Wisconsin vs. Iowa Game Report: Numbers and notes from the Hawkeyes’ 42-10 win

A closer look at Iowa’s dominant 42-10 victory Saturday night over Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium. The Heartland Trophy remains in Iowa City for another year.

It was the largest margin of victory in this series since 1968.

Turning point: Deshaun Lee’s interception seems to energize Iowa offense

Wisconsin actually led this game late in the first quarter, 3-0. Iowa kicker Drew Stevens missed a 56-yard field-goal attempt off an upright, giving the Badgers good field position at their own 39.

The ball eventually reached midfield. But on a first-and-10 play, Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke threw to the left side, with Iowa cornerback Deshaun Lee reading the play, coming off another receiver and stepping in front of the intended receiver for an interception and return to the Hawkeyes 47.

Suddenly energized, Iowa’s offense, reeled off the remaining 53 yards, with quarterback Brendan Sullivan eventually scoring on a 1-yard touchdown sneak. The extra point gave Iowa a 7-3 lead.

Wisconsin then went three and out, with Iowa taking over after a punt at its 20. A 30-yard Kamari Moulton run took the football well into Badgers territory.

Eventually Johnson scored on a 16-yard run. The rout was underway.

By the numbers: Wisconsin at Iowa

10 — Pass attempts for Iowa.

19 — Touchdowns by Johnson this season.

20 — Touchdowns by Iowa’s offense last season.

54 — Rushing attempts for Iowa.

72 — Points scored by Wisconsin opponents off takeaways this season.

Iowa football notebook

* Can anyone out there play some quarterback?

The pregame availability report listed both Cade McNamara and Marco Lainez as out for Saturday’s game. McNamara, of course, suffered a concussion in the first half of last week’s win over Northwestern, but Lainez’s status was a surprise.

He’s a redshirt freshman who rushed for 51 yards and completed 2 of 7 passes for 4 yards in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the only appearance of his career. Iowa recently announced James Resar has moved from quarterback to receiver, and he’s injured.

Thus the only other quarterback on the Iowa roster available to play other than Sullivan was Jackson Stratton, who is a walk-on sophomore transfer from Colorado State.

“If he's going to run the ball, slide,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said of Sullivan running at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “I'm fine with that. If we had 10 quarterbacks, I'd still ask him to do that. … But you don't want to harness the guy back or throttle him down too much.”

Of course, with as dominant as the run game was, it was immaterial.

* Iowa’s Nick Jackson had a third-quarter interception that was about as unique as you’ll see.

The linebacker stepped in front of an attempted slant pattern pass by Locke, had the football deflect off his left hand, then off his right foot. His kicking motion made the ball deflect backward hard off the facemask of teammate Bryan Allen Jr. and into the air, right to Jackson, who caught it at the Badgers 40 and returned it to the 11, setting up an Iowa touchdown.

* The Rusty Toolbox remains in Iowa City. Iowa’s team managers beat Wisconsin’s team managers in a Friday night flag football game at the Iowa practice facility, 32-6. The teams have played for the Rusty Toolbox trophy since 1991. Iowa has won this game five years in a row.

Iowa football injury report

Also out for Iowa was cornerback John Nestor, wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (injured last week against Northwestern) and tight ends Luke Lachey and Addison Ostrenga. Lachey warmed up with his teammates pregame but did not play. Zach Ortwerth and Johnny Pascuzzi go the start as dual tight ends for Iowa.

Iowa’s next game

You’re going to have to stay up relatively late to watch this one. The Hawkeyes head to the West Coast for a Friday night game versus UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is 8 p.m., with the game televised by FOX.

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