Iowa’s 30-0 win over Wisconsin gave the Hawkeyes exactly what they wanted: the Heartland Trophy back in Iowa City, a return to the top 25 at No. 21, and another shutout against a Luke Fickell-coached team.
Afterward, Kirk Ferentz called it what it looked like from the sideline.
“They did a great job there, and I think you just watch the game; it was truly a team win in all three phases,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said postgame. “Staff did a great job of giving our guys a good plan, but most importantly, the players are the ones doing it and really played well out there.”
Even in a lopsided win, though, there were still a few details worth sorting through. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from Iowa’s shutout of the Badgers.
The good: Caden Buhr’s leg from long range
The biggest positive on special teams came from kicker Caden Buhr, who drilled a career-long 54-yard field goal against Wisconsin. He only had two field goals on the day, but the distance mattered. It was the kind of kick that shows Iowa has some range when it needs it.
Buhr’s boot would have stood out nationally for most of the afternoon, too, before Indiana and Minnesota each hit 60-yard field goals about two hours after Iowa’s game ended.
The bad: another opening drive without a touchdown
Iowa got offensive confidence out of the win, but the first drive still left something on the table. The Hawkeyes have yet to score a touchdown on their opening drive against a Pour Four opponent this season. They have put points on the board with field goals, just not six.
That’s a small complaint in a game Iowa controlled, but it still matters. Opening with a touchdown can settle an offense and build even more confidence, especially with four regular-season games left. It could also help either quarterback, whether Iowa sticks with Hank Brown or keeps working Jeremy Hecklinski into the mix.
Ferentz pointed to the value of learning from mistakes.
“That's how you learn: sometimes you have to stub your toe, and the key thing is do you learn? They did,” Ferentz said.
“Apparently they did. Now, what are they going to learn this week?
We'll find out.”
The ugly: the fumbles
The biggest concern from the game was ball security. Iowa had three fumbles against Wisconsin and lost one of them, with tight end Addison Ostrenga helping the Hawkeyes recover the other.
It didn’t swing the outcome this time, but it’s the kind of issue Iowa has already seen turn costly. The same problem hurt the Hawkeyes against Minnesota, and Ferentz didn’t hide his frustration.
“I don't want to say it couldn't have been worse, but it was pretty close,” Ferentz said. “The worst one I remember. Everybody's got ownership in that, and it's usually just a little bit more concentration.”
Now Iowa heads back on the road next week to face Northwestern, which is coming off a difficult loss at Oregon. Once again, the little things will matter, and ball security is one of the biggest ones on the list.
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