What to make of the Iowa Hawkeyes? They’re perhaps the most Jekyll and Hyde team in college football this year. They lost to Northwestern, but then routed Ohio State one week after narrowly defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
This week they’re taking on a talented, but unchallenged Wisconsin team. I
f the Badgers had any hopes that the Hawkeyes were going to come out and lay an egg, they were dashed instantly.
For the second straight week, the Iowa Hawkeyes defense put points on the board before the offense even took the field.
Iowa Touchdown!!!!
Josh Jackson Pick Six đź”’ pic.twitter.com/OS9dzMwqrh
— CFB 24/7 (@NCAAFNationCFB) November 11, 2017
Wisconsin will still have a lead in the Big Ten West even if they lose to the Hawkeyes. They’ve faced a weak schedule to this point, and haven’t been challenged all year. But a loss could start to unravel their season right at the finish line.
After Iowa, they face Michigan at home, then Minnesota on the road.
Both teams are a step up in competition, and two losses could push the eighth ranked Badgers out of contention altogether. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes see their competition take a turn in a more favorable direction, drawing Purdue and Nebraska to close out the season.
The Big Ten could end up having a two-loss team as its conference champion.