Wisconsin Badgers
Iowa
October 29, 2026 | Football
Coming off a ranked victory, Wisconsin heads to Iowa
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 25 Wisconsin football team (5-2, 3-1 B1G) will face Iowa (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday, October 31 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on FOX.
The Badgers head to Iowa after knocking off No. 16 USC at home last Saturday with a historic defensive performance. The game marked Wisconsin’s third consecutive home win against a ranked opponent and earned the Badgers the No. 25 slot in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll – the first time UW has been ranked since week 2 of the 2023 season.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a nail-biting 13-10 loss to Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium last Saturday. Their two earlier conference wins came against No. 18 Michigan and Washington.
IN THE BOOKS
Wisconsin’s defense will be looking to stay hot this weekend after holding the Trojans to -18 rushing yards on Saturday, tying the school record for the fewest number of yards allowed on the ground in a single game. The last time a Badger defense accomplished this feat was the 1951 rivalry game against Iowa, when Wisconsin beat the Hawkeyes 34-7.
KEEP ‘EM COMING
The country is starting to take note of Wisconsin. This week, Sebastian Cheeks was named both Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and the Bednarik Award Player of the Week after posting four solo tackles and five total stops in the weekend matchup, including 2.5 sacks. Mason Posa was also named a Butkus Award Semifinalist for his standout play through Wisconsin’s first seven games.
BATTLE FOR THE HEARTLAND
The Wisconsin-Iowa rivalry dates back more than 100 years – The 2004 addition of the Heartland Trophy only further cemented its storied significance. This weekend’s contest will be Wisconsin’s chance to win back the iconic trophy for the first time since 2021.
SERIES HISTORY
Wisconsin leads Iowa in the all-time series (49-48-2). The last time the two teams met was last year at home, when the Badgers lost 37-0. Their last win against the Hawkeyes was a 27-7 victory at Camp Randall on Oct. 30, 2021.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - OLB SEBASTIAN CHEEKS
For outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks, Wisconsin's victory over No. 16 USC meant more than just another win. Following the Badgers' upset at Camp Randall Stadium, Cheeks reflected on what the moment meant for the program, its fans and the Wisconsin community.
“This is what Wisconsin deserves,” Cheeks said. “Hopefully we get to the point when we beat ranked teams, this is the standard again. This is what we do as a team.”
Cheeks credited the defense's performance as a key part of the victory, emphasizing the expectations the unit has set for itself.
“We definitely feel like we can be one of the best defenses in the nation,” Cheeks said. “I thought tonight we were able to play at our standard, and that helped with the success.”
While the win provided a memorable moment for the Badgers and their fans, Cheeks emphasized the importance of carrying that performance into the remainder of the season.
“I'm happy for this community, happy for these fans, but we just got to keep stacking it.”
