Photos: Wisconsin Badgers falter as Iowa Hawkeyes secure Heartland Trophy

State Journal reporter Jim Polzin grades the 25th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers' performance in their 28-7 loss to the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

No. 25 Wisconsin managed just one scoring drive in a 28-7 loss at No. 19 Iowa on Saturday, continuing a troubling trend of subpar offensive showings that have resulted in 20 combined points over the past three games.

A quick look at the 25th-ranked Badgers' 28-7 loss to the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

The UW secondary had difficulty slowing Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who caught seven passes for 140 yards and two scores and may have put up even bigger numbers had he not injured himself while showboating late in the third quarter.

UW redshirt freshman QB Graham Mertz — who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus earlier this year — expressed concern for his teammate, who was a late scratch for Saturday's game.

In what was the only matchup of this weekend of teams ranked in both the AP Top 25 and the College Football Playoff rankings, No. 20 North Carolina put an historic 62-26 beating on the No. 9 Hurricanes.

It is the first time since 2018 that UW isn’t ranked in the poll.

The Badgers (2-3) were assigned a game against border rival Minnesota (3-3) as part of Big Ten Champions Week.

Not playing as many Power Five teams as normal has limited the conference's exposure to losses, but its best teams have proved worthy of all the attention and been one of the best stories of this pandemic-altered season.

“I do believe that in many ways we are partners with (bowl games)," UW coach Paul Chryst said. "They help us and any way we can help them, I think that kind of falls under that’s the right thing to do.”

"We have a one-game championship season against Wisconsin, a major rival," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. "It's so exciting to end the year, a very difficult year."

Badgers' five-star recruit Nolan Rucci discusses what drew him to the Badgers, growing up surrounded by coaches, and playing with his brother Hayden again. 

Five University of Wisconsin football players were named to All-Big Ten Conference teams on Tuesday.

UW's director of player personnel discusses recruiting during a pandemic, landing prospects who’d never set foot on campus, and the program bringing in it's highest-ranked class ever. 

Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State will enter championship weekend in position to make the College Football Playoff with very little drama.

Senior defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, junior linebacker Jack Sanborn and senior defensive back Caesar Williams each earned third-team honors.

UW adds a bevy of talented linebackers, high-ceiling playmakers and more on National Signing Day. 

Seven of the last 10 matchups between the Hawkeyes and Badgers have been decided by one or two possessions.