Historical margin separating Wisconsin from Iowa: 12 yards long

IOWA CITY - The margin separating Wisconsin from Iowa in their border rivalry is 12 yards long.

Last year at Kinnick Stadium, the Badgers led the Hawkeyes 26-24 and faced third-and-8 at its 38-yard line. Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave, not known as a running threat, dropped back to pass and saw a natural opening created by Iowa defensive end Drew Ott's upfield push. Stave stepped up in the pocket and ran for 12 yards for a first down with about two minutes remaining. Iowa had only one timeout remaining, and Wisconsin held on for the win.

'The biggest thing I remember is just good coverage downfield and after a while, I know Iowa has always got a good front seven so you can only stay in the pocket so long,” Stave said. 'I felt a little bit of an opening and ran through it for as much as I could.”

Wisconsin leads the 121-year-old series 44-42-2. The Badgers have won the last three - all in Iowa City - and hold a 5-4 edge in the Heartland Trophy, which began in 2004. The teams play at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time since 2009, a scheduling glitch caused by two rounds of Big Ten realignment.

But the road team has won four straight in this series despite the programs' obvious home-field advantages. It's a series filled with historical ebbs and flows with each team claiming multi-win streaks dating to the mid-1970s. Mostly under Coach Hayden Fry, Iowa was 17-0-1 against Wisconsin from 1977-1996. Then Wisconsin won five straight under Barry Alvarez (1997-2001), followed by four consecutive Iowa victories (2002-05). Wisconsin won two (2006-07), Iowa took two (2008-09) and the Badgers have claimed the last three.

Last year's win propelled Wisconsin to the inaugural Big Ten West Division title. This year, the No. 18 Badgers (3-1) and Hawkeyes (4-0) meet with similar stakes with one major exception. Last year's game was one week before the season finale. This year's battle opens Big Ten play.

Wisconsin's locker room contains a clock counting down to its next game with the opponent prominently displayed. It didn't take long Saturday for the Badgers to turn their focus toward the southwest.

'There's always that excitement knowing that you're getting into Big Ten play, so I know we were excited to turn the page after this game,” Stave said. 'I'm sure Iowa was the same way. Wisconsin-Iowa, it's always been a great battle since I've been here, and it's always been really competitive, really fun, really physical. So both teams are really excited to get it going.”

The teams pride themselves on their physical style of play, but there are differences. Wisconsin has held its last three opponents to a combined three points, including two shutouts. Among Big Ten teams, the Badgers rank second in scoring defense (9.5 points per game). Iowa scored 62 points Saturday against North Texas and ranks second in points per game (37.8).

New Wisconsin Coach Paul Chryst has extended the program's run-first mantra, but the Badgers miss top running back Corey Clement, who had surgery to repair a sports hernia last week. Red-shirt freshman RB Taiwan Deal earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after rushing for 147 yards and two scores in a 28-0 win against Hawaii on Saturday. Wisconsin ranks ninth in Big Ten rushing at 188.9 yards per game. Iowa ranks sixth.

Despite Iowa's offensive explosion last week, Wisconsin expects a balanced, physical attack. Wisconsin safety Michael Caputo wouldn't want it any other way. It defines both programs, and the winner takes the lead in the Big Ten West race.

'It's always a big game when Wisconsin plays Iowa,” Wisconsin safety Michael Caputo said. 'It's a straight-up, come-at-you type of football, and that's the style of football that I like. To me, it's going to be a very exciting game. As far as the Big Ten, it'll determine whatever you want it to determine.”

'When you look at the rivalry games, the trophy games that we have, if you want to win your side (of the Big Ten), you've got to beat those teams and, therefore, I think they are big,” Chryst said. 'And I think our players, even before that trophy came in, I know our players always enjoyed and it was a big deal to play Iowa.”

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