Hawkeyes defined by the Badgers — No. 10 Wisconsin 17, Iowa 9

IOWA CITY — These things aren't totally decided in postgames. They need some time to soak. For instance, with more than a year to reflect, most everyone can see that Iowa's victory at Wisconsin defined the 2015 season.

Iowa's 2015 season. Your sighs are spinning wind turbines across the plains.

There's a chance the Hawkeyes' 17-9 loss to No. 10 Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) before 70,585 fans Saturday at Kinnick Stadium doesn't end up defining Iowa (5-3, 3-2) for 2016. It for sure ends the Hawkeyes' run of six consecutive trophy game victories, with the Badgers reclaiming the Heartland Trophy.

Running back Corey Clement rushed for 134 yards and a TD. The Badgers outgained Iowa, 423 to 236, the Hawkeyes' second lowest output this season.

The reality check for this team is certain themes have emerged. The offense has had the legs kicked out from under it literally by injury and it's a train wreck against legit competition (Purdue is not legit), particularly the passing game. The defense isn't unbreakable. The Badgers held the ball for nearly 15 more minutes than Iowa and eventually broke the Hawkeyes with Clement's 34-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up a field goal and gave Wisconsin a 17-6 lead with 1:24 left in the game.

And then there was the missed field goal with 5:25 left. After an 11-play, 60-yard drive, Iowa's best of the day, freshman kicker Keith Duncan pushed a 38-yard field goal wide right.

Down 14-6, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz passed on a fourth-and-5 from the Badgers' 20 for a field goal.

'You've got to score twice, it gets down to that,' Ferentz said. 'If it were fourth-and-2 or something like that, we would've gone for the touchdown, but fourth-and-5 ...'

It was 14-6. Iowa trailed by a TD and a 2-point conversion. Score twice? Well, score twice to win, sure.

'For the situation we were in, we felt that was the best play, we're going to have to score twice,' Ferentz said. 'Fourth-and-5 against these guys is not easy, especially down there in the red zone. We didn't see that as a high-probability play and we're going to have to get back there again, that was the thinking there.'

The Badgers' defense performed as advertised. Iowa was held to 83 rushing yards. Quarterback C.J. Beathard needed 33 passes to get to 153 yards. He was sacked twice. UW's halftime lead was just 7-6, but it felt like a lot more, especially with Iowa's offense being held to 0-for-6 on third downs in the second half.

'It's the Big Ten, two pretty big powerhouse football teams,' said Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt, who led UW with 1.5 sacks. 'We're going to play smashmouth football offensively and defensively. It was a battle in the trenches all day long and I think we got it done.'

Speaking of those trenches, Iowa tight end George Kittle was able to play after suffering a sprained right ankle last week at Purdue, but he only lasted a half and was clearly compromised. Offensive tackle Cole Croston did play after sitting out last week with an ankle injury. Offensive tackle Boone Myers said out with an ankle injury.

Those were the legs that Iowa's offense had kicked from under it. Iowa goes into its bye week in need of ice baths and hyperbaric chambers.

Ferentz mentioned missed opportunities to start his postgame. There was a follow-up asking if he was talking about most of those coming on offense.

'I'm thinking about everything, quite frankly,' he said. 'We missed a field goal. We missed a plus-50 punt or two opportunity to get them backed up. ... We played hard on defense, but there's still some things we can do better there. We missed too many tackles today.'

None of that killed Iowa more than what its offense couldn't do against UW's defense. This was the first time Iowa failed to score a TD in a game since losing to the Badgers 28-9 in 2013, a span of 25 games. Iowa now has lost three consecutive games in Kinnick for the first time since 2012.

'You obviously want to score more than nine points in a game, you want to finish drives,' Beathard said. 'You want those four field goals to be touchdowns. We knew going in this week we were going to ask a lot out of our defense, but you'd like to move the ball and put more points on the board as an offense.'

Hlas: Hawkeyes need some time in the shop

Time and time again in this game Iowa's defense held up its end of the bargain. The Badgers were one yard from a 14-3 second-quarter lead, but linebacker Josey Jewell forced a fumble out of Clement that cornerback Desmond King recovered in the end zone. Down 17-6, King returned a kick 77 yards to keep Iowa alive, but the offense had to settle for a field goal.

'We needed a spark and the defense has always come through this season,' said running back Akrum Wadley, who had 116 yards total offense. 'It's really up to the offense. We have to be more aggressive, we have to have a sense of urgency. The defense always does its part, so we have to come together and help out.'

Iowa soon will be asking you to contribute money to a $90 million renovation of Kinnick. This offense will have you asking for a receipt.