Struggling Wisconsin Knows What's At Stake vs. Red-Hot Iowa
MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin junior tight end Jake Ferguson has been around the Badgers football program long enough to know what’s coming up next.
So, when he was asked if the minutes following the Badgers’ 14-6 loss to Indiana what it’ll take to get the team emotionally ready for the final regular season game at the end of a bizarre year, Ferguson’s answer was blunt.
“It’s Iowa week,” he said. “You got to bring everything you got or else you’re not going to come out with a win. I think a lot of guys on this team know that. For those that don’t, they’ll find out this week.”
While his answer was overly simplistic, how much the Badgers actually have left in the tank remains to be seen when they head to Iowa City for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes (BTN or FS1).
Once having high expectations following two dominant victories, the Badgers have gone from potential College Football Playoffs to no Big Ten titles, dropping seven spots in the AP poll to No.25 Sunday and are facing the possibility of having its first non-winning league record since 2012.
There have been problems in all three phases, but the offense’s sudden inability to score points has been crippling. Facing two defenses who are top four in the conference in scoring, top five in total yards and are prolific at creating turnovers, Wisconsin has committed more turnovers (5) than having drives end in points (three) in 26 total possessions.
Missing senior receiver Danny Davis for the two games and dealing with other injuries at receiver and tailback, Wisconsin has averaged a score once every 8.7 possessions, scoring one touchdown on 17 possessions in a 17-7 loss to Northwestern and only two field goals on nine possessions Saturday.
The task doesn’t get easier considering No.19 Iowa (5-2) has won five straight that ranks third in the conference in points allowed (17.3 ppg) and yards allowed (326.4 ypg), one spot ahead of the Hoosiers.
“We didn't help ourselves,” head coach Paul Chryst. “I think it comes back to good football gives you a chance to win. There was a lot of great effort and I think moments of really good play, but not enough. You’ve got to stack it together.”
“If you want to beat a good team, you’ve got to play good football. I think we had moments of it, but we certainly didn't play well enough.”
The struggles have been an ordinate amount of pressure on the defense. Of the 31 points given up by the defense in the two games, 14 have come off the offense’s turnovers while 14 more have come on the first drive of a half.
The Hoosiers were also held to 130 passing yards and 217 total yards, both registered as their second-lowest marks of the season.
“Offense handles the offense, the defense handles the defense,” safety Eric Burrell said. “That’s why it’s a team game. We all got to come together, regardless of the outcome that we have.”
Wisconsin is scheduled to play an unknown opponent on Dec.19 and then await its postseason fate. The Badgers have played in 18 straight bowl games but the criteria for bowls selecting teams is unknown during a season where the Badgers lost their three nonconference games and three conference games to the COVID.
There also is the fact that three games with Big Ten bowl tie-ins – Red Box Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl and Quick Lanes Bowl - have been canceled.
While UW will fall short of the elusive conference championship for the eighth straight season, the Badgers have a chance to course correct in the only trophy game that has survived its schedule.
“You’ve got battle back,” senior tackle Cole Van Lanen said. “We have a rivalry game next week. We want to keep the pig here, and that’s got to be our motivation. Knowing that our games are numbered, we want to end the season the right way. We just need to battle right back … That’s the only way you move forward.”