pittsburgh at North Carolina, 11:20 am on ESPN Extra / ACC Network 

Louisville at Virginia, 11:30 am on ECE / ACC RSN

Illinois State at Colorado State, 2:00 pm on ATTRM / ATTRMW / ATTSW 

Charlotte at UMass, 2:30 pm on ELVN / NESN+ 

Clemson at Georgia Tech, 2:30 pm on ABC 

Florida International at Miami-FL, 2:30 pm on ESPN2 

Kansas at Baylor, 2:30 pm on FS1 - wow, can the Jayhawks make in 3 straight this season in Waco?

Kansas State at West Virginia, 2:30 pm on ESPN 

Northern Illinois at Florida State, 2:30 pm on ESPNU - tough journey for Huskies, but here's to the underdog in Tallahassee!

Texas A&M at Alabama, 2:30 pm on CBS 

Tulane at Ohio State, 2:30 pm on BTN - Urban Meyer is back, but junior DE Nick Bosa is out, due to injury, surgery!

Virginia Tech at Old Dominion, 2:30 pm on CBSSN 

Arizona at Oregon State, 3:00 pm on PAC-12 Network 

South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 3:00 pm on SEC Network 

UConn at Syracuse, 3:00 pm on ESPN News 

TCU at Texas, 3:30 pm on FOX  

Hampton at Northern Iowa, 4:00 pm on ESPN Extra / NBCSCH / PSN 

McNeese at BYU, 5:00 pm on BYUtv / ESPN Extra 

North Texas at Liberty, 5:00 pm on ESPN Extra / LFSN 

Army at Oklahoma, 6:00 pm on PPV 

Florida at Tennessee, 6:00 pm on ESPN 

Louisiana Tech at LSU, 6:00 pmon ESPNU 

Mississippi State at Kentucky, 6:00 pm on ESPN2 

North Carolina State at Marshall, 6:00 pm on CBSSN 

Texas Tech at Oklahoma State, 6:00 pm on FS1 

Arkansas at Auburn, 6:30 pm on SEC Network - this could get ugly ....

Michigan State at Indiana, 6:30 pm on BTN -  for the Old Brass Spitton, as the Spartans and the Hoosiers head into conference play in Bloomington with a trophy on the line!

East Carolina at South Florida, 7:00 pm on ESPN News 

South Alabama at Memphis, 7:00 pm on ESPN Extra / WMC 

Stanford at Oregon, 7:00 pm on ABC - ESPN Game Day opened on Saturday in Eugene to spotlight the Pac 12!

Wisconsin at Iowa, 7:30 pm on FOX - the B1G West division has gone to the winner of this game for the past 4 seasons, since the end of Leaders/Legends was shelved. Our Pick: Hawkeyes 26, Badgers 24

Air Force at Utah State, 9:15 pm on ESPN2

Arizona State at Washington, 9:30 pm on ESPN

Eastern Michigan at San Diego State, 9:30 pm on CBSSN

Duquesne at Hawaii, 11:00 pm on ATTPI / Stadium App / Spectrum PPV

Coastal Carolina at Louisiana Lafayette, 6:00 pm on $espn+ Video

Gardner Webb at Appalachian State, 2:30 pm on $espn+ Video

Maine at Central Michigan, 2:00 pm on $espn+ Video 

Miami-Ohio at Bowling Green, 2:00 pm on $espn+ Video

NC Central at Duke, 2:30 pm on ACC Video

New Mexico State at UTEP, 6:30 pm on espn3 Video

Rice at Southern Miss, 6:00 pm on $espn+ Video

Texas Southern at Houston,  7:00 pm on espn3 Video

Texas State at UTSA, 6:00 pm on $espn+ Video

Troy at Louisiana Monroe, 6:00 pm on $espn+ Video

UNLV at Arkansas State, 6:00 pm on espn3 Video 

Western Kentucky at Ball State, 2:00 pm on espn3 Video

Western Michigan at Georgia State, 1:00 pm on $espn+ Video

It's Game Day in Madison: Battle of the Heartland Trophy, as Wisconsin hosts Iowa

Madison, WI -- The defending Big Ten West champion and now undefeated Wisconsin Badgers (9-0, 6-0 B1G West) welcome the #20 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3, B1G West) to Camp Randall Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC Sports. The Heartland Trophy is on the line, when the Badgers and the Hawkeyes square off, but more importantly, the Badgers are the sole remaining Big Ten program in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2017.

Six Big Ten teams are now among the Top 25 and both Power 5 programs
from the great State of Iowa are ranked #20 and #21 for the first time, in
College Football Playoff history. Wisconsin is the lone Top 10 team in the B1G.

The Badgers have never gone 12-0 in the regular season, while the Hawkeyes finished 12-0 in 2015, for the first time in program history, as they won the Big Ten West division. The last time Iowa traveled to Madison was in the 2015 season, defeating the Badgers 10-6 in a defensive slug fest. The Hawkeyes are coming off an impressive 55-24 win over Ohio State, eliminating the Buckeyes from the College Football Playoff field.

Iowa won the last time in Madison 10-6. The Hawkeyes are hoping for three
straight, in a series where the road team has won six straight in the series.
Today's winner, will carry off the Heartland Trophy, introduced in 2004.

Iowa has faced five programs in the Top 25, with a 2-3 record, while Wisconsin is 1-0 with a 33-24 win at home against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes fell at Northwestern 17-10 in overtime. The Hawkeyes have fallen three times, but have played a stronger non conference, as well, as conference schedule in 2017.

Can the Hawkeyes make it two in a row, defeating Top 10 programs?

The Dean of College Football, Kirk Ferentz coaches the Iowa Hawkeyes, while Wisconsin is coached by Madison native and Badger alum, Paul Chryst, now in his third season at the helm, after three seasons at Pittsburgh (19-19). Chryst is now 30-6 at the helm at Wisconsin. The coaches are 1-1 in Big Ten meetings as head coaches, while Ferentz holds a 2-1 record overall head to head, with a 24-20 win in Pittsburgh in 2014 over Chryst's Pitt Panthers team.

Kirk Ferentz is in his 19th season at the helm at Iowa, as head coach and his 28th season overall. Paul Chryst grew
up in Madison, played football for the Badgers, was on the staff, as an assistant and now is in his third season,
as head coach, after three seasons leading Pittsburgh. The first head to head meeting against head coaches was in 2014,
when Iowa used a second half comeback to win 24-20 over the Chryst coached team. Ferentz is 2-1, 1-1 in Big Ten games.

Last year, in Iowa City, Wisconsin won 17-9, as the Hawkeyes were unable to find the end zone, due to the solid Badgers defense. The visiting program has won sixth straight in the series. The Badgers lead the series 45-43-2.

Statistics for the Iowa-Wisconsin series
Meetings total	90
All-time series	Wisconsin leads, 45–43–2 (.511)
Largest victory	Wisconsin, 44–0 (1894)
Longest win streak	Iowa, 10 (1985–1996)
Longest unbeaten streak	Iowa, 18 (1977–1996)
Current win streak	Wisconsin, 1 (2016–present)

Defense wins championships in the Big Ten West Division

Since 2014, the Big Ten has played East and West divisions, when Maryland and Rutgers joined the conference, making it seven programs in each division. The realignment reunited the annual series between Iowa and Wisconsin. Past three winners in the West Division ...

• 2014, Wisconsin at 7-1 in the West
• 2015, Iowa at 8-0 in the West
• 2016, Wisconsin at 7-2 in the West
• 2017, Wisconsin is in the driver seat right now, they control own destiny ...

Wisconsin and Iowa are #1 and #2 in conference games in scoring defense allowing only 15 and 17.5 points per game, respectively. On offense in Big Ten games, Iowa has played both #1 Ohio State (47.7) and #2 Penn State (33.50), splitting those games 1-1. Wisconsin (32.5) and Iowa (26.0) are #3 and #4, respectively, in the conference. The highest scoring opponent Wisconsin has faced is Northwestern (25.8).

The defense at Wisconsin is now lead by DC Jim Leonard, who is the third
defensive coordinator for head coach Paul Chryst, who is 30-6 in three seasons.

Both programs are playing very good football heading into the second Saturday of November. The Badgers lost two starting players last Saturday, #1 WR sophomore Quintez Cephus and sophomore LB Chris Orr, in the 45-17 win at Indiana. Iowa has lost three starters this season to injuries, but none of the players have played significantly this season. 

Quarterback will play a key role in today's game

Two sophomores get the start for each team. Prior to this season, redshirt sophomore Alex Hornibrook was a part-time starter for Wisconsin, but he is the full-time starter now in 2017, since Bart Houston graduated. Hornibrook ranks #2 behind Ohio State's J.T. Barrett in passing efficiency, despite throwing eight interceptions to seven touchdowns in conference play.

Wisconsin sophomore QB 12 Alex Hornibrook in last season's home game against Ohio State. The Badgers lone Big
Ten loss last season came in Madison 23-20 in OT. How will Iowa's defense get Hornibrook in Madison?
The Badgers QB threw 7 interceptions all last season and has eight already in 2017 in conference games.

Iowa's true sophomore Nate Stanley is in his first season, as the starting QB, replacing C.J. Beathard, who is now in the NFL playing for the San Francisco 49ers. Stanley has throw 12 touchdown passes and only 3 interceptions in conference play, as he returns to his home state of Wisconsin for the game today. Stanley has had two-five TD days, on the road in the non conference at #21 Iowa State and last Saturday in the win over #13 Ohio State.

Over in Columbus, the Big Ten East race will see Michigan State sophomore QB 14 Brain Lewerke lead the Spartans
into Ohio State to determine, who enters the driver seat, as the likely East draw in Indianapolis. Iowa sophomore QB
4 Nate Stanley returns to his home state, as the Hawkeyes face the Badgers in Camp Randall this afternoon.
The Big Ten has three prominent sophomore quarterback, with two of the three on display today in Madison. 

No one is expecting those type of fireworks in today's Iowa vs. Wisconsin game

This game begins in the offensive and defensive lines. Iowa has a new offensive line coach, with former North Dakota State offensive coordinator Tim Polasek, another Wisconsin native. Wisconsin has their third defensive coordinator, in the past three seasons, under Chryst. Chryst elevated defensive back coach Jim Leonard, a former Badgers defensive back, who joined the coaching staff last season, after a successful career as an NFL player. The Hawkeyes have a first year offensive coordinator, as Iowa elevated offensive line and run game coordinator, Brian Ferentz, a former Iowa offensive lineman to the position this off season.

How will first year Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz dial up on the
road, in his third B1G road test of 2017? There is a trophy on the line in this one.
The Hawkeyes did win a trophy in a 44-41 OT game at Iowa State, but the Hawkeyes
are 0-2 on the road, in Big Ten road games this season, at MSU and at Northwestern.

There will be a lot of motivation within the coaching staffs of both team in this game. Winning the line of scrimmage is always a key in this series. It's another trophy game. The Hawkeyes have won the two of four trophy games in 2017, with wins over Iowa State and Minnesota, 17-10 at Kinnick. Wisconsin plays for three trophy games to close out the regular season, with Iowa, Michigan and at Minnesota on the road to their first 12-0 season.

But, can Iowa knock Wisconsin off track today?

True freshman RB Jonathan Taylor is the feature back for the Badgers. He leads the Big Ten, in conference games, with 930 yards. He has had two-200 yard games, to kickoff his career at Wisconsin. He will be used behind the fullback and in the slot. His first running mate is sophomore Bradrick Shaw. Taylor has zero yards in the passing game in conference play.

The Iowa defense will face the #1 RB in the Big Ten at Wisconsin, as the Badgers
ground attack is lead by true freshman RB 23 Jonathan Taylor. He averages 6.8
yards per game, with seven touchdowns in Big Ten play in 2017.

The Hawkeyes have a strong dual threat senior RB Akrum Wadley, in both the run and passing game. You will see both offenses feature a fullback at times and rely on the tight ends in the run and passing games. Iowa also has senior Nevada transfer James Butler, back from an elbow injury, and redshirt freshman Toren Young at RB. Young is a Wisconsin prep making his first visit to his home state.

Iowa senior RB 25 Akrum Wadley can be outstanding in open space and this
safety valve pass last Saturday in the 55-24 win over Ohio State got Urban Meyer's
attention. Wadley has not found the run game consistent at times this season.
Will the Iowa offensive line provide opportunities for a change against the Badgers?

In the passing game, Wisconsin is now lead by senior TE Troy Fumagalli, with a sophomore WR A.J. Taylor and true freshman Danny Davis III the prime receivers outside now, due to multiple injuries in the receiving corp this season. The most recent injury was Cephus, but the Badgers are already without the leading returning receiver, senior WR Jazz Peavy, who went down, in early Big Ten play.

Iowa sophomore TE 87 Noah Fant leads Iowa receivers with TD receptions
with seven on the season. Wisconsin has a really strong tradition with tight ends,
as well. Senior Troy Fumagalli is an outstanding leader for the Badgers.
Iowa is healthy at TE for a change, after some ups and downs in recent seasons.

On the flip side, the Iowa receiving corp rode heavily last Saturday on true sophomore TE Noah Fant and redshirt freshman TE T.J. Hockenson, who each had two touchdowns in the win over Ohio State. Iowa's threesome at WR is senior Matt VandeBerg, junior JUCO transfer Nick Easley and true freshman Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Iowa is beginning to target true freshman Brandon Smith, but he only has three catches on the season.

Iowa's offensive line is anchored by Ohio preps, senior RG 79 Sean Welsh and
junior C 78 James Daniels, who clearly had best game of season, in last Saturday's
win over Ohio State. The pass blocking has improved, but mistakes, penalities
impacted the unit, until Saturday's impressive win over Ohio State.

Both programs are built in the offensive line on offense. Both teams returned four starters to begin the season, but the Hawkeyes lost both senior tackles early and are relying now on redshirt freshman LT Alaric Jackson and true freshman RT Tristan Wilfs, who each had a breakout game last Saturday, along with the interior line mates. The Hawkeyes will have to have another breakout game to likely have back to back upsets in Big Ten play. How will the Hawkeyes perform playing the vaulted 3-4 defense the Badgers run in Madison?

Iowa senior MLB 43 Josey Jewell leads the Big Ten in tackles in conference play,
as he takes down OSU QB C.J. Barrett in space last Saturday, in the win.

Iowa is rotating eight, even nine players in the defensive line in 2017. They faced a good unit last Saturday, but the size of the Wisconsin offensive line, with a be a real test, as well. Iowa starts three seniors in the linebacker corp, lead by the Big Ten's leading tackler, Josey Jewell.

Wisconsin junior LB T.J. Edwards lead the 2016 Badger defense in tackles,
he is back in 2017 to lead the #1 scoring defense, as he returns an interception
in the Homecoming game against Maryland, in a 38-13 win in Big Ten play.

In the linebacker corp, Wisconsin junior T.J. Edwards leads the front 7 of the defense, with senior Jack Cichy out all season. Junior JUCO transfer OLB Andrew Van Girkel has become a key performer, out of Iowa Western C.C. and Rock Valley, Iowa.

Two of the best cornerbacks in the Big Ten will be on the field today

Iowa first-year starting, junior CB Joshua Jackson and Wisconsin junior, Hawaii transfer CB Nick Nelson lead the conference in pass breakouts and are among the top two CBs in the nation this season. Jackson pulled off a hat trick with three of the four interceptions during last week's Iowa-Ohio State game. Iowa opened last week's game with a Pick 6 by sophomore SS Amani Hooker.

The Big Ten has the nation's top two cornerbacks per PFF College Football,
as Iowa's Joshua Jackson and Wisconsin's Nick Nelson rate 1-2.

The Wisconsin Badgers have been very consistent over the past ten seasons with the #10 record in all of College Football. The Badgers are off to a 9-0 start and are seeking first ten win start in program history. The last opportunity was in 2004, when the Badgers opened 9-0, then lost back to back Big Ten games against Michigan State and Iowa to close regular season.

45-43-2 Wisconsin leads the series, coming off last year's 17-9 game.
The Heartland Trophy is on the line in Camp Randall today ...

The Hawkeyes are hoping to start a three game losing streak, since Iowa needs help in dethroning the Badgers on pace for their third Big Ten West division title in four seasons. Northwestern is needing help, as well. So, an interesting final three weeks ahead ...

Keys to the game ...

• QB play on both sides ... which QB plays with more composure and with fewer turnovers
• Running game and explosive plays, the Badgers have broke open this series lately with B1G plays
• Coaching staff adjustments and performances, who puts team in better position
• Weather in Madison today ...

Iowa's QB Nate Stanley won honors in his first road start. However, the Hawkeyes
offense was not on track in his first two Big Ten road games. What happens today?

Prediction in the Iowa @ Wisconsin game today ...

• Iowa Hawkeyes 18
• Wisconsin Badgers 13

... thoughts in this one are QB Nate Stanley puts it together in his third B1G road game, as Iowa's defense puts enough pressure on QB Alex Hornibrook, leading to another B1G turnover ...

Big Ten pecking order in the College Football Playoff ratings ...

Iowa off to first 5-0 start, since 2009; twenty years ago, Iowa opened 5-0, as well.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-0, 1-0 B1G West) are off to the best start in six years, as well are ranked for t he first time, since the 2010 season. The 10-6 win over Wisconsin (3-2, 0-1 B1G West) was the first Iowa win over a Top 25 opponent, since the 24-16 win over Michigan in 2011.

The Iowa-Wisconsin game has been played ten times for the 
Heartland Trophy.  The series is now tied at 5-5, with Iowa's 10-6 win. 
The overall series is now, 43-44-2 in favor of the Wisconsin Badgers. 
Kirk Ferentz is now 4-3 in Madison.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 120 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, passing Barry Alvarez (119) for ninth in conference history. A nice way to celebrate the 120th season of Big Ten football.

Iowa Kirk Ferentz is 2-0
head to head vs. Paul Chryst,
after his 24-20 win last
season at Pitt.

The road team has won seven of the last nine games in this series. This is an amazingly close series, with Wisconsin leading 44-43-2 all-time. The Heartland Trophy record, since it was debuted in 2004 is tied at 5-5. The Hawkeyes ended a three game winning streak by the Badgers. All three games were in Iowa City.

Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis and defensive coordinator Phil Parker are now 4-0 in Big Ten road openers, since 2012. It is Davis' fourth season at Iowa, while Parker is in his fourth season as DC; he has been at Iowa for all 17 seasons, since Ferentz became head coach.

Iowa is now ranked for the first time, since the 2010 season, after the win in Madison. The Hawkeyes are ranked #22 in the latest AP Poll, released on Sunday, after the Week 5 win. The Hawkeyes are #23 in the Coaches Poll.

Iowa CB #14 Desmond King is showing outstanding moments
over the past five games, including his second game, with
two interceptions. He leads the Big Ten in interceptions.

The Hawkeyes have won their second trophy game of the season (Cy-Hawk, Heartland), after the previous road win @ Iowa State 31-17 in Week 3. Iowa has two trophy games remaining on its schedule (Minnesota, Floyd of Rosedale; Nebraska, Heroes). Last season, the Hawkeyes were 0-4 in trophy games.

Junior CB Desmond King recorded his fourth and fifth interceptions of the season for Iowa. It was his second multi-interception game of the season (Pitt). King tied for the team lead with three interceptions last season. He entered the game tied for the Big Ten lead with three interceptions. His second quarter interception led to an Iowa touchdown. Three of his five interceptions this season have resulted in Iowa scores (2 TDs, 1 FG).

Iowa senior DE #34 Nate Meier forces a big fumble in the game at
the goal line. The Hawkeyes won the turnover game 4-3 @ UW.

Iowa senior DE Drew Ott forced a fumble in the second quarter. It was Ott's third forced fumble of the season, and third of his career. Senior DE Nate Meier recovered the fumble, Wisconsin's first lost fumble of the season (resulted in 33-yard field goal). Ott (2.5) and Meier (1.5) combined for four TFL and 1.5 sacks.

Iowa Junior DT Faith Ekakitie recovered a fumble inside the Iowa five-yard line in the fourth quarter. It is his first career fumble recovery.

Talk about an all-Big Ten type day for Wisconsin senior 
OLB #58 Joe Schobert, who was extremely disruptive all game. 
He is a force for the Badgers.

One Badger was very disruptive today.

Wisconsin OLB #58 Joe Schobert, with
one of his sacks on #16 C.J. Beathard
during Saturday's trophy game. 

Wisconsin senior OLB Joe Schobert finished with 8 tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, including three sacks. He also added 5 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Schobert now has 13 tackles for loss and entered the game tied for the national lead in that category. He also entered the game tied for 4th nationally in sacks and now has nine on the year.

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard had
a very challenging day, with Badgers
senior OLB Joe Schobert pressuring him.

QB C.J. Beathard is 6-0 as Iowa's starting quarterback, a record that includes a 3-0 mark on the road and a 3-0 mark at home. The junior QB's numbers include 101-of-168 (62.6) passing for 1,284 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions, and 192 yards rushing with three rushing touchdowns for the season. The last Iowa quarterback to win his first six career starts was Matt Sherman, who won seven from 1994-95, when Sherman opened the 1995 season with a 5-0 mark, twenty years ago.

Beathard was disrupted much of the day, by Wisconsin's OLB Schobert, who clearly distinguished himself, as one of the Big Ten's best in 2015. Beathard  was 9 for 21 passing, with one interception and one touchdown pass.

Iowa senior RB #33 Jordan Canzeri came up
with 125 yards on the ground. He also 
caught one pass for 14 yards.

Iowa senior RB Jordan Canzeri rushed 26 times for 125 yards. It is his third 100-yard rushing game this season, and the fifth of his career.

Iowa sophomore OLB #44 Ben
Niemann was the Iowa Radio Network's
player of the game, as a leader in
the Hawkeyes own defensive effort in the
10-6 win over Wisconsin.

Iowa fifth year senior WLB Cole Fisher (14) and sophomore OLB Ben Niemann (7) recorded career high in tackles. Junior CB Greg Mabin (7) and sophomore SS Miles Taylor (7) matched their career highs with seven tackles.

Iowa junior LT #64 Cole Croston
got his first start, in place of injured
Boone Myers @ Wisconsin.

Junior LT Cole Croston and true freshman WR Jerminic Smith made their first career starts for Iowa. Iowa likely missed senior WR Tevaun Smith, who lead Iowa with four catches for 78 yards, including long of 32 yards, in last year's 26-24 loss in Iowa City to Wisconsin.

Junior WR #89 Matt VandeBerg
continues to be Iowa QB C.J. Beathard's
favorite target in most games.

Smith is the first Iowa freshman to start at wide receiver since junior Matt VandeBerg started two games in 2013. Thirteen Hawkeye have made their first career start this season: junior RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., sophomore LT Boone Myers, sophomore DT Nathan Bazata, junior DT Jaleel Johnson, fifth year senior WLB Cole Fisher, sophomore OLB Ben Niemann, sophomore SS Miles Taylor, redshirt freshman TE Jameer Outsey, redshirt freshman DE Parker Hesse WR Riley McCarron, LT Croston, and WR Smith.

WR Matt VandeBerg had six catches for 61 yards. It is the fourth time in five games he has had at least six catches. However, most of his production was all in the first half.

For the second straight game, Iowa junior
TE #46 George Kittle scored a TD reception
from QB C.J. Beathard. 

Iowa junior TE George Kittle caught a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was the second receiving TD of his career, and the second in as many weeks.

Wisconsin had won nine straight trophy games, until Saturday's Iowa win. The Badgers will play another trophy game this Saturday at Nebraska (2-3, 0-1 B1G West), when they meet for the Freedom Trophy against the Cornhuskers. The Badgers close out the 2015 Big Ten regular season at Minnesota (3-2, 0-1 B1G West) in the battle for Paul Bunyan's Ax.

Wisconsin won the toss and elected to receive. It was the first time this season Iowa did not receive the opening kickoff. In 17 seasons as Iowa's head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes have started the game on defense in 39-of-205 games (21-18).

The 2015 Homecoming Game at Iowa.

The Hawkeyes return to Iowa City, with a Saturday game at Kinnick Stadium for Homecoming. This year's Homecoming opponent is the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1, 1-0 B1G West), who won their second straight fourth quarter comeback, with a 14-13 win in the Big Ten home opener against Nebraska.


The Homecoming game will be another 11 a.m. kickoff, this game will be televised by ESPNU. This is the 103rd Homecoming game in 126 seasons of Iowa Football. Iowa is 16-4, since 1995 in Homecoming games. Since 2000, the Hawkeyes are 12-3, with a 12-4 record under Kirk Ferentz for Homecoming. The Hawkeyes won last season's Homecoming game in a 45-29 shootout with Indiana.

Iowa defeated Illinois in Champaign last season, by the score of 30-14. Ferentz is 6-3 in his career at Iowa, as head coach. The last game in Iowa City was back in 2007, when Iowa beat Illinois by a score of 10-6, when the Fighting Illini represented the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl. Ferentz is 3-1 in games played at Kinnick Stadium.

What a start to the 2015 season for the Big Ten West and East ...

Week 5 of the 2015 College Football season is in the books ...

Cedar Rapids, IA -- The 2015 College Football season has completed the first five weeks of play in Year 2 of the College Football Playoff, with a great Oktoberfest first weekend in the Big Ten. How will the 2015 Big Ten race close out, now that the Big Ten has a Championship Game, as we celebrate the 120th season of conference play?

Who should be a the Top 4 in 2015?

Ohio State junior RB #15 Ezekiel Elliott is a reason the Buckeyes are a serious
candidate for a repeat in 2015 in the College Football Playoff.

1. Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 B1G East) or Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 B1G East)

2. Utah (4-0, 1-0 Pac 12 South)

3. Clemson (4-0, 1-0 ACC Atlantic)

4. LSU (4-0, 2-0 SEC West)

5. Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

The defending champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes are off to a 5-0 start in 2015, as are the 2nd runner-up in the Big Ten East, the Michigan State Spartans. Neither team has hit high gear, as Week 5 closes out, in the first weekend of October.

The Utah Utes are playing very well to kickoff the 2015 season, though they were idle on Saturday. They will host the Cal Bears (5-0, 2-0 Pac 12 North) in a big inter-division conference game this Saturday.

The Clemson Tigers took care of business at home over Notre Dame 24-22, on Saturday night in a prime time game against the Fighting Irish. The Tigers host Georgia Tech (2-3, 0-2 ACC Coastal) this Saturday.

In the other two spots, the LSU Tigers are in as a projected team, after taking care of business at home over Eastern Michigan. The Tigers have the best running back in College Football, with sophomore Leonard Fornette leading the ground attack. The Tigers travel to South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC East) this Saturday.

The Big 12 doesn't have a title game in the conference, so while TCU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)and Baylor (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) roll up great scores; Oklahoma has the highest quality win to open 2015. We are going to project the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12, as the top projection in 2015.

Michigan State senior QB 18 Connor Smith has the top record, among active
Big Ten starting QB, in most wins. His Spartans got off to a 21-0 start over
Purdue on Saturday, but had to hang on for a 24-21 victory to open B1G play.

The Big Ten is now into full swing with all 14 teams with one game under their belts in 2015

The B1G TWO

1. Ohio State (1-0) - The Buckeyes are 25-0 in Big Ten regular season games, under coach Urban Meyer. The only B1G loss came in the Big Ten title game in 2013. The Buckeyes host  Homecoming this Saturday, as the Maryland Terrapins (0-1) come to town, ripe for a Buckeye rebound, after the 34-27 dog fight @ Indiana on Saturday.
2. Michigan State (1-0) - The Spartans continue to get over each hurdle, which is what you should expect in College Football. Mark Dantonio is in his ninth season and lost a couple of assistant coaches, after 2014. Winning pretty isn't the key; it is winning and Dantonio has been good, since the final two games of 2012.. The Spartans opened the season @ Western Michigan (1-3), so a road trip to Rutgers (0-1) before the huge road trip to Ann Arbor should be a good tune-up for the retooling Spartans.

Huge match up in Ann Arbor this Saturday, as undefeated Northwestern comes to town!

3. Michigan (1-0) - The Wolverines are playing very well, after the opener @ Utah. Something suggests that the Wolverines could be a spoiler in 2015 and could enter the mix for the B1G East race, by season's end. Graduate transfer quarterback Jake Rudock has 14 B1G starts now, with 13 at Iowa, so it will be interesting to see how the Michigan signal caller rebounds and leads the Wolverines, as they face common opponents over the next seven games. Rutgers and Penn State will be the only two common opponents Rudock hasn't faced, as a starter.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has the Michigan
Wolverines playing very good right now.
Harbaugh has been all in with #15 Jake
Rudock at QB for the Wolverines in '15.

• Ten years ago, Penn State won a share of the Big Ten title, with Ohio State at 7-1
• Twenty years ago, it was the Northwestern Wildcats, with Pat Fitzgerald at LB
• Thirty years ago, it was the Iowa Hawkeyes, with Hayden Fry, Kirk Ferentz was a OL coach
• Forty years ago, it was the Ohio State Buckeyes
• Fifty years ago, it was the Michigan State Spartans
• Who wins the 2015 Big Ten title in football? 
• Do they finish undefeated, as the 20 and 40 year champs were?

What about the B1G West, Year 2?

Iowa @ Wisconsin leads to a 10-6 Hawkeye victory. The visitor has won seven
of the past nine games in the Heartland Trophy game. The series is 5-5, as a
Trophy game, 43-44-2 overall, as a Big Ten rivalry. Defense was the story of the day,
as Iowa QB #16 C.J. Beathard wins sixth, as a starter for Hawkeyes, fifth of 2015.

It will be a wide open race and very few expected Illinois, Iowa and Northwestern to lead, after Week 1, in conference play, correct?

However, it is far too early to guess how the B1G West race will close out, but there are some huge games heading into Week 6, the second week of October, in Big Ten play?

Illinois LEO #91 Dawauane Smoot is one of the Fighting Illini starters, in the
new 3-4 defense. The Fighting Illini won a come back victory over Nebraska
14-13, to open the season 1-0 for the first time, since the 2011 season.

• Illinois (1-0) - The Fighting Illini took care of business over Nebraska (0-1) 14-13 for the first time, as Big Ten members. The Bill Cubit era is off to a surprising 4-1 start, in some people's eyes, but a manageable schedule for the Fighting Illini. It was the second straight 4th quarter comeback for the Fighting Illini, as they head to Iowa City this Saturday, in an attempt to derail the Hawkeyes homecoming!

“I think we did a heck of a job moving the ball today. I just don’t think we did a good job of putting it in the end zone. That’s something we did last week, but this week we never gave up. Our defense didn’t give up in that last possession, and the offense never had any doubt going onto the field with that time. It was just an awesome win and I’m really happy for our guys and for the program.” - QB Wes Lunt on making the final drive count.

• Iowa (1-0) - The Hawkeyes beat Wisconsin 10-6 in a hard, defensive slugfest. It was the first win, in four games in the series. The Hawkeyes' C.J. Beathard is off to the first 6-0 start, as a starting QB (over two seasons), by a Hawkeye signal caller in 20 years, when Matt Sherman was leading Iowa, under Hayden Fry. The Hawkeyes are off to their first 5-0, since the 2009 season. In 1995, Iowa opened 5-0, but they hit a middle of the season losing streak, which ironically, included back to back losses vs. Illinois and @ Northwestern.
  Who do the Hawkeyes face in the next two weeks?

The Iowa Hawkeyes entered 2015, coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, with
zero trophies in the case. Thus far, Iowa is two for two in road games, each
trophy games, as the Hawkeyes pull out the Heartland Trophy game over
Wisconsin with a 10-6 win, in Madison. The Hawks end a three game losing streak
against the Badgers and even the trophy game record for the Heartland at 5-5.

• Northwestern (1-0) - The Wildcats may have their best team in ten seasons, under head coach Pat Fitzgerald? Twenty years ago, Fitzgerald was a linebacker leading the Wildcats defense to a Big Ten title. The next two weeks @ Michigan and vs. Iowa for Homecoming will determine a lot, about the B1G West race and the Wildcats' season. The 27-0 win over Minnesota is exactly how the Wildcats want to do it. The Wildcats won their home opener last season, as well, against Wisconsin, but hit a four game losing streak, afterwards. It was a 10-9 loss vs. Michigan, in Evanston, last season. This the first the 5-0 start, since the 2012 season for the Wildcats. The Cats are coming off back to back 5-7 seasons, but excitement is back for them.

Northwestern QB #18 Clayton Thorson is a redshirt freshman, who is off to a 5-0
start, as the Wildcats' signal caller. Huge road test on Saturday, in Ann Arbor.

Wisconsin senior OLB #58 Joe Schebert
may be the top defensive performer in the
Big Ten in 2015. It showed on Saturday.

Wisconsin (0-1) - The Badgers lost the conference opener in 2014, as well. They went on to a seven game win streak to lock up the first B1G West title. The Badgers are 3-2, with both losses against traditional two back offenses, Alabama and Iowa. The Badgers have a very good defense and nearly opened with a win over the Hawkeyes. Senior Joel Stave has been in this position before. It will be an interesting game in Lincoln against Nebraska (0-1), since it is the first time, since 1959 that the Huskers have started 2-3 for the season. First Badgers trip to Lincoln, since the 2012 season opener.

Defense was the spotlight of Iowa's 10-6 victory @ Wisconsin. The Badgers
lost the Hawkeyes, but they opened 2015, as they did in 2014, with a loss.
Defense could fuel another Badgers run in the Big Ten, with a manageable
schedule ahead for first year coach Paul Chryst at Wisconsin.

Nebraska (0-1) - The Cornhuskers lose in the final minute @ Illinois 14-13 to fall to 2-3 on the season. After seven seasons under Bo Pelini of four losses each season, the first year, under Mike Riley is one of transition and three early set backs. This is new territory, with Nebraska fans witnessing the weakest start, since 1959, back in Bill Jennings third season in Lincoln. With defending B1G West champion Wisconsin up next in Lincoln, it will not be an easy rebound for Nebraska this Saturday?

The Cornhuskers junior QB #4 Tommy Armstrong is adjusting to a new offense,
in Mike Riley's first season in Lincoln. The Honeymoon is absolutely coming to an end.

Minnesota (0-1) - The Golden Gophers open the 2015 B1G season with a 27-0 loss @ Northwestern. The loss of offense from 2014 has been the story-line throughout the first five games, as the Gophers fall to 3-2. The Gophers are back on the road again, as they open B1G play with back to back road trips. Minnesota heads to West Lafayette on Saturday to face a hungry Boilermakers squad.

Minnesota senior OLB De'Vondre Campbell is the leading
returning tackler on the Golden Gophers defense. The defense
had played hard through the non-conference, allowing the
offense opportunities, but that came to an end in B1G opener.

 Purdue (0-1) - The Boilermakers gave a strong comeback @ Michigan State, but fell short in the 24-21 loss. The Boilermakers are off to a disappointing 1-4 start in Darrell Hazell's third season. They are seeking their first win over a FBS program, but they have shown improvement at times. 

Purdue RB #8 Markell Jones is a true freshman. The Boilermakers have made
too many turnovers this season, but they have brought in new playmakers into
the program and played Minnesota strong in '14 in a 39-38 loss @ Minnesota.

The B1G East gets the buzz heading into the Big Ten in 2015

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan State
3. Michigan

The Penn State offense has struggled at times to open 2015.
Junior QB #14 Christian Hackenberg's 2nd season under
coach James Franklin has not been in sync at times.

• Penn State (1-0) - The Nittany Lions are undefeated at home, with three non-conference wins, including the 20-14 loss over Army on Saturday. The Nittany Lions opened B1G play with a solid 28-3 win over Rutgers in Week 3. Next up: vs. Indiana (0-1) in the B1G home opener. This will be the biggest test, since the road loss @ Temple in the season opener.

The Indiana defense needs to step up in B1G play. Typically, they have found
themselves in plenty of shootouts, as they seek first bowl, since 2007 season.

• Indiana (0-1) - The Hoosiers fell in the B1G home opener 34-27 against Ohio State to fall for the first time, after four non-conference wins to kickoff 2015. This is coach Kevin Wilson's fifth season in Bloomington. It was a costly game vs. the Buckeyes, as QB Nate Sudfeld and RB Jordan Howard, each came out due to ankle injuries in the competitively fought game. 

The two newest Big Ten members are struggling in their sophomore campaigns

Maryland senior DE #99 Quinton Jefferson knocks the ball loose against Michigan
QB Jake Rudock, but the finish was far different against the former Hawkeyes this year.

• Maryland (0-1) - The Terrapins fall 28-0 against Michigan at home to fall to 2-3 in the 2015 season, after a 7-6 overall record in their inaugural season of B1G football. The Terrapins are in the fifth season, under coach Randy Edsall, but the lack of production at quarterback and on offense is hurting Maryland in the second season in the B1Gs.

Rutgers sophomore QB #5 Chris Laviano against Penn State in the 28-3 B1G
opener in Week 3. It doesn't get easier in the B1G home opener, with
Michigan State coming to town. Last year's outing was a 45-3 road loss.

• Rutgers (0-1) - The Scarlet Knights enjoyed a bye week, in an early season marred by off the field issues, a suspension of fourth year coach Kyle Flood and the loss of players to rule violations. Rutgers was 8-5 overall in the inaugural season in the Big Ten.