| OPPONENT | Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2) at Iowa (5-3, 3-2) |
| DATE | Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 |
| LOCATION | Iowa City, Iowa | Kinnick Stadium (69,250) |
| KICKOFF | 6:34 p.m. (CT) |
| TELEVISION | NBC |
| RADIO | Hawkeye Radio Network |
First and 10
• Iowa has won two straight and three of the last four Heartland Trophy matchups over Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa is 27-10 in its last 37 rivalry-trophy games.
• The Hawkeyes’ next victory will be the 700th in program history. Iowa (699-578-39) will be the 35th school to reach the 700-win milestone. A win will also make Iowa bowl eligible for the 23rd time in the last 24 seasons.
• Saturday’s game is a Blackout and Military Appreciation Game inside Kinnick Stadium.
• SWEET NOVEMBER. Iowa has won 18 of its last 19 games in the month of November and is 18-2 in the month dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• Complementary football… the Hawkeyes scored on offense, defense and special teams in the 40-14 victory over Northwestern – a first for the program since 2021 (at Nebraska).
• Senior Kaden Wetjen had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown — the seventh-longest in program history — in the win over Northwestern to earn Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Oct. 28. Wetjen has had 100+ combined return yards in three straight games — a first by a Hawkeye since at least 1978.
• The Hawkeyes have scored 40 points in back-to-back home contests for the first time since 2018, 40 against two Big Ten opponents for the first time since 2020 and 40 three times in a season for the first time since 2017. Iowa is 30-0 when scoring 21+ points since 2020.
• Iowa scored 28 points in the third quarter against Northwestern — the most in a quarter since scoring 31 at Maryland in 2021.
• Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 201 career victories as Iowa’s head coach — second-most in Big Ten history. He trails only Ohio State’s Woody Hayes (205) for the most overall wins in league history.
• Iowa’s defense surrendered just 163 yards of total offense against the Wildcats — the second game allowing 200 or fewer yards this season. The Hawkeyes did not allow an offensive touchdown in the game.
• RB Kaleb Johnson recorded his sixth 100-yard game of the season in Week 9, finishing with 109 yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns — runs of 26, 41 and 25 yards. He has scored at least one touchdown in eight straight games — the longest streak by a Hawkeye in the Ferentz era.
• Johnson has 16 touchdowns on the ground this season — the most since Mark Weisman in 2013 — and the third-most in program history, trailing only Shonn Greene (20) and Tavian Banks (17).
• Johnson, who has 1,144 yards — the 12th-most in program history — is second in the nation in rushing yards (1,144) and rushing yards per game (143), third in total touchdowns (17), fourth in yards per carry (7.84), rushing touchdowns (16) and scoring (12.75).
• Big play KJ… Johnson has 20 rushes of 20+ yards, six 40+ yard runs and nine touchdown runs of 25+ yards this season. Iowa has 22 20+ yard rushes in 2024.
• Iowa’s rushing attack has churned out 200+ yards in six games — the most for the program since 2015. The team’s 209.1 yards per game ranks first in the Big Ten and 17th nationally.
• Senior LB Jay Higgins is leading the Big Ten in tackles (sixth nationally), making 84 tackles (10.5 per game). He has led the team in tackles in all eight games, including a season-high 14 tackles in Weeks 6, 7 and 8 against Ohio State, Washington and Michigan State. He also has three interceptions (14th nationally) and two forced fumbles.
• TOs — The Hawkeyes have forced 15 turnovers in eight games — 10 interceptions, five fumble recoveries. The 15 takeaways are second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally.
• Iowa’s rushing defense has allowed fewer than 100 yards in five games, including just 24 yards in Week 3 against Troy and 43 yards in Week 9 vs. Northwestern. The unit allows 104.1 rushing yards per game, 17th-fewest in the nation, and it has allowed two touchdowns on the ground.
• Since the start of the 2015 season, Iowa is 76-3 when leading by eight points at any point in a game.
• Since 2009, Iowa has 238 interceptions — tied for the second-most in the nation. The team’s 35 interception returns for a touchdown are the fourth-most in the nation in that span.
By the Numbers
16
RB Kaleb Johnson has 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, which rank third in program history.
37
Junior QB Brendan Sullivan led Iowa to 37 points in his first extended look under center. He completed 9-of-14 attempts for 80 yards and had 40 rushing yards with a touchdown against Northwestern -- his former school.
85
Senior Kaden Wetjen had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against Northwestern -- the seventh-longest in program history.
4
Iowa recorded a safety in the win over Northwestern -- the fourth straight season for the defense to accomplish the feat.
18
Iowa has won 18 of its last 19 games played in the month of November.
23
A win over Wisconsin will make Iowa bowl eligible for the 23rd time in the last 24 seasons.
SULLY STEPS IN
Junior Brendan Sullivan saw his first extended action as Iowa’s QB1 in the Week 9 victory over Northwestern. The Michigan native entered the game in the second quarter with the Hawkeyes trailing 7-3 and he led Iowa to 37 straight points. Sullivan completed 9-of-14 passes for 80 yards and had eight rushes for 40 yards and a 6-yard touchdown run.
• He guided the Hawkeyes on a five-play, 52-yard touchdown drive in the two-minute offense at the end of the first half.
• Sullivan was Iowa’s red zone quarterback, rolling out the package in Week 3 against Troy. The Hawkeyes are 8-for-8 in red zone scoring opportunities (7 TDs, 1 FG) with Sullivan under center.
1K & COUNTING
Junior Kaleb Johnson surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in Week 8 at Michigan State, becoming the 22nd Hawkeye to reach the milestone. The Ohio native, who currently has 1,144 yards on 146 attempts, is the first Hawkeye since 2021 to rush for 1,000 yards.
• Johnson is on pace to finish the regular season with 1,716 rushing yards and should Iowa qualify for a bowl game, he would be on pace for 1,859 yards, breaking Shonn Greene’s single season school record (1,850).
• Head coach Kirk Ferentz has coached 12 1,000-yard rushers in his tenure.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
Saturday’s game is the 23rd night game inside Kinnick Stadium. Iowa is 15-7 under the lights, including winning 27-0 over Nevada in 2022 and 26-16 over Michigan State in 2023.
• The Hawkeyes played Wisconsin in a night game in 2018, which ended with a 28-17 Badger victory.
Badgers vs. Hawkeyes
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday will be the 98th meeting between Iowa and Wisconsin in a series that began in 1894. Through 97 games, Wisconsin leads 49-46-2.
- Iowa is 26-20-1 all-time in games played in Iowa City, including a 24-10 victory in 2022.
- The Hawkeyes have won three of the last four meetings — all by two scores or more.
SERIES RESULTS
10/29/1894 L, 0-44 (A)
11/3/1906 L, 4-18 (A)
11/2/1907 L, 5-6 (H)
11/23/1911 L, 0-12 (A)
11/4/1912 L, 10-28 (H)
11/27/1917 L, 0-20 (A)
11/15/1924 W, 21-7 (A)
11/7/1925 L, 0-6 (H)
11/13/1926 L, 10-20 (A)
11/12/1927 W, 16-0 (A)
11/17/1928 L, 0-13 (H)
10/26/1929 W, 14-0 (A)
10/8/1932 L, 0-34 (A)
10/21/1933 W, 26-7 (H)
10/16/1937 L, 6-13 (A)
10/8/1938 L, 13-31 (H)
10/28/1939 W, 19-13 (A)
10/12/1940 W, 30-12 (H)
10/18/1941 L, 0-23 (A)
10/7/1942 W, 6-0 (H)
10/2/1943 L, 5-7 (H)
11/11/1944 L, 7-26 (A)
11/3/1945 L, 7-27 (H)
11/9/1946 W, 21-7 (#15) (A)
11/8/1947 L, 14-46 (#19) (A)
10/30/1948 W, 19-13 (H)
11/12/1949 L, 13-35 (A)
10/14/1950 L, 0-14 (#15) (H)
11/17/1951 L, 7-34 (#8) (A)
10/18/1952 L, 13-42 (#12) (H)
10/31/1953 L, 6-10 (A)
10/30/1954 W, 13-7 (#8) (H)
10/1/1955 L, 14-37 (#17) (A)
10/13/1956 W, 13-7 (H)
10/19/1957 W, 21-7 (#13) (H)
10/18/1958 W, 20-9 (#4) (A)
10/17/1959 L, 16-25 (A)
10/15/1960 W, 28-21 (#12) (H)
10/21/1961 W, 47-15 (H)
10/20/1962 L, 14-42 (#10) (A)
10/19/1963 L, 7-10 (#2) (H)
10/17/1964 L, 21-31 (A)
10/2/1965 L, 13-16 (A)
10/1/1966 L, 0-7 (H)
10/21/1967 T, 21-21 (A)
10/19/1968 W, 41-0 (H)
10/11/1969 L, 17-23 (A)
10/10/1970 W, 24-14 (H)
10/30/1971 W, 20-16 (H)
11/4/1972 L, 14-16 (A)
11/10/1973 L, 7-35 (A)
11/9/1974 L, 15-28 (H)
11/8/1975 W, 45-28 (H)
11/6/1976 L, 21-38 (A)
11/12/1977 W, 24-8 (A)
11/18/1978 W, 38-24 (H)
10/27/1979 W, 24-13 (A)
11/1/1980 W, 22-13 (H)
11/14/1981 W, 17-7 (A)
11/13/1982 W, 28-14 (H)
11/5/1983 W, 34-14 (A)
11/3/1984 T, 10-10 (H)
10/12/1985 W, 23-13 (A)
10/11/1986 W, 17-6 (H)
10/10/1987 W, 31-10 (A)
10/8/1988 W, 31-6 (H)
10/14/1989 W, 31-24 (A)
10/13/1990 W, 30-10 (H)
10/12/1991 W, 10-6 (A)
10/10/1992 W, 23-22 (H)
1/18/1995 W, 33-20 (A)
11/16/1996 W, 31-0 (H)
11/8/1997 L, 10-13 (A)
10/24/1998 L, 0-31 (#9) (H)
11/13/1999 L, 3-41 (#9) (A)
10/28/2000 L, 7-13 (H)
11/3/2001 L, 28-34 (A)
11/2/2002 W, 20-3 (H)
11/22/2003 W, 27-21 (A)
11/20/2004 W, 30-7 (#9) (H)
11/12/2005 W, 20-10 (#19) (A)
11/11/2006 L, 21-24 (#16) (H)
9/22/2007 L, 13-17 (#9) (A)
10/18/2008 W, 38-16 (H)
10/17/2009 W, 20-10 (A)
10/23/2010 L, 30-31 (#10) (H)
11/2/2013 L, 9-28 (#22) (H)
11/22/2014 L, 24-26 (#14) (H)
10/3/2015 W, 10-6 (#19) (A)
10/22/2016 L, 9-17 (#10) (A)
11/11/2017 L, 14-38 (#6) (A)
9/22/2018 L, 17-28 (#18) (H)
11/9/2019 L, 22-24 (#16) (A)
12/12/2020 W, 28-7 (H)
10/30/2021 L, 7-27 (A)
11/12/2022 W, 24-10 (H)
10/14/2023 W, 15-6 (A)
THE HEARTLAND TROPHY
Inaugurated in 2004, the Heartland Trophy goes to the winner of the football battle between Iowa and Wisconsin. The trophy was designed and crafted by artist and former Iowa football player Frank Strub.
• Wisconsin leads the series, 7-6, since the inception of the Heartland Trophy in 2004. The trophy has resided in Iowa City since 2022.
RHYS vs. TORY?
Freshman Rhys Dakin is making a name for himself in the same light as former Hawkeye punter Tory Taylor. In his first season, Dakin has 42 punts for a 44.8-yard average with 20 punts inside the 20 and 11 of 50+ yards. During Taylor’s first season in Iowa City in COVID-shortened 2020, Taylor had 40 punts for a 44.1-yard average with 18 inside the 20 and nine punts of 50+.
