PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Nate Stanley was on his game last Saturday in the 38-14 win over Northern Iowa after a slow start in Iowa’s first two games of the season. The second-year starter connected on 23-of-28 passes (82.1 percent) against the Panthers for 309 yards. In the two previous games, he completed just 52.9 percent of his throws. Stanley’s most accurate passing games the past two years have resulted in big wins over Iowa State, Ohio State and Nebraska. Last year against Wisconsin, Stanley was just 8-of-24 passing for 41 yards and one interception in a 38-14 loss.
–RB Toren Young will be facing his home-state team on Saturday when Iowa plays Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium. Young, a Madison, Wis., native, has started the past two games for Iowa after opening-game starter Ivory Kelly-Martin went down with an ankle injury. The sophomore leads the Hawkeyes with 234 yards on 42 carries. Kelly-Martin may be ready to return this week, but Young should be motivated to have a big day against the Badgers. Young has shared time in the backfield with Mekhi Sargent, who ran for a career-best 72 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries last week against Northern Iowa.
–WR Nick Easley was quiet in Iowa’s first two games this season before setting career highs last week in the 38-14 win over Northern Iowa with 10 receptions for 103 yards, becoming the first Hawkeyes player since 2011 with 10 or more catches in a game. In Saturday’s matchup with Wisconsin, Easley’s production could be critical to help Iowa’s offense against Wisconsin’s run-stuffing defense.
–DE A.J. Espenesa continues to become more of an impact player for Iowa’s defense, which will face its biggest challenge to date on Saturday against Wisconsin and standout running back Jonathan Taylor. Epenesa, a sophomore, is tied for first in the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in sacks with four after three games. He also is tied for the most forced fumbles in FBS with two. Epenesa and defensive line cohorts Anthony Nelson, Sam Brincks, Matt Nelson, Parker Hesse and Chauncey Golston not only will have to deal with Taylor but with Wisconsin veteran quarterback Alex Hornibrook.
SERIES HISTORY: Wisconsin leads Iowa 46-43-2, but the past few years have proved to be a bit quirky. The visiting team has won six of the last seven matchups. Iowa has a 24-19-1 advantage in Iowa City, but Wisconsin has won the last four games in Kinnick Stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “In the case of Wisconsin, they’ve got DNA that has been pretty consistent. … At least from a preparation standpoint, when we look at film, we can say, OK, this is probably what we can expect. Now the challenge is how do you crack the safe? It’s hard because these guys are really good at what they do.” — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz
