Penalties were killer in this game right from the jump. The Badgers committed three false starts on the opening drive and never recovered. After being one of the least penalized teams in college football entering the contest, Wisconsin just could not stop shooting themselves in the foot and ended up getting called flagged eight times.
For the sixth straight game, quarterback Braedyn Locke threw an interception. Both interceptions were as ugly as the Penn State pick-six where Locke just never saw the defender. It continues a distressing trend, and his ball security concerns will continue to draw the ire of fans.
The defense just had no answer for running back Kaleb Johnson and the Iowa run game. He gashed them all night on his way to 135 yards and three touchdowns. Iowa finished with 329 yards on the ground as a team and 422 yards total. Part of the issue was Wisconsin's odd insistence on staying in nickel defense with just two down lineman, calling into question their entire plan for a team famous for running the ball.
On the other side of the ball, the offense couldn't get anything going until way too late. Bogged down by penalties, turnovers and negative plays, Wisconsin tied their lowest scoring output of the season with just 10 points.
Overall it was the same team, different game. Many of the same issues the Badgers have had all season continued against Iowa. Wisconsin couldn't win the turnover battle, led a lackluster effort on offense and defense and seemed outcoached at times. There's a lot that needs to change over the bye before No.1 Oregon comes to town.