Iowa is in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West, thanks to its defense and special teams (Tory Taylor, in particular). We discuss our takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ 15-6 win over Wisconsin on The Final Score podcast.
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Tory Taylor helps Hawkeyes kick the stuffing out of Wisconsin
Iowa's punter was fantastic yet again, and the offense-challenged Hawkeyes welcomed every one of his boomers Saturday in a 15-6 win at Wisconsin.
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Hawkeyes RB Leshon Williams told us the OL opened a big enough hole on the 82-yd TD that "one of y’all could’ve run through it."
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Iowa LB Jay Higgins on Sebastian Castro: "He's going to be on every tackle, wherever the ball's at."
"He just makes plays. He's a playmaker. I think that's why Coach Parker loves him. I might have to keep my job so they don't put him at Mike backer."
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Iowa football is short another offensive weapon because of an injury. Kirk Ferentz said Erick All’s status is “not good,” but he is expected to have more details to share “early next week.”
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Kirk Ferentz said Erick All’s injury status is “not good.” Will know more early next week.
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Game Report: Turning point, numbers and notes
Taking a closer look at the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 15-6 win Saturday over the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium:
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The postgame playlist ...
The #Hawkeyes are playing Jump Around in the locker room. pic.twitter.com/P5nzBB6Aee
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) October 14, 2023 -
You have to appreciate the way Iowa wins football games in this day and age.
Is it sustainable? Probably not. But who cares right now?
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Iowa runs to front of Big Ten West with win over Wisconsin
The Hawkeyes picked up 200 rushing yards en route to a 15-6 win over Wisconsin that gives Iowa an early edge in the race for the Big Ten West title.
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Final: Iowa 15, Wisconsin 6
Iowa (6-1, 3-1) was a 10-point underdog, but now is the frontrunner in the Big Ten West.
Wisconsin is now 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
The Bull belongs to @HawkeyeFootball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tY9WtGC9As
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2023 -
Interception seals it
Sebastian Castro's big day ends with an interception with 38 seconds remaining.
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Drew Stevens makes it a two-score game
Drew Stevens kicked a 40-yard field goal to give Iowa what looks like an insurmountable 9-point lead.
Deacon Hill dropped the snap on third-and-7, but fell on the ball before Wisconsin could get to it.
It was a five-play, 17-yard drive, with Leshon Williams running for 15 on the first play.
Iowa 15, Wisconsin 6 (1:55 4th)
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Wisconsin fumbles again, and this time Iowa recovers
On the very next play after the fourth-down conversion, Braedyn Locke stepped up in the pocket and was hit hard by Aaron Graves. Jay Higgins recovered the fumble and the Hawkeyes take over at the Wisconsin 39.
Iowa 12, Wisconsin 6 (3:01 4th)
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Wisconsin keeps driving after spot is reviewed
Wisconsin elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 with less than four minutes left and put the ball in Braelon Allen's hands.
Allen was close to the first-down marker when Sebastian Castro popped the ball free. It was ruled that the Badgers recovered the fumble but they can't advance the ball that way on fourth down.
After video review, officials determined Allen had enough for a first down when he lost the ball.
So Wisconsin has it at its 39 with 3:18 remaining.
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Iowa just ran on third-and-11. Because it was the only sane thing to do.
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Iowa keeps it on the ground, and on Tory Taylor's foot
Leshon Williams' streak of 10 consecutive runs ended with a first-down carry of 5 yards after starting the drive with an 8-yard gain.
Kaleb Johnson picked up 2 yards on the next play, but lost 3 thanks to Rodas Johnson. Williams was held to 1 yard on third-and-11.
Deacon Hill hasn't thrown a pass since early in the third quarter.
Tory Taylor's 40-yard punt was fair caught at the Wisconsin 13.
Iowa 12, Wisconsin 6 (5:29 4th)
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False start hurts Badgers
Wisconsin goes three-and-out, with a third-and-2 turning into third-and-7 after a false start penalty. Jay Higgins pressured Braedyn Locke and forced an incompletion. Wisconsin was flagged for holding on the play anyway.
Iowa takes over at its 34.
Iowa 12, Wisconsin 6 (8:34 4th)
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Iowa has eight 3-and-outs and is winning. The Big Ten West is where any crazy dream can come true.
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Iowa hands the ball to Tory Taylor
Three straight Leshon Williams runs got the Hawkeyes to midfield.
Tory Taylor's 47-yard punt was fair caught at the Wisconsin 7, but Deavin Hilson apparently didn't see it and hit Chimere Dike after the catch. So the Badgers start this drive at their 22 instead.
Iowa 12, Wisconsin 6 (10:06 4th)
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Safety for Iowa
Yahya Black and Sebastian Castro teamed up to sack Braedyn Locke on third-and-9 and the Wisconsin QB dropped the ball in the end zone.
Lineman Riley Mahlman fell on it for a safety.
Kaden Wetjen returned the free kick 29 yards to the Iowa 43.
Iowa 12, Wisconsin 6 (12:15 4th)
SAFETY! 😤 Don't mess with the @HawkeyeFootball defense! pic.twitter.com/0BUicqYirZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2023 -
Drew Stevens gives Iowa a 4-point lead
A rare first down for the Hawkeyes, thanks to a 10-yard Leshon Williams run that followed a 9-yard gain. Three more Williams runs brought Iowa within a yard of another first down.
Instead, Drew Stevens kicked a 48-yard field goal.
A six-play, 28-yard drive for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa 10, Wisconsin 6 (13:08 4th)
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Wisconsin goes three-and-out
After two scoring drives to start the second half, Joe Evans' helmet helped prevent the Badgers from gaining a first down on this drive.
Braedyn Locke's third-and-2 pass bounced off the leaping Evans' helmet and was nearly picked off by Xavier Nwankpa.
Iowa gets it at its 41. (0:52 3rd)
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Five of Tory Taylor's eight punts have gone 50-plus yards. Last one went 60 (!) yards.
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Almost an interception for Wisconsin
It could have been even worse than another three-and-out: Deacon Hill's third-and-8 pass was tipped by C.J. Goetz and nearly intercepted.
Instead, six consecutive three-and-outs for the Hawkeyes.
Obviously that not being a pick was huge, but this helps explain it: Tory Taylor's ensuing punt went 60 yards and was dropped by Chimere Dike, who recovered at the Wisconsin 6.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 6 (2:15 3rd)
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A 52-yard field goal for Wisconsin
Nathaniel Vakos' 52-yard field goal makes this a one-point game.
It was a 10-play, 60-yard drive for the Badgers.
Braelon Allen ran four times for 16 yards and caught a 12-yard pass.
Delay of game on third-and-7 backed Wisconsin up.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 6 (3:58 3rd)
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The Hawkeyes have run the ball on about 74% of plays so far.
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I don't know how those footballs stay inflated once Tory Taylor punts them. I mean, those are big-bam-booms, my babies.
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Iowa's first drive of the half: Three-and-out
That's five straight Hawkeye three-and-outs.
Deacon Hill tried to go deep on the first play but couldn't connect. His third-and-7 pass to Nico Ragaini was incomplete as well.
Tory Taylor's punt was 62 yards and Wisconsin was flagged for a block in the back. The Badgers start at their 6.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 3 (8:53 3rd)
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Wisconsin gets on the board with a field goal
Nathaniel Vakos kicked a 36-yard field goal for Wisconsin's first points of the game.
The Badgers' opening drive of the second half 13 plays, 60 yards.
Backup QB Braedyn Locke found some success with four straight completions, but he had two incomplete passes and a delay of game penalty in the red zone.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 3 (9:55 3rd)
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TE Erick All is officially OUT for the rest of the game, per Iowa sports information.
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Tanner Mordecai out
Fox reports that Wisconsin starting QB Tanner Mordecai will miss the rest of the game with a hand injury.
He was 12-for-20 passing for 106 yards.
Badgers start the second half with the ball and Braedyn Locke in at quarterback.
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Half: Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0
More punts (12) than points in Madison so far.
Both teams battling injuries, including Iowa TE Erick All and Wisconsin QB Tanner Mordecai.
Leshon Williams' 82-yard TD has been the difference so far.
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Iowa pressured backup QB Braedyn Locke on second down and he threw it away on the final play of the half.
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One more chance for Wisconsin in the first half
Three straight Iowa runs go nowhere and Wisconsin used a pair of timeouts to get the ball back.
The Badgers have it at their 43 after Tory Taylor's 47-yard punt and Chimere Dike's 14-yard return.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (0:10 2nd)
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Tanner Mordecai hurts his hand
Wisconsin's starting QB escaped pressure on the first play of the drive and hit his hand on Jay Higgins' helmet. He signaled to the Wisconsin sideline after the next play and came out of the game.
Braedyn Locke came in and threw incomplete on third-and-3.
Iowa takes over at its 8.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (1:10 2nd)
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Third straight Iowa three-and-out
The Hawkeyes had thrown one pass in the second quarter (Deacon Hill was sacked twice) before Deacon Hill's third-and-8 attempt here was batted down at the line by Darryl Peterson.
Tory Taylor's punt from the end zone went 49 yards. Wisconsin has it at its 44.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (2:07 2nd)
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Punt tracker:
Wisconsin: 5 punts, 42.4 yards per punt
Iowa: 4 punts, 51.3 yards per punt
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Castro helps derail another Wisconsin drive
After two straight Wisconsin first downs, the Badgers stalled.
Sebastian Castro is having a day. His second TFL pushed the Badgers to a third-and-11, and Tanner Mordecai's pass was broken up by Jermari Harris.
Iowa's ball at its 12.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (3:00 2nd)
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Braelon Allen is back. His first run is an 11-yard gain.
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Wisconsin picks up its first first down since the opening drive on a 15-yard Tanner Mordecai pass to Chimere Dike.
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Hill sacked on third down
Iowa QB Deacon Hill was sacked on third-and-manageable for the second time today.
This time it was third-and-5 from the Iowa 39, a 7-yard loss that results in a three-and-out. Jordan Turner made the stop for Wisconsin.
Tory Taylor's punt went 54 yards and the Badgers take over at their 20.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (4:54 2nd)
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Fourth straight Wisconsin three-and-out
After a near Cooper DeJean interception, Tanner Mordecai found Will Pauling for a 7-yard gain, but that was short of the first down.
The Badgers punted on fourth-and-1 from their 21 and Iowa takes over at its 34.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (6:41 2nd)
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Tory Taylor is showing why he was a preseason All-American.
53-yard punt to the UW 19. Had a 59-yarder earlier to the UW29, and a 39-yarder to the UW 4.
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Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen is questionable to return with an upper-body injury. He has three carries for 9 yards today.
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Nothing doing for Iowa on this drive
Iowa, naturally, stayed on the ground on the possession after Leshon Williams' 82-yard run, but wasn't nearly as successful.
There was a false start penalty and Williams tripping on third-and-13 for a 1-yard loss.
The Badgers have it back at their 19.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (7:56 2nd)
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Third straight Wisconsin three-and-out
The Badgers ran once on this drive and Tanner Mordecai completed a pair of passes, but none down the field.
Sebastian Castro made a solid open-field tackle on third-and-4 to keep Jackson Acker's catch to a 1-yard gain.
Wisconsin was flagged for kick-catch interference and Iowa will take over at its 32.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (10:15 2nd)
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Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen is jogging to the locker room.
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Leshon Williams' career-long run had been 53 yards. It's Iowa's fourth rush of 50-plus yards this season.
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Touchdown Iowa: Leshon Williams to the house
Another explosive run for the Hawkeyes.
This week, it's Leshon Williams who broke free for an 82-yard touchdown run.
That's a three-play, 90-yard drive.
Iowa 7, Wisconsin 0 (11:49 2nd)
TO THE HOUSE FOR 6! 😱 🙌 Do your thing, @LboogieG!
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2023
cc: @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/5YiqolIR1T -
Wisconsin just ran three plays in 15 seconds, gained nothing, heard some boos.
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Second straight three-and-out for Wisconsin
Sebastian Castro blew up Wisconsin's first-down pass with a big hit. Both of Tanner Mordecai's second- and third-down pass attempts toward the sideline fell incomplete.
Iowa gets it back at its 10 after another holding penalty on the return.
Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0 (13:09 2nd)
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Hill sacked on third down
Alexander Smith sacked Deacon Hill for a loss of 10 on third-and-4 from the Iowa 22.
Tory Taylor helped out the Hawkeyes with a 59-yard punt to the Wisconsin 29.
Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0 (13:32 2nd)
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End 1st: Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0
Iowa's first two drives both reached UW territory, but no points to show for it. The big concern for Iowa obviously is Erick All's status.
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Wisconsin goes three-and-out
Three straight pass attempts for the Badgers might take some getting used to. The first two were incomplete before Tanner Mordecai found Bryson Green for 7 yards.
Iowa was flagged for holding on the punt return and starts at its 16.
Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0 (0:30 1st)
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Iowa's offense gets even thinner
Deacon Hill completed a pair of passes to Erick All for a total of 19 yards before an injury forced All to be carted to the locker room.
The receivers finally got involved with Nico Ragaini converting a third-and-5 with a 6-yard catch and Seth Anderson running for 16 yards.
Iowa tried to hand it to Ragaini on fourth-and-3 from the Wisconsin 32, but the Badgers were all over it, forcing a turnover on downs with a 5-yard loss.
Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0 (1:33 1st)
BIG BADGER STOP! 💪 💥 @BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/t7M7MpeC4P
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2023 -
Iowa TE Erick All is being carted to the locker room.
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True freshman Zach Ortwerth was lined up at TE next to Stilianos before the timeout.
Hawkeyes' TE depth getting tested with All injured.
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Iowa TE Erick All is down with an injury.
Helped off the field goes into the medical tent.
Hawkeyes' offensive injuries adding up quickly this season.
Iowa TE Erick All needed some help up after this tackle pic.twitter.com/VTPLSIhyzK
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2023 -
Cooper DeJean forces turnover on downs
Wisconsin's new offense was on display on its opening drive, but the Iowa defense eventually came through.
Tanner Mordecai completed a 12-yard pass to Will Pauling to get the Badgers out of their own end zone, then Bryson Green made a diving catch down the sideline for a 42-yard gain on the next play.
Green hauled in a low pass to convert fourth-and-4 with a 12-yard gain. Later, on fourth-and-1 from the 12, Cooper DeJean brought down Braelon Allen for a 2-yard loss and turnover on downs.
Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0 (6:29 1st)
GOT 'EM! 😤 @cdejean23 delivers the 4th down stop for @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/WCBLgVH8AR
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 14, 2023 -
Wisconsin keeps the offense on the field on fourth-and-4 on the Iowa 34, and it pays off with a 12-yard completion. Call stands.
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The running game works early, the pass not so much
Iowa started the game with seven straight runs, with Kaleb Johnson and Leshon Williams picking up 32 yards and a pair of first downs. But Deacon Hill's third-and-3 screen-pass attempt was batted down and Iowa punted from the Wisconsin 43.
The Hawkeyes downed Tory Taylor's punt at the 4.
Iowa 0, Wisconsin 0 (11:07 1st)
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32 yards so far for the Hawkeyes offense on seven running plays.
Deacon Hill has not attempted a pass yet.
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Official game-time weather: 54 degrees, 17 mph wind, cloudy.
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Hawkeyes win the toss and choose to receive.
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Iowa DE Joe Evans and RB Jaziun Patterson (both questionable) are in uniform and participating in the later round of warmups.
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Iowa WR Kaleb Brown, who missed last week's game because of personal reasons, is participating in warmups.
RB Jaziun Patterson and DE Joe Evans (questionable) also are participating in early warmups.
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Iowa pregame availability report
Iowa defensive end Joe Evans and running back Jaziun Patterson are listed as questionable ahead of the Hawkeyes’ game at Wisconsin on Saturday.
Iowa also will be without two of its backup cornerbacks — T.J. Hall and Deshaun Lee.
Offensive lineman Nick DeJong, who missed Iowa’s game against Purdue last week, does not have an injury designation.
Here is the full list of Iowa players who are either out or questionable.
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Iowa-Wisconsin storylines
3 keys for Iowa: Slowing down Braelon Allen, building an early lead and receivers becoming an outside threat. Here’s the analysis from John Steppe.
Gameday feature: After a quiet arrival at Iowa, Cooper DeJean is now showing everyone that he is a “rare player.”
Hlas column: Iowa, Tight End U? It’s like the World’s Largest Truck Stop of college football.
Wisconsin perspective: Versatility has made Hunter Wohler a major “dollar” player. Here are five Badgers to watch.
Fun Facts: The last three games in this series were decided by 14 or more points. Here are 20 things to know about Iowa-Wisconsin.
Data analysis: Is Iowa football’s 2023 passing futility sustainable?
Injury report: Nick DeJong and Addison Ostrenga ‘have a chance’ to play Saturday.
Returning to Wisconsin: Iowa quarterback and ex-Badger Deacon Hill returns to a ‘familiar’ place in this high-stakes rivalry game.
Iowa connection: Wisconsin will have an important Cornell College presence Saturday.
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Line: Wisconsin -10
Mike Hlas: Wisconsin 10, Iowa 9
John Steppe: Wisconsin 16, Iowa 13
Jeff Johnson: Wisconsin 21, Iowa 10
Rob Gray: Wisconsin 27, Iowa 17
Beth Malicki: Wisconsin 27, Iowa 13
Todd Brommelkamp: Wisconsin 21, Iowa 6
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How to watch Iowa at Wisconsin
Kickoff time: 3:05 p.m. (CT)
TV channel: Fox
Live stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app
TV announcers: Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Allison Williams (sideline)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network | The Varsity Network app | SiriusXM channel 198 or 96
