Colton Joseph Gets Benched As Badgers Get Embarrassed In Another Iowa Game

After a 24-7 win over the No. 16 USC Trojans last weekend, there was optimism that a leaf had turned for the 5-2 Wisconsin Badgers coming into a rivalry game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Unfortunately, it was more of the same, as the Badgers were embarrassed by Iowa for the third straight year, losing 30-0.

Now, in four games against Iowa under Luke Fickell, Wisconsin has been outscored 124-16.

The Badgers started the game on defense and were heading towards a three-and-out, but Matt Jung took a poor angle in coverage on a tight end wheel route and was beaten badly, leading to a wide-open receiver for a huge gain on 3rd & 7.

Iowa saw some success in the run game, mixing in a reverse to their tight end, but the Badgers were able to get back-to-back stops in the run game in the red zone to force a field goal.

Wisconsin’s offense started backwards, as Colton Joseph took a bad sack on 1st & 10 rather than throwing it away or getting the ball out quicker. That essentially killed the drive, as Wisconsin had a short quarterback run on 2nd down and minimal gain on a tight end screen on third, thanks to a high throw from Joseph and a missed block.

Iowa started cooking on the drive after, although it was nearly another three-and-out again, as Wisconsin got Iowa into 3rd & 6. But Matt Jung triggered late to a receiver at the sticks, allowing the first down. From there, Iowa really started cruising, with Hank Brown making some nice plays with both his arms and legs, while the run game started getting some big holes.

This was just a masterful drive from Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester, who schemed a number of open receivers, with Brown finding his tight end up the seam for a touchdown on third and goal.

Wisconsin went backwards again on its next drive with a pair of false starts, resulting in a quick three-and-out, but the Badgers defense got a key stop. After a Jai’mier Scott pass interference, the Badgers were able to get Iowa off the field thanks to a sack by Sebastian Cheeks on 3rd & 10 at the 50-yard line. Iowa still caught a break, though, as Xavier Williams coughed up the ball on a hit from Cooper Catalano, but the Hawkeyes recovered. They ended up punting.

The Badgers really started to move the ball for the first time all game, going 12 plays and 86 yards after starting at their own 12-yard line. Wisconsin had an 18-yard completion to Chris Brooks on 3rd & 13, and a huge 41-yard catch from Jaylon Domingeaux got the Badgers into a goal-to-go situation. But Wisconsin could not punch it in on four straight runs, including a poor 4th-and-1 play call at the 1-yard line that resulted in a loss of two.

To make matters worse, Iowa took the stop and went seven plays for 98 yards and a touchdown, dicing up Wisconsin’s defense in the air again to increase their lead to 17-0 with under 90 seconds left in the half.

The Badgers had no urgency to score on their next drive, going for back-to-back runs, and Colton Joseph fumbled on second down without being touched, giving Iowa an easy opportunity for a field goal to end the half.

Down 20-0, the Badgers started the second half with the ball and moved the ball initially with a 15-yard completion to Jaylon Domingeaux. But Wisconsin stalled there, going for a one-yard run before two incompletions to punt it back.

Then, it was the same story again. The Badgers got Iowa into a 3rd & 7, only this time it was a penalty that extended the drive for Iowa with Jai’mier Scott being flagged for holding. It was poor defense the rest of the drive, as Iowa’s run game moved the Badgers, and they continued to repeat similar concepts all the way to their third touchdown.

Just like that, it was 27-0, and the Hawkeyes were in full control midway through the third. It was another rough series for Colton Joseph, as he had an incompletion to Jaylon Domingeaux before failing to step up in a clean pocket on third down, instead bailing and getting zero yards for another punt.

Iowa started at their own 40-yard line and got two first downs thanks to their run game before settling for a field goal to make it 30-0. Joseph had yet another three-and-out and it wasn’t pretty. He wasn’t close on a 1st-down throw, which wouldn’t have mattered thanks to an ineligible man downfield penalty. Then, on 3rd down, he was way high on a back shoulder to Jaylon Domingeaux.

If there was one player who fought his heart out on Saturday, it was Sebastian Cheeks, who forced an incompletion on what would’ve likely been a huge gain with a big hit on first down. Wisconsin forced a three-and-out and elected to bench Colton Joseph for Ryan Hopkins for the final quarter plus.

Hopkins got three drives and ended up going 8 for 13 for 93 yards and an interception, compared to Joseph’s 92 yards on 5 of 14 passing. Iowa held out for the 30-0 win, extending the win streak to five games, and there are now serious questions for the Badgers, starting at the quarterback position and extending to the coaching staff.

Next up for the Badgers is a home game against Rutgers, as Wisconsin has to look itself in the mirror once again.