Iowa has built a very specific kind of reputation under Kirk Ferentz: when the Hawkeyes take a hit, they usually hit back.
That’s the part of the story that stands out most from the recent numbers. Since 2021, Iowa has gone 13-4 in regular-season games after a loss, good for a 76.5% winning percentage. In a league as punishing as the Big Ten, that kind of response rate jumps off the page.
Even more telling, Iowa hasn’t had a losing record in those games over the last five seasons. The low point came in 2022, when the Hawkeyes went 2-2 after a defeat. That’s the worst the stretch has gotten, which says plenty about how rarely one setback turns into a mess.
The most eye-popping number, though, comes from the last two seasons. Since 2023, Iowa is 10-1 after losing a game.
That’s not just solid. It’s the kind of record that points to a team that can absorb a bad day, move on fast, and show up ready for the next one.
That ability matters in a sport where a rough performance can easily snowball. Plenty of teams spiral after one loss and never really recover.
Iowa, at least in this stretch, has done the opposite. The Hawkeyes have been especially good at flushing a result and getting back to work, no matter whether the previous game ended in a win or a loss.
Now they get another chance to prove it with Wisconsin coming to Kinnick Stadium. The Badgers arrive ranked and confident, hoping to grab a rivalry win over Iowa.
In Other News...
Iowas First Ben McCollum Lineups Raised A Bigger Rotation Question
Ben McCollum used Iowas exhibition win over Illinois Springfield to start sorting through options, and the 88-64 result came with plenty of lineup tinkering along the way. The Hawkeyes mixed and matched combinations throughout the game, looking for the right balance as McCollum put an early emphasis on drawing fouls and getting more three-point attempts into the offense.
Andrew McKeever stood out by leading the team in assists, while Peyton McCollum added 10 points in a game that offered an early glimpse at how Iowa might look under its new coach. The bigger question now is how McCollum settles on a rotation after a night that showed there are multiple players capable of making a case for minutes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Still Needs One Offensive Spark Before Wisconsin Turns Ugly
With Kamari Moulton out for the season, Iowas backfield has shifted into a proving ground, and the Hawkeyes could use one of the younger options to give the offense a little more life before Wisconsin arrives. Xavier Williams and DJ Vonnahme are among the names now in the mix for a larger role, and the opportunity is there for someone to carve out meaningful snaps if the run game can start to move with more consistency.
The bigger issue for Iowa is not just carrying the ball better, but making defenses respect what comes next. A steadier ground attack would help set up the play-action throws the Hawkeyes want to use, and that kind of sequencing matters against a Wisconsin team that can make a game uncomfortable fast if Iowa gets stuck in predictable downs and distances. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces One Big Offensive Test Against Ranked Wisconsin
Iowa heads into a familiar Big Ten measuring stick this week with No. 25 Wisconsin coming to town for the 100th meeting between the rivals, and the timing is not ideal after the loss to Minnesota. The Hawkeyes have won four of the last five in the series, but this matchup carries the kind of weight that can quickly reshape a season, especially against a Wisconsin team that just knocked off No. 16 USC.
The challenge for Iowa is made even sharper by a changing backfield picture and a new face under center, which puts even more pressure on the offense to find some rhythm against a physical opponent. Wisconsin still owns a slight edge in the all-time series, and with the Hawkeyes looking to steady themselves at home, this one feels like the sort of game where every possession will matter. [Read more 🡒]