Mitch Sherman, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Wisconsin secures Big Ten West, dominates in statement win over Iowa

MADISON, Wis. -- As Saturday approached at Wisconsin and the injury situation progressed from bad to worse for the Badgers, coaches and players grew only more determined to make a statement against 20th-ranked Iowa.

"We don't skip a beat," outside linebacker Garret Dooley said. "No matter who's in there, the same thing is expected."

Forget the same thing. This was even better.

No. 8 Wisconsin manhandled the Hawkeyes in a defensively spectacular 38-14 victory at Camp Randall Stadium, issuing a statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee and nonbelievers who doubt the Badgers' worthiness among contenders for the coveted top four spots in the weekly rankings.

Could Wisconsin (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) finish unbeaten and still miss the playoff? From the way things looked against the first ranked opponent on the schedule, the Badgers seemingly heard those questions.

In snapping a streak of six straight victories by the visiting team in this rivalry, Wisconsin started a season with 10 consecutive victories for the first time in school history and clinched at least a share of the Big Ten West, punching its ticket to the Dec. 2 conference-title game in Indianapolis.

Wisconsin overcame four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions thrown by Alex Hornibrook that Iowa cornerback Joshua Jackson returned for touchdowns.

Iowa (6-4, 3-4) ran just two plays in Wisconsin territory and gained 66 yards, including 25 rushing yards on 26 attempts a week after throttling Ohio State 55-24 in Iowa City.

After Jackson's first pick-six of 43 yards on the opening drive, Iowa gained 20 yards in the first half on 23 plays. Its yardage total dipped to 14 early in the third quarter before Jackson struck again with a 52-yard return that cut the Badgers' lead to 17-14.

Momentum swung back to Wisconsin -- courtesy of the defense, of course -- as linebacker Leon Jacobs scooped a fumble off the turf after a botched shotgun snap to QB Nathan Stanley. Jacobs raced 21 yards for a touchdown that provided breathing room.

And late in the third quarter, linebacker T.J. Edwards intercepted Stanley to thwart the Hawkeyes' best drive, which gained 33 yards. Another Stanley fumble recovered by Jacobs ignited the Wisconsin celebration with nearly 11 minutes to play.

"Defenses," Wisconsin coordinator Jim Leonhard said four days before the game, “don’t get weeks off.”

The Badgers apparently didn't take a minute -- let alone a day -- to recuperate after a leg injury removed linebacker Chris Orr from the lineup ahead of Saturday. Safety and leading tackler D'Cota Dixon also watched from the sideline after testing an injured hamstring in pregame drills.

Ryan Connelly started in place of Orr. Joe Ferguson played for Dixon.

And with top receiver Quintez Cephus knocked out for the season last week at Indiana, freshman Kendric Pryor scored the first rushing and receiving touchdowns of his career in the first half.

Next man up.

The Badgers didn't skip a beat. Instead, they improved, paced by 157 yards on the ground by star freshman Jonathan Taylor.

It's onward to face Michigan next week in Madison as the quest continues to silence the playoff doubters.

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