Wisconsin Badgers
2-3 , 2-3
Iowa
6-2 , 6-2
Hawkeyes oust Badgers, 28-7
December 12, 2020 | Football
Special teams stand out in road loss
After both team's struggled in the first half, Iowa's offense came alive in the second and saw quarterback Spencer Petras throw for 211 yards and two touchdowns to Ihmir Smith-Marsette, including a 19-yard TD in the third quarter to give the Hawkeyes a 14-0 lead.
The Badgers cut it in half after a muffed punt set them up at the Iowa 25, with Nakia Watson punching the ball in from the 1.
Iowa took control from there. Petras connected with Smith-Marsette for a 53-yard touchdown to make it 21-7 late in the third.
Wisconsin was still in position to come back in the middle of the fourth quarter when Iowa went three-and-out and Australian punter Tory Taylor, in his first year playing American football, mishandled the snap and kicked the ball while it was on the ground. That resulted in a penalty for illegal kicking, setting up the Badgers at the Iowa 5.
The Badgers struggled to capitalize on three plays and Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz flipped a pass into the end zone that Iowa's Jack Campbell intercepted. The Hawkeyes made it a 28-7 game on the next play as Tyler Goodson broke an 80-yard touchdown run.
Smith-Marsette finished with seven catches for 140 yards, and Goodson had 106 yards rushing.
The Badgers gained just 225 total yards, 56 on the ground.
Wisconsin and Iowa both play Dec. 19 against Big Ten opponents to be announced Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Team Stats
WIS 0, IOWA 3
IOWA - Duncan,Keith 30 yd field goal 5 plays, 20 yards, TOP 2:04
WIS 0, IOWA 6
IOWA - Duncan,Keith 45 yd field goal 6 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:21
WIS 0, IOWA 14
IOWA - Smith-Marsette 19 yd pass from Petras,Spencer (Smith,Brandon pass) 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:52
WIS 7, IOWA 14
WIS - Watson, Nakia 1 yd run (Larsh, Collin kick), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:55
WIS 7, IOWA 21
IOWA - Smith-Marsette 53 yd pass from Petras,Spencer (Duncan,Keith kick) 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:47
WIS 7, IOWA 28
IOWA - Goodson,Tyler 80 yd run (Duncan,Keith kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:14
