Instant Reaction: Inches Away, and Hawkeyes Fall To Badgers

MADISON, Wis. — Yards were at a premium for Iowa’s offense until they weren’t.

Inches were at a premium when the Hawkeyes needed them the most.

Nate Stanley took one of the hardest hits he’s taken all season, and his two-point conversion run was short in the Hawkeyes’ 24-22 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

Stanley’s run came after he had thrown a 75-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Tracy Jr.

The only call was to go for two, and the call was for a QB draw by Stanley, who crashed through the middle and into a pile of Badgers.

Just short.

The defeat basically ended Iowa’s Big Ten West Division title hopes, and not even a fourth-quarter offensive awakening could save the game.

Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor spent the day piling up yards. And when he ripped off a 42-yard run after the Badgers got the ball back, the game belonged to the Badgers.

Taylor rushed for 250 yards, each run taking a little bit of air from the Hawkeyes’ defense.

Iowa never had a sense of urgency until the Hawkeyes were down 21-6 in the third quarter.

Then Stanley started completing passes when the Hawkeyes had no other choice.

Stanley threw a touchdown pass to Nico Ragaini, then Keith Duncan kicked his school-record 22nd field goal of the season, and Iowa was within 21-16 in the fourth quarter.

But the next Wisconsin possession would be all about Taylor. His first carry was for 36 yards, and whatever momentum the Hawkeyes had was gone.

Taylor was churning the yards, but Wisconsin’s receivers did the most damage. Danny Davis ran for one touchdown and turned a reception into a score. Badgers quarterback Jack Coan was efficient, throwing a touchdown pass to Quintez Cephus late in the third quarter for a 21-6 lead, forcing Iowa’s offense into desperation mode.

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