The Iowa Hawkeyes are on the road in the Big Ten to take on Wisconsin. This will be the final home game for retiring Badger coach Barry Alvarez and the Hawkeyes will enter a hostile environment.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says it wasn’t that way in the late 1980s, but he says Alvarez has turned it around. The Wisconsin defense has given up some big numbers this season but Ferentz says that unit has gotten better. He says they’re still committed to stopping the run, which he says makes it tough.
Iowa State hosts Colorado and plenty is on the line for both teams.
I-S-U coach Dan McCarney says it’s the only two bowl-qualified teams in the North Division playing. Colorado knows it can win the division outright, and McCarney says they’ll be ready.
The Cyclones have won three straight games and a rejuvenated running game is a major reasons. That ground game will be severely tested by the Buffalo defense. McCarney says Colorado has been “just phenomenal” and “outstanding” and he says their defensive speed is as good as it has been in a long time.