Wisconsin vs. Iowa 2025 Preview: Battle for the Heartland Trophy

The Wisconsin Badgers (2-3) welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2) to Camp Randall on Saturday for a battle for the Heartland Trophy. The Badgers are coming off a 24-10 loss to a ranked Michigan team, while Iowa had a bye week to rest and recover. A low-scoring, Big Ten classic style of game will almost certainly break out on Saturday. What are the keys to the game, and how does Wisconsin get back into the win column after three straight losses? Let’s break it all down in our 2025 Wisconsin vs. Iowa preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes: Series History

Saturday will mark the 99th time these two storied programs will face off. Wisconsin leads the all-time series 49-47-2; however, Iowa has had the upper hand recently. The Hawkeyes have won the past three contests against the Badgers, including a 42-10 blowout win against the Badgers last November.

This heated rivalry couldn’t really be any closer since 2015. The past 10 games played have been split between these two teams. However, early in this rivalry, it was a series of runs as Wisconsin won 22 of the first 31, while Iowa then won 27 of the next 38.

Earlier this week, Badger wideout Vinny Anthony talked about the meaning of this rivalry. “I can’t even put into words how much this means to me. I haven’t seen the trophy really since I was here freshman year, like when I was on a visit. Being a senior now, that’s something I definitely need to have … I know all of the seniors and the older guys can attest to that, too. It means so much to us, the university, and this state. We know how much it means.”

The Heartland Trophy and the rivalry with Iowa is one of the biggest matchups every year for the Badgers. Wisconsin will be looking to end its 3-game losing streak against the Hawkeyes on Saturday, and have the Trophy stay home for the first time in four years.

Wisconsin vs. Iowa 2025 Preview

Key Players for Iowa

Kirk Ferentz has been the head coach of Iowa football since 1999. He’s the longest-active tenured coach at one school. Throughout the years, Iowa has always prided itself on being the more hard-nosed, physically dominant team, and this year is no different. Iowa sports one of the game’s best offensive lines, with all five starters being at the top of PFF grades.

They struggled a bit as a unit against a very good Indiana team. However, through Week 4, Iowa as a group had a 97.1 OL grade, which was not only tops in the country, but 10 points higher than the second-highest rated offensive line.

Iowa’s offensive line against the Badgers’ front seven could be the key to the entire game. Wisconsin’s strength as a team is their run defense, and the Hawkeyes need to run the ball to be successful. PFF ranks the Hawkeyes’ offensive line top-10 in pass blocking as well. That is especially important this week as Iowa’s starting quarterback is up in the air.

Mark Gronowski is the starter for the Hawkeyes; however, he suffered a knee injury during the Indiana game. So far this season, Gronowski has thrown for 636 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Gronowski also adds an element to their run game, rushing for 150 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season. He’s shown improvement as of late after transferring from South Dakota State and is heavily used in the red zone and in goal-line situations.

Earlier in the week, Kirk Ferentz reported optimism regarding Gronowski’s status for Saturday. If he does play, it gives Iowa a huge boost offensively. If Gronkowski is unable to play, Hank Brown would most likely get the start. In relief of Gronowski in Week 5, Brown finished 5-of-13 for 48 yards and an interception. Whoever starts under center for Iowa will need to have a clean pocket and will need to be kept upright by Iowa’s great offensive line.

Iowa has dealt with injuries in its running back room so far this season, too. Their most talented back, Jaziun Patterson, is out, so Xavier Williams and Kamari Moulton will assume most of the carries. Both Williams and Moulton have scored a touchdown so far this year and are averaging just under six yards a carry as a duo. Williams did suffer an arm injury a couple of weeks ago, and Wisconsin will be his first game back. William’s effectiveness coming back from injury is something to keep an eye on.

Iowa is a ground-and-pound style team, and both Williams and Moulton will need to have big games for Iowa against a very good Wisconsin front seven.

Defensively, Iowa will be without its leading tackler, Jaden Harrell. With Harrell sidelined, Iowa’s second-leading tackler, Karson Sharar, will assume more of the pressure on defense. Sharrar has totaled 29 tackles and a sack so far this year. He will need to have a good game and will need to be sound in his reads and communication without his running mate next to him.

Max Llewellyn on the edge for the Hawkeyes can be a game wrecker. Llewellyn is currently tied atop the Big Ten with five sacks, and is all over the field. Iowa is blitz-heavy on third down, and blitzed a high amount against Indiana a few weeks ago. The Hawkeyes like to blitz in a way to get Llewellyn one-on-one matchups against a tackle. With Wisconsin’s inability to protect the quarterback at times, Llewellyn could take over the game and cause fits all night for the Badgers.

Lastly, in the secondary, TJ Hall is one of the best corners in the Big Ten and has five pass breakups so far this season. He’s a lockdown corner and has allowed less than 42-percent of the passes thrown his way to be completed. If he’s matched up across from Vinny Anthony, other players need to win opposite of him for the Badgers. Hall has the ability to shut down an entire side of the field; he’s that good and that valuable to the Iowa defense.

Key Players for Wisconsin

There is uncertainty under center for the Badgers, similarly to Iowa. Wisconsin’s Week 1 starter, Billy Edwards Jr., is still dealing with a knee injury, and Hunter Simmons got the start last week. Everything is pointing to Simmons starting on Saturday, but whoever is under center will need to play with poise and confidence. Iowa has a great defense; and with the Badgers’ inability to run the football, Wisconsin will face a lot of obvious passing situations.

Iowa is a blitz-heavy team on third down and loves to speed up the quarterback’s internal clock. Simmons got the ball out extremely quick last week against Michigan, and will need to make quick and confident reads again this week. In his first start for the Badgers, Simmons finished 18-of-29 for 177 yards. Simmons needs to be trusted to run the offense and let the ball loose. There was extremely conservative play-calling and a lack of downfield passing last week. That can’t happen again this week offensively for Wisconsin.

Iowa has a very good offensive line; however, we have highlighted Wisconsin’s struggling line play in great detail so far this season. How well the Badgers’ line plays on Saturday is really the key to the entire game for both sides. Badger’s running backs Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree can’t get open if there are no running lanes. If Simmons does not have time to read the defense or throw the ball downfield, there will be a lot of short throws in front of the sticks.

Wisconsin’s line sports a 52.2 PFF run grade, which is good for 111th nationally. Teams are stacking the box and daring Wisconsin to throw the ball downfield. If Wisconsin can have success throwing the ball downfield, it will help the run game get going. The ability to keep Simmons upright is critical and might just be the single biggest factor for Wisconsin on Saturday.

Someone for Wisconsin besides Vinny Anthony needs to emerge and have a big game on Saturday. With TJ Hall most likely traveling with Anthony, either Trech Kekahuna, Jayden Ballard, or Chris Brooks needs to be productive. If Hall doesn’t travel with Anthony, whichever receivers are opposite of Hall need to get open and have success. Anthony leads the team with 248 yards; however, Ballard has the best opportunity to take the top off the defense.

Ballard has track speed and has caught seven catches for 150 yards so far this year. If he is able to have a good game and alleviate some of the pressure off of Anthony, the Badgers have a better chance of winning on Saturday. If receivers can’t get open and Simmons has no time to throw, it could spell disaster for the Badger offense.

Defensively, Tackett Curtis, and Christian Alliegro are the keys, like always. Alliegro leads the team with 28 tackles, and Curits is second with 18. We highlighted the heavy ground and pound attack of Iowa, and Curtis and Alliegro need to be sound in their reads and fly sideline to sideline.

Wisconsin’s front seven needs to win against the Hawkeye’s offensive line. Iowa doesn’t stress the defense much on the outside, so it really comes down to how well the Badgers stop the run. In obvious passing downs, the duo of Sebastian Cheeks and Mason Reiger needs to win against quality Iowa tackles who rarely give up any pressure. Reiger, Wisconsin’s best pass rusher, comes into Saturday with two sacks, while Cheeks has one so far.

If the Badgers are able to stop the run, Wisconsin’s ability to get to the quarterback could be the biggest key on defense. If the secondary is able to hold up for a couple of seconds, Reiger and Cheeks could get home and have big games for the Badgers.

2025 Game Preview: How Wisconsin Wins vs. Iowa in Week 7

Iowa opened as 3.5-point favorites against Wisconsin on the road, and the line remains the same later in the week. The over/under is set at 36.5, which is the lowest total so far this college football season.

This game will be physical and won in the trenches; it definitely won’t win any beauty awards for play on the field. However, it’s going to be an old-school, smash-mouth style of game. Wisconsin has been struggling and will be looking for something positive to happen on Saturday.

A night game in Camp Randall, against one of your biggest rivals, will certainly help the Badgers. Luke Fickell hasn’t lost the locker room yet, so expect the players to fight and play as hard as they did to start the year.

Wisconsin should be able to handle Iowa’s rushing attack. And, if the Wisconsin offense can sustain drives, it could bode well for the Badgers. The Badgers will need to play complementary football and be sound in all facets of the game. If Wisconsin can win on third downs on both sides of the ball and Simmons takes care of the rock, there is no reason Wisconsin can’t end its losing streak on Saturday.

Iowa will be starting either a hobbled or an unproven quarterback. If Wisconsin wins in pass rush, it could force mistakes from Iowa quarterbacks. This game will most likely come down to a big play late in the game, and whoever is able to muster enough offense will come out on top.