Road to Week 1: Simulating Week 10 of the Badgers 2024 Season in CFB 25

No. 16 Wisconsin (6-2) at Iowa (5-3)

Wisconsin got to the quarterback early and often against the, generating three sacks across the first two Iowa possessions and keeping the Hawkeyes off the scoreboard in the first quarter.

On the other side, Tyler Van Dyke and Co. went to work, riding a 26-yard rush by Nate White into field goal range for a 42-yarder from Nathanial Vakos. Their second drive produced the same result, but this time it was a pair of chunk plays through the air that brought the Badgers into Vakos range for a 37-yarder.

While Wisconsin would take a 6-0 lead into the second quarter, Iowa was mounting a formidable drive when the clock struck zero. As time expired in the first, Cade McNamara found Jacob Gill for a 24-yard catch-and-run to converting on 3rd and long and put the Hawkeyes in plus-territory.

The Badgers dug their heels in following the big play, forcing a pair of incompletions and stopping a check down before the sticks. Iowa would still cut the deficit in half, as Drew Stevens drilled a 45-yard field goal.

After trading short drives that ended with punts, Wisconsin got the ball back at their own 36 yard line and began to march.

Slowly but surely, Chez Mellusi and White pushed the Badgers downfield with consistent runs of 4-to-6 yards. On 2nd and six from the Iowa 35, White was stymied for a three-yard loss. However, Van Dyke found Will Pauling on a crosser for a 16-yard gain to pick up the first and set up a 22-yard touchdown scamper for Mellusi on the very next play.

While Iowa would reach midfield in the closing minutes of the first half, they couldn't put points on the board and Wisconsin entered the break leading 13-3.

Getting the ball to start the second half, the Badgers offense continued to run wild. They'd attempt just three passes during the 10-play drive. Those passing plays would net 30 yards, with the Hawkeyes committing a pair of 15-yard penalties.

The infractions along with a pair of solid runs by Mellusi led to a 48-yard field goal from Vakos, which snuck by the left upright to extend the Badgers' lead to 16-3.

A 31-yard return on the ensuing kickoff set Iowa up in good field position, but the drive never had a chance to start as John Pius stormed into the backfield to take down McNamara for a first-down sack.

Wisconsin couldn't break the game open with another score, punting the ball to Iowa with just under six minutes left in the third period. It didn't take long for the Hawkeyes to enter the redzone, completing an 18-yard pass and logging a 20-yard run immediately after Kaleb Brown's 21-yard punt return.

It would be Williams who'd punch in the Hawkeyes first touchdown of the game, scoring from the one yard line to make it a one-score game.

The Badgers would get four plays off before the end of the quarter, but made the most of the limited opportunity. White rattled off a 20-yard rush on the first play before Tawee Walker logged a pair of three-yard rushes with a 14-yard run in between.

Despite starting the fourth quarter at Iowa's 34 yard line, Wisconsin couldn't find paydirt and settled for a 38-yard field goal from Vakos, leaving the score 19-10.

Iowa answered with a long drive, turning 10 plays into 53 yards before Stevens put a 36-yard field goal through the uprights with less than 10 minutes to go.

After a pair of runs combined for two yards, Wisconsin faced 3rd and 8. Van Dyke delivered on the critical down, finding Rily Nowakowski up the seam for a 28-yard gain. The big completion gave the Badgers a burst of energy, with Mellusi going for a 38-yard run on the next play to make it 1st and goal from the seven.

Once again, Wisconsin couldn't punch it in for six, taking three more points from Vakos to extend the Badger advantage to 22-13.

Needing to get a stop to ensure the victory, the Badgers' defense did just that. Iowa ran the ball on four straight plays, netting two yards and turning the ball over on downs at the 28 yard line. Already ahead two scores, Van Dyke and Walker put the game away, with Van Dyke setting up Walker's nine-yard rushing touchdown with a 14-yard completion to Will Pauling. To add insult to injury -- and make it a three-score lead -- Vinny Anthony rushed in a two-point conversion via an end around.

Van Dyke completed 13 of his 20 passes for 177 yards and no scores while Mellusi rumbled for 124 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Pius and Darryl Peterson generated two sacks each on the defensive side.

FINAL: No. 16 Wisconsin 30, Iowa 13

Stat Leaders after 10 Weeks:

Passing - Van Dyke: 128/190 (67%) for 1,751 yards and 15/1 TD:INT

Rushing - Mellusi: 165 rushes for 786 yards (4.8 ypc) and 5 TD

Receiving - Anthony: 38 receptions for 607 yards and 6 TD

Tackles - Thomas: 77

Sacks - Pius: 8.0

Interceptions - Delancy: 4