Hawkeyes Dominate in Madison: Iowa Shuts Out Wisconsin 37–0

Coming out of the bye week, the Iowa Hawkeyes looked rested, reloaded, and ready to roll—and it showed. They walked into Madison and completely dismantled a struggling Wisconsin team, cruising to a 37–0 victory that might be Iowa’s most complete performance of the season.

After an up-and-down first half of the year filled with injuries and inconsistency, this one felt different. The Hawkeyes came in with energy, health, and focus—and left with a statement win over a Badgers squad that looked completely overmatched from start to finish.

Defensive Line Dominates Early

Iowa’s defense set the tone immediately, especially the front four. The Hawkeye defensive line was disruptive all night, blowing up plays before they even started and, surprisingly, getting in on the interception party.

The defense snagged two interceptions in the first quarter—both from defensive linemen. One came on a deflection, and the other was an absolutely heads-up play by Aaron Graves, who read a screen pass perfectly, snagged it out of the air, and rumbled it all the way down to the 1-yard line. That play summed up the kind of night Iowa’s defense had—smart, aggressive, and completely in control.

By halftime, the Badgers’ offense had managed just 28 total plays and zero points. Iowa led 23–0 at the break, and the game already felt out of reach.

Offense Efficient and Smart

On the offensive side, Iowa didn’t need fireworks—they just needed to execute, and that’s exactly what they did. Coming out of the bye week, quarterback Mark Gronowski looked refreshed and healthy enough to start. Iowa clearly wanted to protect him from unnecessary hits, limiting his rushing attempts and relying on the running backs to carry the load.

Gronowski finished 17-of-24 for 107 yards and one interception, also adding a rushing touchdown. It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what the game plan called for—efficient, controlled football that kept the offense moving and the defense rested.

Ground Game Gets Rolling

If there was one major takeaway on offense, it was how good the running back room looked. The trio of Kamari Moulton, Xavier Williams, and Nathan McNeil combined for 191 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.

Moulton led the way with 96 yards on 15 carries and a score, showing burst and balance every time he touched the ball. Williams and McNeil complemented him perfectly, helping Iowa control the tempo and grind down Wisconsin’s defense throughout the second half.

Vander Zee Debuts

One of the bright spots coming out of the bye was the long-awaited debut of wide receiver Reece Vander Zee, who hadn’t played yet this season. He made the most of his first action, hauling in 3 catches for 29 yards, adding another weapon to an offense that’s slowly getting healthier and more balanced.

Second Half: Classic Iowa Football

Once Iowa built their lead, it was all about clock control—something Kirk Ferentz’s teams have perfected over the years. The Hawkeyes slowed things down, chewed up time, and leaned on the run game while the defense kept pitching a shutout.

They added 14 more points in the second half to seal the deal and walked out of Madison with a dominant 37–0 win—their first shutout of the season and another reminder of just how good this defense can be when the offense holds up its end.

Hawkeye Defense Still Elite

The final stat line for Wisconsin quarterback Hunter Simmons tells the story: just 82 yards passing on the night. Iowa’s defense smothered everything, from the line of scrimmage to the secondary.

It was a complete team performance—the kind of game where everyone did their job and executed the game plan perfectly.

Final Thoughts

This was Iowa football at its finest. Physical up front, opportunistic on defense, and efficient on offense. Coming off the bye, you could feel this team had recharged both mentally and physically.

If Gronowski continues to get healthier and the run game stays this balanced, the Hawkeyes are going to be a tough out for anyone down the stretch. Wisconsin might be struggling, but a 37–0 shutout on the road in the Big Ten is impressive no matter who you play.

The Hawkeyes are finding their stride—and in mid-October, that’s exactly where you want to be.