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Grading Iowa Football's Win Over Wisconsin
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- Grading Iowa Football's Win Over Wisconsin
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Hank Brown meets the media postgame.
Wisconsin came to Kinnick Stadium with a number next to its name, but it will be Iowa that ultimately leaves Week 9 with a ranking after it blanked the Badgers, 30-0, on Saturday afternoon.
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We've already listed our three standouts from the Hawkeyes' victory , but how do the positions grade out? Spoiler: every position group contributed to Iowa's win, so let's fine-tune our grading skills with our grades from this game:
Quarterback: A
One week after throwing two interceptions in relief against Minnesota, Hank Brown bounced back with his best game of the season against Wisconsin. The Badgers came in with statistically one of the Big Ten's best defenses, but Brown simply picked them apart on Saturday. The fourth-year quarterback completed 83% of his passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, including 190 in the first half alone.
Iowa will be in excellent shape if Brown can bring that consistency moving forward.
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Running backs: B
After tallying just 90 yards on 30 carries against Minnesota, the run game bounced back with 140 yards and a touchdown in this one. Xavier Williams led the way with 78 yards on 20 carries, but he also fumbled the ball twice. That's something that he'll definitely want to get cleaned up, but you really can't complain about the run game. I am surprised that L.J. Phillips didn't get more than nine carries, though.
Wide Receivers: A
Brown had a great game, which means his receivers did, too. Tony Diaz and Reece Vander Zee both contributed, with Vander Zee leading the unit with 51 yards on five catches. Getting Diaz, Iowa's leading receiver, involved was the story of day, though. His 45-yard catch and run helped set up a Hawkeye touchdown that essentially ended Wisconsin's hopes of a comeback. Diaz's playmaking ability is unmatched, so getting the football in his hands will bode very well for Iowa down the stretch.
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Tight Ends: A
Remember the name, DJ Vonnahme. DJ Vonnahme. That's obviously a reference to Vonnahme's video from his youth that went viral in the spring , but Vonnahme continues to be a reliable piece of this offense. The third-year tallied 54 yards and a touchdown on five receptions to become Iowa's leading receiver, and he even registered an additional rushing touchdown - the first of his career.
The Hawkeyes are so difficult to beat when they can spread the field with different weapons, and the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Vonnahme is even better when he has more room to work.
Defense: A+
Iowa's defense did what it does best in 2026 - pitching shutouts. That's now three shutouts on the year - the most the Hawkeyes have had in a season under Kirk Ferentz. If that wasn't enough, the shutout also marked Iowa's second consecutive shutout against Wisconsin. The Badgers just can't shake the Hawkeye defense and managed just 235 total yards in this one.
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Jayden Montgomery's stop at the goal line was impressive, but what impressed me the most was the fact that this unit kept competing when the outcome of this game was long confirmed. Zach Lutmer broke up a pass that would've resulted in a touchdown, while Jacob Wallace made an acrobatic interception - one of three takeaways the Hawkeyes forced on the day.
Special Teams: A+
Another week, another dominant performance on special teams. Punter Boston Everitt and kicker Caden Buhr both did their jobs well, with Buhr's 54-yard field goal setting a new career-long (it would've been good from 60). Evan James also had a great bounce-back outing in the return game, returning four punts for 51 yards.
