The Iowa Hawkeyes host Wisconsin in Kinnick Stadium and the Hawkeyes need a victory to keep their division title hopes alive. Not only do the Badgers have the Big Ten’s best running game they also have the top ranked defense and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeyes must avoid third and long. “The challenge is to try and get into manageable third downs, and we didn’t do a good job last year,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says.

Running back Melvin Gordon gets most of the attention but Ferentz says Badger quarterback Stave gets overlooked as he has led them to wins. He says Wisconsin’s quarterbacks don’t always get the spotlight, but they do a good job of running the offense. Iowa is 7-3.

Iowa State looks for its first Big 12 win at home against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are 1-6 in league play and coach Cliff Kingsbury must decide on a starting quarterback between Davis Webb and Pat Mahomes. ISU coach Paul Rhoads says Texas Tech will throw the ball and he feels the Cyclones will play hard to finish out the season.

Rhoads says the trenches will decide the outcome as the run game and run defense will be important to both teams.

Iowa State is 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the Big 12.