Misery loves company. When it comes to this year's rendition of Heartland between Wisconsin and Iowa, a quadruple bypass may be more preferable than the game itself. Iowa has made it a point to take college football offenses back one generation after another under Kirk Ferentz's watch. Under Luke Fickell, the Badgers have devolved into something that can only be described as Don Morton.
While the chances of Wisconsin making the College Football Playoff are about as good as Iowa's, at least one team stands a great chance at winning multiple league games this year. That being said, maybe there is hope for maybe one after all for Wisconsin? After likely dropping to 0-2 in Big Ten play with losses to Maryland and presumably Michigan, Wisconsin now has a better shot at beating Iowa.
This has nothing to do with Fickell's program, or anything we have seen out of his no good, stinking Badgers. It has everything to do with the health of Iowa's starting quarterback Mark Gronowski. The former South Dakota State star had to exit last week's close loss to Indiana with a leg injury. In came former Auburn backup Hank Brown to keep Iowa within one score. The Hoosiers still won it, 20-15.
With Iowa on a bye this week, expect for Ferentz and his staff to keep this incredibly close to the vest.
Wisconsin Badgers may have some life vs. Iowa Hawkeyes in two weeks
Even though this game game will be at Camp Randall, the health of Gronowski is everything. Yes, the Badgers have had to deal with more than their fair share of quarterback injuries with Billy Edwards Jr. getting hurt twice already. That is not to say that Danny O'Neill has a great chance at beating either Gronowski or Brown, but with Iowa rarely putting up points as is, the Badgers might have a shot here.
This is a rivalry game for both teams, so anything and everything can happen. Although one would expect for Iowa to be the road favorite in this game, they have an inert enough of an offense that is more than capable of losing to anyone, including Wisconsin. What is more important to understand is getting a win in Heartland may do wonders for Fickell's job security. A win and he might keep his job.
Conversely, a loss to an Iowa team that could potentially be without Gronowski in two weeks may be yet another nail in Fickell's coaching coffin at Wisconsin. The Iowa game is easily the most gettable one before the Badgers' second bye. They are probably not beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. They are absolutely not beating Ohio State at home or Oregon in Eugene. It may come down to the Iowa game.
For now, Wisconsin has to try to find some level of competency vs. Michigan to even have a chance.