The Iowa Hawkeyes returned to Kinnick Stadium for the first time since October 3 with a convincing 30-0 win over Wisconsin, dominating in all three phases of the game. Going in, the matchup was widely expected to be a traditional defensive slugfest and a low-scoring affair. But that prediction held true for only one side, as the Boogieman returned to deliver a haunting Halloween nightmare to the Badgers.
Iowa has Wisconsin's number, and it's zero. Speaking of zero, Kirk Ferentz completely owns Luke Fickell. After listening to Fickell's postgame interview, it is clear that Ferentz is living in his head entirely rent-free.
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The Defensive Battle That Wasn't
The graphic at the very start of the TV broadcast told what was expected to be the storyline. Since Wisconsin's season opening game against Notre Dame back on September 6, they were allowing 11.0 points per game. The Iowa defense was allowing 14.3 points per game, 8thbest in FBS. How did Iowa manage to score so many points while shutting out Wisconsin? Upon watching the replay with a calmer, more objective mind, several key trends stood out, as we shall soon find out …
Sustained Drives and Fewer Three-and-Outs
Iowa did not have a three-and-out until its 8thseries of the game, which occurred in the third quarter. Even that was uneventful, because that series stalled at the Wisconsin 39-yard line to once again keep the Badgers well into their own territory after Iowa punted.
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Beyond avoiding three-and-outs, the offense put together multiple sustained drives throughout the game. Iowa's first series of the game began on their own 26 and after getting to the 7-yard line Caden Buhr kicked a field goal to get Iowa on the scoreboard first. Iowa's second series was a 12 play 75-yard drive resulting in a touchdown. Their fourth series, the gem of the game, went for 98 yards and a touchdown. Iowa was up 17-0 and had all the momentum as Wisconsin's offense was stuck in neutral.
Per HawkCentral, the Hawkeyes had zero 98-plus-yard touchdown drives in the 2018 through 2025 seasons. They now have TD drives of 98 yards in consecutive weeks (at Minnesota, vs. Wisconsin) in 2026.
By the game's completion, Hank Brown passed for an 83% completion rate, which was reported as being the second highest completion rate by an Iowa quarterback since 1995. As a result of so many time-consuming drives, Iowa won the time of possession battle 36:21 to Wisconsin's 23:39.
The Sequence of Series That Broke the Badgers' Back
On Wisconsin's third series of the game in the second quarter, the offense put together their best drive of the game and marched down the field. But on fourth and goal at the 1-yard line, Montgomery and Buffington stuffed Abu Sama for a 1-yard loss. Iowa responded with a seven-play, 98-yard scoring drive, which included a 45-yard pass to Tony Diaz and a trick play (more about that later).
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On Wisconsin's fourth series, Iowa forced a fumble and recovered at the Wisconsin 17-yard line with 45 seconds left in the first half. Iowa tacked on another field goal as the clock expired, and suddenly it was 20-0 Iowa heading into halftime.
The Second Half Sets the Tone
Nick Saban periodically says that the first five minutes of the second half are the most important part of a football game. On Wisconsin's opening series of the second half, the drive stalled at their own 41. Iowa responded with drive that started on their own 25-yard line and ended with a touchdown scored by tight end DJ Vonnahme. On Wisconsin's next series, Iowa's defense kept the pressure on Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, forcing yet another three-and-out that left Wisconsin punting from their own 25-yard line on a fourth-and-10. At this point, Iowa dominated 27-0, and the boa constrictor had tightened its grip to squeeze the life out of the Badgers.
Trick and Treat – The Flying Tomato
Iowa's 98-yard drive included a brilliant trick play, where it began with a handoff to Tony Diaz on what appeared to be a jet sweep around the right side of the line. Diaz then pitched the ball to Reece Vander Zee on a reverse. Vander Zee flipped a flea-flicker back to Hank Brown, who delivered a strike to Xavier Williams who had come out of the backfield for a gain of 24 yards and a first down at the Wisconsin 11-yard line.
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Postgame the players revealed that this play is called "The Flying Tomato". The Wig & Pen, an Iowa City institution known for their excellent pizza, has a deep-dish version of their thin crust, loaded with extra cheese and tomato slices on top that they call "Flying Tomato". I love that place!
Tight End U Features an Honorary Captain and a Future NFL Tight End
George Kittle was prominently featured as Iowa's honorary captain at the start of the broadcast. And on Iowa's very first series, it featured DJ Vonnahme with a left-sideline wheel route that went for 45 yards. Getting DJV the ball was clearly a core part of Tim Lester's game plan, and Lester continued to utilize him throughout the game. Later, when Xavier Williams suffered a fumble, senior tight end Addison Ostrenga was there to recover it and keep the drive alive.
Utilizing the tight ends effectively spread Wisconsin's defense. Forcing the Badgers to cover shorter checkdowns and sideline routes allowed Tony Diaz and Reece Vander Zee to get open downfield, while the running game became increasingly more successful as the game progressed. This is exactly what the Shanahan system is designed to do. Ultimately, the performance was a great infomercial for Tight End U and its recruiting efforts.
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Iowa's Best Game of the Season to Date
This was undoubtedly Iowa's most complete game of the season, featuring an offense that sustained drives against a top-10 defense while putting up 30 points on the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeye defense completely shut out a Big Ten squad that had just hung 24 points on Lincoln Riley's USC Trojans the week prior. By holding Luke Fickell's team to zero, Phil Parker's unit secured a dominant victory.
Special teams held up their end of the bargain. Kicker Caden Buhr went a perfect three-for-three on field goals, including a career-long 54-yard strike. Evan James cleanly fielded every punt, eliminating mistakes and not letting the ball roll unnecessarily, to rack up 51 punt return yards. Braeden Jackson contributed a 20-yard kickoff return, while punter Boston Everitt flipped the field all day, averaging 44 yards per punt and pinning the Badgers inside their own territory.
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In a preseason interview, offensive coordinator Tim Lester discussed his philosophy of making the scheme fit the players, rather than forcing the players to fit the scheme. Against Wisconsin, that was undeniably the case. Saturday's performance stood as a textbook definition of true complementary football, where the offense, defense, and special teams all executed their roles to deliver a defining team victory.
