Nobody expected a masterpiece. When you think of the Heartland Trophy, you usually picture a muddy, 10-7 slog where punting is considered an offensive weapon. But Iowa Wisconsin football 2024 was different. It was loud. It was fast. Honestly, it was a total demolition that felt like a changing of the guard in the Big Ten.
If you weren't at Kinnick Stadium on November 2, it's hard to describe the vibe. It was a night game. The lights were humming. Everyone thought Wisconsin’s defense might finally "Luke Fickell" their way into a win. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw.
The Brendan Sullivan Factor: A New Identity?
For years, watching Iowa’s offense was like watching paint dry in a rainstorm. Then came Brendan Sullivan. He didn't throw for 400 yards—he only had 93 passing yards, actually—but he moved the needle. He ran. He scrambled. He looked... athletic?
Basically, Sullivan gave the Hawkeyes a pulse.
He didn't need to be Patrick Mahomes because he had Kaleb Johnson behind him. But his ability to handle the snap in wet conditions and make the right reads changed the math for the Badgers' defense.
Wisconsin spent the whole first quarter looking like they belonged. They took an early 3-0 lead off a Nathanial Vakos field goal. It was a 12-play drive. It took six minutes. It felt like "classic" Wisconsin. Then the wheels didn't just fall off; the whole axle snapped.
💡 You might also like: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Kaleb Johnson and the Rushing Clinic
Kaleb Johnson is a problem. If you’re a defensive coordinator, he’s the guy who keeps you up at 3:00 AM staring at a whiteboard.
In this 2024 matchup, Johnson gashed the Badgers for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He was hitting holes before the linebackers even filled their gaps.
- 24 carries.
- 5.6 yards per touch.
- Three scores.
By the time Jaziun Patterson punched in the final touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 42-10, the Wisconsin sideline looked completely shell-shocked. You’ve got to remember that Iowa scored 40+ points for the third straight home game. For this program? That’s unheard of.
Where Wisconsin Lost the Script
What happened to the Badgers? Honestly, they looked soft. That’s a word you never used to associate with Wisconsin football. They used to be the "thick, burly clan," as some fans on Reddit jokingly lamented later.
Braedyn Locke struggled. He finished with 137 yards through the air, but the Iowa secondary was suffocating. He threw two interceptions. One of those picks set up a Jacob Gill touchdown that basically ended the competitive portion of the evening.
📖 Related: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
Wisconsin’s run game was equally stagnant. Tawee Walker and Darrion Dupree both managed 52 yards, but they never felt like a threat. When you can’t run the ball against Iowa, you’re essentially asking for a funeral.
The Defensive Masterclass
Phil Parker is a wizard. There is no other explanation. His defense held Wisconsin to just 261 total yards. They forced turnovers. They played "opportunistic football," as Kirk Ferentz later put it.
The most telling stat? Wisconsin went 2-for-15 on third downs. You cannot win games in the Big Ten—especially at Kinnick—if you can't stay on the field.
The 42-Pushup Curse?
Here is a weird detail people keep bringing up. Apparently, the Badgers were doing calisthenics in sets of 42 during the offseason because they were embarrassed by Iowa the year before.
Well, they gave up 42 points.
👉 See also: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. The irony wasn't lost on the Hawkeye faithful, who spent the fourth quarter making sure every Badger fan in the stadium knew the score.
Beyond the Scoreboard: The Aftermath
This game wasn't just a loss for Wisconsin; it was a crisis of identity. Luke Fickell was brought in to modernize the program, to bring that Cincinnati "juice" to Madison. But after getting throttled 42-10 in 2024 (and later suffering a 37-0 shutout in 2025), the seat under him started getting incredibly warm.
Iowa, meanwhile, proved that they don't need a high-flying Air Raid offense to be dangerous. They just need a quarterback who can run a little bit and a running back who can break tackles.
Key Takeaways for the Future
- The Heartland Trophy stays in Iowa City. This rivalry is currently tilted heavily toward the Hawkeyes.
- Kinnick at Night is still a nightmare. Even for experienced teams, that atmosphere is a vacuum that sucks the life out of opponents.
- Iowa's Offensive Line is back. They dominated the trenches, allowing Iowa to rack up 329 rushing yards.
If you're looking to understand the current state of Big Ten football, look no further than this game. It showed that while the conference is expanding and changing, the old-school principles of physical dominance still reign supreme in the Midwest.
For your next steps, you should go back and watch the highlights of Kaleb Johnson's second-quarter touchdown run. Pay close attention to the blocking on the left side of the line—it’s a clinic on how to seal an edge. Also, keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting classes for both teams; Wisconsin is desperate for defensive line depth, while Iowa is looking to find the next Kaleb Johnson to keep this momentum rolling.