Baggot: Five things to know vs. Iowa
September 22, 2018 | Football, Andy Baggot
Insight and quick hits on the Badgers’ matchup with the Hawkeyes
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Big Ten play begins with a rivalry matchup for the 18th-ranked Badgers, who face Iowa on the road in a prime-time kickoff at Kinnick Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on FOX. Here are five things to know:
The Road Less Traveled
The Badgers have won seven consecutive regular-season road games in Big Ten Conference play dating back to 2016, the longest streak of its kind in program history. The only comparable run took place over four seasons when Wisconsin had a 6-0-1 stretch on the road in league play from 1906 to '09. Overall, the Badgers are 14-1 in true road assignments during the 44-game Paul Chryst coaching era. They have won at every Big Ten venue with the exception of Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Their only road setback, a 14-7 decision, came at Michigan Stadium on Oct. 1, 2016. They make their first appearance at Beaver Stadium under Chryst on Nov. 10. Wisconsin hasn't played at Ohio Stadium since 2013 — Chryst took over in 2015 — and won't make its next appearance there until Oct. 26, 2019. Incidentally, the Badgers have prevailed in nine straight true road games overall, currently the second-longest current run of its kind in the Football Bowl Subdivision behind a 17-gamer by Oklahoma. Included in that streak for Wisconsin is its Orange Bowl victory over Miami.
🏈A trophy game Rivalry renewed Physical football This Saturday's contest at Iowa is the kind of game @BadgerFootball says is coming along at just the right time 📱💻 http://go.wisc.edu/varsity-9-4
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) September 19, 2018
Where it Began
The Badgers started that seven-game Big Ten road winning streak with a 17-9 decision over Iowa on Oct. 22, 2016. Some key developments from that game have become trends during subsequent victories at Northwestern and Purdue in 2016 and Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota last season. Wisconsin outscored the Hawkeyes 10-3 in the second half, held the ball for 37 minutes overall, limited them to less than 100 yards rushing and allowed only two third-down conversions in 13 tries. Over the course of the seven-game road winning streak in league play, the Badgers have not been outscored in the second half, not lost the time of possession battle, held opponents to combined third-down conversion rate of 31.5 percent and an average of 81 rushing yards per game. Wisconsin, meanwhile, has had a 108-34 scoring edge in the second half, a plus-three turnover margin and a third-down conversion rate of 49.5 percent.
A Closer Look
Wisconsin needs one more victory to join the 700 Club in Football Bowl Subdivision history (699-491-53). It would be the 26th school overall and fifth current member of the Big Ten to reach that milestone, joining Michigan (945), Ohio State (901), Nebraska (893) and Penn State (881). The Badgers, currently in their 130th season, have picked up 207 of those victories on the road and 374 in Big Ten regular-season play. They are just ahead of Michigan State (695), Minnesota (691), Rutgers (652), Maryland (646), Iowa (643) and Purdue (608) on the all-time win list.
Scott Nelson really likes Scott Nelson No, this is not an example of third-person self-indulgence Let us explain...
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 19, 2018
How the West is Won
The winner of the Wisconsin vs. Iowa duel has gone on to represent the Big Ten West in the conference title game every season since the current East-West divisional format — a seven-team split — was introduced in 2014. The Badgers advanced in '14, '16 and '17. The Hawkeyes prevailed in 2015.
Youthful Exuberance
The Badgers have 29 true freshmen and 24 redshirt freshmen on their current 114-man lineup. Those two groups represent 46 percent of the roster. To date, seven true freshmen (S Tavian Blaylock, CB Donte Burton, WR Aron Cruickshank, WR Taj Mustapha, ILB Jack Sanborn, CB Rachad Wildgoose and NT Bryson Williams) and 10 redshirt freshmen (OL Tyler Beach, OL Logan Bruss, TE Jake Ferguson, OLB Izayah Green-May, DE Matt Henningsen, DE Kayden Lyles, FS Scott Nelson, OL Josh Seltzner, QB Danny Vanden Boom and DE Aaron Vopal) have made their college debuts through the first three games.
