Iowa Football: 3 takeaways from ugly road win at Wisconsin

Legendary wrestling announcer Jim “J.R.” Ross coined the phrase bowling shoe ugly. How you get there doesn’t matter; the goal is always getting to the pay window. Iowa football did just that this afternoon at Camp Randall with a 15-6 road win against the Wisconsin Badgers. If it’s one thing we know about Iowa, they don’t care about what a win looks like.

On a cloudy afternoon in Madison, Wisconsin, the Hawkeyes threw for 37 yards and still found a way to win. The Hawkeyes scored in a variety of ways. Iowa scored a touchdown, a safety, and a field goal this afternoon.

Nothing about this game made much sense. Wisconsin had more first downs and outgained the Hawkeyes. As always, however, Iowa’s defense was the driver of the win. The Badgers averaged 4.1 yards per play, including 3.7 yards per rush.

All-American Braelon Allen had 87 yards and no touchdowns. Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai was knocked out of the game in the first half, and his backup, Braedyn Locke, did not fare much better. Neither Mordecai nor Locke threw a touchdown. Locke threw a late interception.

Iowa is in first place in the crowded Big Ten West. Here are three takeaways from Saturday afternoon’s game.