Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes is the most maddening rivalry in CFB

We are well into the thick of Big Ten football season and things are as amazing and stupid for the Wisconsin Badgers and the rest of the conference as you’d expect. Northwestern almost to Howard, Ohio State is undefeated and their fans couldn’t be more angry about Ryan Day, the B1G West appears to be worse than even the most pessimistic fan thought, and stupid, dumb Michigan looks like they might be one of the best teams in the country.

However, we have much more important things to worry about this week. Things like bringing a big ol’ bronze bull trophy back to Madison, Wisconsin. Let’s get to it.

Wisconsin Badgers Football (Overall: 4-1; B1G: 2-0)

SP+ rank: Overall 23rd, Offense 38th, Defense 16th, Special Teams 4th

Previous week’s result: (W) vs. Rutgers, 24-13

Rutgers Thoughts: This was a weird game. I don’t think I ever truly felt that Wisconsin was in danger of losing against Rutgers, but I was also never super-confident that the Badgers wers going to win either. I know that makes no sense, I read it over a dozen times, but that’s how I felt watching it!

The Wisconsin Badgers were up 17-0 at halftime and I was still like “well, it probably should be a lot closer than this.” Now, that’s certainly a “me problem” but given how Wisconsin hasn’t really been able to impose their will on any team this season I’m worried that it’ll soon become an “us problem.”

Tanner Mordecai still looked just ok as a passer (but very good as a runner and a “play extender” when things break down) and turnovers were a problem (Braelon Allen’s fumble in particular was brutal). The defense, specifically the rush defense, looked muh improved and Ricardo Hallman’s heady pick-six was electric, so that was nice to see.

Special teams, WHICH WE SHOULD PROBABLY STOP TALKING ABOUT LEST WE SPOOK THEM, was good again too.

Heading into the Stupidest Game of the Season That Will Make Me Unfathomably Angry (vs. Iowa), Wisconsin is 4-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten.

I guess I’m…happy?

— Basketball, no specific team, Fan (@drewhamm5) October 7, 2023

Rutgers is a team that isn’t good, but they are better than they were and the Wisconsin Badgers, at 2-0, are the only undefeated team in the Big Ten West. Can’t complain TOO much about that I suppose.

Up next: Saturday, Oct. 14, vs. Iowa, 3 p.m. CT, FOX

Iowa Thoughts: This is my least favorite game of the season every year. I hate Iowa. I hate the Ferentz family. I hate how they play. I hate how their fans are exactly like ours BUT STILL DIFFERENT BECAUSE I HATE THEM. Nothing about playing Iowa in football is pleasant. It doesn’t matter how inept they look on offense, and they look extremely inept this season, they always manage to score in some stupid-ass way against Wisconsin. It doesn’t matter how good their defense is, and it is always good, they somehow play even better against the Badgers.

Dammit, I am getting all fired up just sitting at my computer!

Anyone who says Iowa doesn’t innovate on offense isn’t watching their attempts to pair an inaccurate quarterback with receivers who don’t catch in a “maybe the two negatives cancel” situation.

— Ivan Bologna (@PV_GIA) October 7, 2023

The Hawkeyes will be bringing one of the most embarrassing offenses in the country to Madison and it will be led by old friend Deacon Hill! The former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback is the new starter now that Cade McNamara is out for the season with a torn knee ligament and he looked…not great last week. He was 6-of-21 passing for 110 yards, one touchdown, and one interception which left him with a robust QBR of 2.0. Due to a solid rushing game, a stout and opportunistic defense, and superior special teams they were able to overcome basically not having a quarterback to get a win.

That is a classic Iowa win and it makes me hate them so much more. GOD, I HATE THEM SO MUCH! Anyways, can’t wait until Saturday when my blood pressure will be at record levels.

Fun Tweet of the Week I Wanted To Include Just Because

“Barney’s movie had heart. But Football in the Groin had a football in the groin.”

His view of getting drilled in the nuts pic.twitter.com/9ibbRqOt4b https://t.co/QZOgwWarIf

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 8, 2023

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