Iowa’s Week 9 depth chart is out, and the biggest change comes at running back: Kamari Moulton is listed out after getting hurt in the first half against Minnesota. The release does not give an official diagnosis, but Moulton was spotted on the sideline with trainers looking at his right shoulder before he went to the locker room.
With Moulton unavailable, Xavier Williams is back in the starting spot. Behind him, Nathan McNeil and Braeden Jackson are listed as the backups, with an OR designation between them. LJ Phillips does not appear on the chart, even though he had 7 carries and averaged 3.6 yards per carry last Saturday.
The quarterback battle remains unchanged, with the OR still in place for Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski.
Up front, Trent Wilson is not listed at left guard for the second straight week. Will Hahn is shown as the backup to Leighton Jones.
There’s also no change at corner, where Xavier Styles is listed ahead of Anthony Hawkins for the second week in a row. Iowa did not draw any defensive pass interference penalties in Saturday’s game.
The Hawkeyes are back home at Kinnick Stadium for Homecoming week, with the team set to play for the bronze bull and The Heartland Trophy. Wisconsin enters the matchup ranked No. 25 in the AP poll and 3-1 in the Big Ten, while Iowa is unranked and sits at 2-2 in conference play.
Iowa’s November 7 opponent, Northwestern, is currently ranked No. 20.
In Other News...
Iowa's QB Uncertainty Just Got More Concerning Before Wisconsin
Iowas Week 9 depth chart brought the kind of update that can feel more telling for what it leaves unchanged than for what it reveals. Ahead of Wisconsin, the Hawkeyes kept the quarterback spot as Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski, preserving the same uncertainty that has hovered over the position while the rest of the two-deep mostly stayed intact.
Kamari Moultons absence from the chart stands out most after his injury, and Xavier Williams now sits atop the running back spot as Iowa sorts through the backfield without him. Beyond that, the defensive and special teams listings remain steady, leaving the offense and especially quarterback to carry the biggest questions into a matchup that already figures to be tight. [Read more 🡒]
Reece Vander Zee Sends Clear Message As Iowa Tries To Reset
Reece Vander Zee has become one of the steadier offensive pieces for Iowa this season, a notable turn for a receiver whose earlier years were slowed by injuries. He has already surpassed his previous seasons receiving totals, giving the Hawkeyes a reliable option as they try to find more consistency on offense and put the latest loss to Minnesota behind them.
Now Iowa heads into a matchup with Wisconsin with Vander Zee pointing the focus back toward response and resilience. His message was straightforward: keep fighting, lean on the leadership in the room and use the setback as a chance to improve, which is the kind of tone the Hawkeyes need as they try to reset. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Gets Another Big Spotlight As Pressure Builds For Wisconsin
Iowa City is about to get another national stage, with Foxs Big Noon Kickoff set to broadcast from town during Week 9 for the Iowa-Wisconsin game. It comes on the heels of a busy weekend that already brought College GameDay and The Pat McAfee Show through Iowa City before the Hawkeyes took on Ohio State, further underscoring how much attention this program is drawing in a pivotal stretch.
The timing only adds to the pressure on Wisconsin, which heads into Kinnick Stadium for a matchup that carries weight in the rankings and in the rivalry picture. For Iowa, the spotlight is about more than the TV window. It is another chance to strengthen its College Football Playoff case in front of a national audience, with the kind of setting that can turn a regular Big Ten game into one of the seasons defining moments. [Read more 🡒]