3-2-1: Wisconsin prepares to defend the Heartland Trophy

The final rivalry game of the 2020 season for No. 25 Wisconsin will also be, barring unforeseen circumstances, the only one played as it is slated to travel across state borders to take on the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes.

UW (2-2) hopes to retain the Heartland Trophy for the fifth straight season against Iowa (5-2) on Saturday (2:30 p.m. BTN or FS1), who is riding a five-game winning streak heading into the matchup.

Before we hear from head coach Paul Chryst later on Monday morning, BadgerBlitz.com brings back our 3-2-1 feature to examine what we learned from the weekend that was in the Big Ten, two questions leading up to UW-Iowa (and basketball, too), and one prediction for Saturday's game.

For those who have not read it, BadgerBlitz.com's Benjamin Worgull already laid out his main takeaways from this weekend's loss to Indiana on Saturday night. I will not try to rehash any of them.

For those that know me, I'm a positive guy, so I will continue to look on the bright side of things (for at least one of these takeaways). I mentioned in last week's installment of this series, but the football and men's basketball both are seeing contributions from true freshmen early on in their respective seasons.

Looking just at Paul Chryst's program in particular, I feel this season -- though with game cancellations, being ineligible for the Big Ten championship game and injuries and recent lack of offensive explosion stinging its early momentum -- has given those who needed reps during meaningful playing time. It's not just those first-year players -- like Jalen Berger, Nick Herbig and Chimere Dike that these contests benefit, but those first-time starters or key contributors at particular positions.

Looking at second-year Badgers, Leo Chenal continues to show physicality at inside linebacker, being second on the team in tackles (22) while leading the team in quarterback hurries (seven). According to Pro Football Focus, redshirt freshman Hayden Rucci has played 112 snaps. Nose tackle Keeanu Benton is a key cog in the middle of the nation's top run defense. Despite trailing off after his record-breaking starting debut, quarterback Graham Mertz is learning and doing so in live-action situations that could pay off later on down the road.

Even for older players, like Tyler Beach who has started the last three games at right tackle and Kayden Lyles who became the No. 1 center this fall, these are more opportunities to consistently grow and develop.