Iowa football shuts out Wisconsin after bye week in signature win, 37-0.

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin fanbase practically teleported out of Camp Randall Stadium the moment “Jump Around” finished. Not that anyone blames them for it.

Meanwhile, the Iowa football sideline relishing in the Badger tradition.

For the second year in a row, Badgers fans watched as Iowa football scored 30 points. Even after the spring football “42 Iowa” push-ups and bulletin board material, Iowa had minimal issues putting up big-time numbers.

They simply doubled down. In two years, Iowa (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) scored 79 points against Wisconsin (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten). Last year, it was 42 points.

This year, it was a 37-0 Hawkeyes win.

“I thought we played opportunistic football and good team football,” Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Just an awful lot of positive out there that we saw from our guys.”

Whether Iowa fans wanted quarterback Mark Gronowski to start against the Badgers or not, the South Dakota State transfer trotted onto the field in a full knee brace ready to play. The Hawkeyes had been quiet on if Gronowski would play the Badgers, but some positive news on his knee injury gave Ferentz and co. the comfortability to stick with QB1.

He finished the game with 107 passing yards, going 17-for-24 with one interception and seven rushing yards and a touchdown.

“It felt good,” Gronowski said. “Today was the best I’ve felt since the injury happened.”

Still, despite all the uncertainty if Gronowski would be the quarterback, he wasn’t the Hawkeyes’ beacon. The defense was.

After the Iowa defense was minus-1 in the turnover margin through five games this season, the Hawkeyes had three turnovers in the first half against Wisconsin. Two interceptions, both by defensive linemen, and a fumble recovery sucked the air right out of Camp Randall Stadium.

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Bryce Hawthorne picked off Wisconsin quarterback Hunter Simmons after it was tipped by Brian Allen.

“It was a great moment for me,” Hawthorne said. “I’m just very happy, it didn’t feel real out there.”

Then, a few minutes later, Aaron Graves got his first career interception and carried it to Wisconsin’s 1-yard line. Though ask the Hawkeyes, they all thought Graves had a pick six.

“It turned out not to matter, but yeah,” Ferentz said when asked he if thought his captain scored. “I mean, you gotta give a guy his size the benefit of the doubt. Kodak moment.”

Every touchdown, field goal and turnover, the Badgers faithful were stunned into further silence. The “Let’s Go Hawks” chants just grew louder and louder every play.

Kicker Drew Stevens put the first points on the board for Iowa, nailing a 32-yard field goal. It became his first of three made field goals, with his longest being a 49-yarder he drilled to end the first half.

And while Wisconsin’s run defense started the game as the sixth best in FBS football, it allowed four rushing touchdowns and 210 rushing yards. The Hawkeyes, led by running back Xavier Williams, weaved in and out of holes created by the offensive line.

Williams scored two rushing touchdowns with his 55 yards, while Kamari Moulton had the most carries for 96 total rushing yards. True freshman Nathan McNeil recorded 36 yards as the third running back in the room. Iowa was a perfect 5-for-5 in the redzone.

“That’s as low as it can be,” Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell said. “This is a game we've been talking about since January, and been doing a lot of things to make sure we were ready and prepared. Obviously we were not.”

“Jump Around” was blaring from the visiting locker room speakers postgame, knowing it’s time to bring the bronze bull back to Iowa City.

What the win means

This is Iowa’s largest margin of victory over the Badgers since the 41-0 shutout victory in 1968, and the most points the Hawkeyes have scored at Camp Randall Stadium. With Penn State in the immediate future, a dominant win over Wisconsin helps with the team’s confidence — especially since the Nittany Lions head to Kinnick Stadium 0-3 in conference play.

The win over Wisconsin sets up Iowa’s chances to boost its resume in the middle of the hardest part of its schedule. Healthy players makes it easier after a bye week, and thanks to some assistance from around the conference, too.

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