Hlog Fun Facts about Wisconsin-Iowa football

Hlog Fun Fact

: Wisconsin senior strong safety Jay Valai was once an Iowa Hawkeye.

Well, sort of. Valai, one of the best hitters in college football, was verbally committed to joining Iowa's program, as Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal notes in this story. An excerpt:

Valai committed to Iowa for three months as a senior in high school before de-committing and signing with the Badgers. The Hawkeyes fans didn't let him forget it on his last trip to Iowa City, Iowa, two years ago.

"I felt it before," Valai said of taunts from the fans. "It's going to be fun. That motivates you."

The fans are close to the field at Kinnick Stadium and Valai said he heard all game long about his decision to de-commit. When asked if the fans told him he made a mistake, he smiled and said, "In a little more explicit words. I love that atmosphere, it's going to be fun."

Hlog Fun Fact: Wisconsin running backs John Clay and James White have nine rushing touchdowns each this season. Iowa has not allowed a rushing TD to a running back.

Hlog Fun Fact: Iowa's opponents have rushed 10 times with a third down and three yards or less to go. They have gained just six yards and two first-downs. Wisconsin has rushed 26 times on 3rd-and-3 or less. It has 172 yards, 18 first-downs.

Hlog Fun Fact: Iowa running back Adam Robinson has rushed for 100-plus yards four times this season. Wisconsin has allowed just two 100-yard rushing performances in its last 20 games.

Hlog Fun Fact: Joe Paterno won 42 games in his first five seasons as Penn State's head coach. Wisconsin's Bret Bielema is in his fifth season and has 44 wins. In fairness, Bielema has 15 losses, while Paterno had just 10 in those five full years.

Hlog Fun Fact: Stellar Badger offensive tackle Gabe Carimi majors in civil engineering. Three years ago, he started as a redshirt freshman. He fasted the night before Iowa played at Wisconsin in observance of Yom Kippur.

Hlog Fun Fact: Associated Press national college football writer Ralph Russo picks Northwestern to upset Michigan State Saturday. He also has Iowa beating Wisconsin, 27-20.

This is the link.