IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa football team thumped Wisconsin, 42-10, on Saturday night on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. The 32-point win is Iowa’s largest margin of victory over Wisconsin since 1968.

Wisconsin struck first with a 38-yard field goal by Nathanial Vakos, taking an early 3-0 lead. However, Iowa’s defense held firm, preventing the Badgers from scoring the rest of the half.

In the second quarter, the Hawkeyes’ offense found its rhythm. Quarterback Brendan Sullivan orchestrated a seven-play, 53-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run. This was followed by a 16-yard touchdown run by Kaleb Johnson, capping a six-play, 80-yard drive. Iowa went into halftime with a 14-3 lead, having successfully turned the tide in their favor.

The second half saw Iowa’s offense explode with efficiency and power. Johnson continued his stellar performance with a 9-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, extending Iowa’s lead to 21-3. Moments later, Sullivan connected with Jacob Gill for a 7-yard touchdown pass.

Wisconsin managed to score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter with a 14-yard pass from Braedyn Locke to CJ Williams. Iowa responded with two more touchdowns: a 2-yard run by Johnson and a 4-yard run by Jaziun Patterson, sealing the game with a final score of 42-10.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

“I thought the staff did a really nice job during the week.  Certainly our players really did a great job with this game.  I’m really proud.  I’m happy to get the win.

It was a complete team win for us.  Special teams didn’t factor in quite to the degree maybe as last week.  The offense, defense, really a lot of good things out there, a lot of good highlights.  Just a lot of good things.

Opportunistic.  Got turnovers two times, turned those into touchdowns.  Always good to see.  The guys played hard, they played tough.  They played for the full 60.  Not much else you can ask.

Again, the defense really played well.  Outside of that first series, they drove it for a field goal.  Came back with the touchdown the second half.  The offense did a nice job running the football.  That was a real team effort there, too, including the receivers.  Obviously the running backs, tight ends, line did a good job.  So good to see there.  Another positive.

After seven penalties in the first half, we did not have any in the second half.  That was a positive.  Came back and had a clean slate.  The first half was a little bit uncharacteristic.

On the humorous side, Nick Jackson, I didn’t quite see the footwork that he used.  I just saw that on a highlight.  It was a good play.  I didn’t know it was that good of a play.  A little different and unique.

Trophy game, rivalry game.  Certainly nice to come out on the right end of that.

The manager toolbox game, I guess our guys won that last night.  They’re on a little bit of a roll.  Happy for them.  They do a great job working during the year.

Lastly, our fans were great tonight.  Great crowd.  The blackout, the whole nine yards.  Really good deal.  Great night for us.  Just really happy for our guys.

We’ll have a big challenge getting ready for next week, but we’ll enjoy this one tonight.”

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Wisconsin got on the board first with a 38-yard field goal that capped a 12-play 59-yard drive that lasted 6:29.
• Iowa capitalized on a Deshaun Lee interception as Brendan Sullivan punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out to end a seven-play 53-yard drive.
• Iowa added to its lead with a 16-yard touchdown rush from Kaleb Johnson with 8:49 left in the first half. The score ended an 80-yard drive that took 2:55 and lasted 6 plays.
• A 9-yard touchdown rush from Kaleb Johnson extended the Hawkeye lead at 6:24 in the third quarter. The 10 play 86-yard drive lasted 5:34.
• Iowa took advantage of another Badger turnover this time an interception by Nick Jackson, scoring the next play with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brendan Sullivan to Jacob Gill.
• The Badgers answered with touchdown toss from Locke to Williams for 14 yards. The 10-play 79-yard drive took 4:59.
• A third touchdown rush by Kaleb Johnson sealed the deal for the Hawkeyes. The eight-play 77-yard drive lasted 4:24.
• Jaziun Patterson added seven more for Iowa with 1:15 to go in the fourth quarter. The 12-play 66-yard drive took 7:13.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• RB Kaleb Johnson recorded his seventh 100-yard game, finishing with 135 yards on 24 attempts with three touchdowns – 16, 9 and 2 yards.
• Johnson has scored at least one touchdown in nine straight games – the longest stretch in school history.
• He has seven games this season with two or more rushing touchdowns. It is believed to be the most in a single season in program history.
• Johnson has three games with three rushing touchdowns and four total games with three TDs (3 rushing, 1 receiving).
• He has 20 touchdowns this season – which tied Shonn Greene’s school record.
• Johnson now has 120 points – tying Greene (2008) and Nate Kaeding’s (2002) single season scoring record.
• It is Johnson’s seventh 100-yard game this season and the 11th of his career. The seven 100-yard games are tied for the seventh-most in a single season, while he is eighth all-time in career 100-yard games.
• Johnson now has 1,279 yards this season, moving into seventh place in the Iowa record books.
• QB Brendan Sullivan completed 7-of-10 passes for 93 yards and one touchdown, while rushing nine times for 58 yards and one touchdown in his first start as a Hawkeye.
• Sullivan’s 58 rushing yards are the most by an Iowa QB since C.J. Beathard had 77 at Iowa State in 2015.
• The last Iowa QB with 58+ rushing yards and 1+ rushing TD in a game was Brad Banks with 65 yards and a touchdown in 2002. (Utah State)
• Sullivan had a 1-yard rushing touchdown run in the second quarter – his fourth of the season and seventh of his career.
• He had a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Gill – his second passing touchdown of the season.
• He has led Iowa in the red zone 13 times this season with 13 scores (12 TDs, 1 FG).
• His 58 rushing yards are the most by a QB making his first start at Iowa under Ferentz.
• WR Jacob Gill had a 7-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter – his second of the season and fourth of his career. It was the first time he and Sullivan had connected on one in their careers together.
• RB Kamari Moulton had a career-long 30-yard run in the first half. He had nine carries for 74 yards in the game.
• RB Jaziun Patterson registered his second touchdown of the season. Patterson had 10 carries for 56 yards.
• TE Zach Ortwerth had three receptions for 66 yards, including a season-long 52-yarder in the fourth quarter.
• The 52-yard reception is Iowa’s longest pass play of the season.
• LB Jay Higgins had a team-high 10 tackles in the game.
• It was Higgins fifth double-digit tackle game of the season and 16th of his career.
• He has led or tied for the team lead in all nine games.
• LB Nick Jackson had eight tackles, giving him 528 for his career.
• Jackson recorded his first career interception in the third quarter in his 69th career game.
• DB Deshaun Lee had his first career interception in the first quarter.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• The Hawkeyes’ rushing attack churned out 329 yards – its seventh 200-yard rushing game of the season.
• Iowa has rushed for 200 yards in consecutive seasons against Wisconsin – a first for the program since 1989 (312 yards) and 1990 (346 yards).
• It was the most rushing yards the Hawkeyes have produced against the Badgers since 1990.
• The Hawkeyes rushed for 329 yards which is the most since it rushed for 351 against Middle Tennessee in 2019.
• Iowa has outscored its opponents 42-0 in the third quarter over the past two games.
• Iowa recorded its 11th and 12th interceptions of the season, surpassing its total from the 2023 season.
• The defense had had two interceptions in consecutive games (three games this season) and it has had at least one interception in every game this season.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to action Nov. 8, traveling to Pasadena, California, for a road game at UCLA.  The game will begin at 8 p.m. (CT) and be televised on FOX.