Badger of Honor
Fansided

Wisconsin Football: Hawkeyes will be down one of their top defenders

By Christian Borman

Sep 11, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Riley Moss (33) celebrates after a Hawkeyes touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Riley Moss (33) celebrates after a Hawkeyes touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Wisconsin football team will have one less headache to worry about while preparing for their big game against Iowa on Saturday. Cornerback Riley Moss will be out on Saturday after being injured against Penn State a few weeks ago.

This continues to be a big loss for the Hawkeyes. He leads the opportunistic Iowa defense with four interceptions, which is also the second-most in the country. In their last game against Purdue, the Hawkeyes allowed Aiden O’Connell to complete 75% of his passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns. A majority of those yards went to receiver David Bell, who had a career day, catching 11 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown.

The Hawkeyes had a chance to get healthy during a bye week last week, but Moss still won’t be ready to play, according to Iowa head coach, Kirk Ferentz.

Moss has been a big playmaker for the Hawkeyes but has also been a shutdown cornerback. According to PFF, Moss is the second-highest rated cornerback in the Big Ten, behind his teammate, Matt Hankins.

So even with the loss of Moss, the Badgers are still going to be facing a heck of a defender in Matt Hankins, although I’m sure he definitely benefited from Moss being on the field as well.

His replacement will continue to be Terry Roberts, who David Eickholt from Iowa’s 247Sports site, Hawkeye Insider, says is considered a fan favorite, but mostly because of the work he puts in on special teams, not necessarily on the defensive side of the ball.

Not that the Wisconsin passing game was going to be a big problem for Iowa on Saturday, but Moss being out is going to make it a little harder for them. The passing game for the Wisconsin football team is going to need all the help they can get, and it only helps the Badgers that Riley Moss will be absent when the Hawkeyes come to Madison.