The Wisconsin Badgers are using a notable result from the 2024 season as motivation this spring as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 campaign.
That game: Wisconsin’s 42-10 road loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Nov. 2. The result dropped the Badgers to 5-5 at the time, plus it became a key part of the team’s larger four-game losing streak to close the season. It was also Wisconsin’s worst to rival Iowa since 1968, with the Hawkeyes’ 42 points the most the Badgers have allowed in the series since 1975. Furthermore, it headlined Wisconsin’s 0-3 record in rivalry games in 2024, those losses coming by a combined margin of 110-42 (42-10 to Iowa, 44-25 to Nebraska, 24-7 to Minnesota).
Countless numbers and statistics indicate the historic nature of the result. Wisconsin senior linebacker Darryl Peterson focuses on the Hawkeyes’ point total, highlighting it as a key motivation point during the Badgers’ 2025 season preparation.
“When things get tough and when things aren’t going our way, I think that’s been a big thing. A guy like [Aaron Witt] always reminds me, think about those 42 points,” Peterson said when meeting with the media on Wednesday. “[Luke Fickell too]. We can’t help but think about it when we’re doing stuff after practice and in the weight room.”
BadgerExtra’s Jim Polzin followed up by asking Peterson whether the Iowa game stands out the most from the team’s three rivalry losses, as compared to the Nebraska or Minnesota defeats.
“Yea [the Iowa game does],” Peterson responded. “Because when have you heard of Iowa scoring 42 points, ever? For me, it’s that one. Obviously, it’s all three of them. 42 points is unacceptable to anybody, but especially those guys.”
Here is the full exchange, courtesy of Rivals’ Donnie Slusher.
The #Badgers have done 42 pushups at the end of every practice this spring, a nod to the 42-10 loss to Iowa last season.
When asked why that loss stood out among the three rivalry losses, Darryl Peterson responded:
“When have you ever heard of Iowa scoring 42 points, ever?” pic.twitter.com/Q4Hr5zEKwg
— Donnie Slusher (@DonnieSlusher_) April 9, 2025
Wisconsin hosts Iowa on Oct. 11, 2025, a key part of what is the most challenging conference schedule in the Big Ten. With the Badgers not playing Nebraska in 2025, wins in rivalry matchups against the Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers will be a requirement for the team to return to bowl eligibility.
In terms of Iowa’s classic reputation as a defense-only team, it passed 40 points four times in 2024, including three times in Big Ten play (40 vs. Washington, 40 vs. Northwestern and 42 vs. Wisconsin). The team’s expectations are just as high entering 2025, especially after the high-profile transfer addition of quarterback Mark Gronowski.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, is searching for a significant step forward on that side of the football. New coordinator Jeff Grimes is set to return the group’s scheme closer to the program’s classic identity, one that the Badgers got away from under air raid OC Phil Longo. The Badgers are hoping for a similar outcome to what Iowa experienced during its transition from Brian Ferentz to new coordinator Tim Lester in 2024 — a 12-point-per-game jump.
For reference, the Hawkeyes and Badgers have scored an identical 576 points over the last two seasons. That includes the Hawkeyes’ 2023 campaign of a Power Five-worst 15.4 points per game.
Motivation can come in many forms. Wisconsin shouldn’t have much trouble finding it, given the team’s 5-7 finish to 2024 and first bowl-less season since 2001. But it’s hard to point to Iowa’s offense as a specific problem, especially when the team averaged a full five more points per game (27.7) than Wisconsin (22.6) last season.
Six months from today, Peterson and the Badgers will get a chance at reversing that trend, plus ending a three-game losing streak to one of their premier rivals.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Darryl Peterson comments on 2024 loss to Iowa
The Wisconsin Badgers are using a notable result from the 2024 season as motivation this spring as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 campaign.
That game: Wisconsin’s 42-10 road loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Nov. 2. The result dropped the Badgers to 5-5 at the time, plus it became a key part of the team’s larger four-game losing streak to close the season. It was also Wisconsin’s worst to rival Iowa since 1968, with the Hawkeyes’ 42 points the most the Badgers have allowed in the series since 1975. Furthermore, it headlined Wisconsin’s 0-3 record in rivalry games in 2024, those losses coming by a combined margin of 110-42 (42-10 to Iowa, 44-25 to Nebraska, 24-7 to Minnesota).
Countless numbers and statistics indicate the historic nature of the result. Wisconsin senior linebacker Darryl Peterson focuses on the Hawkeyes’ point total, highlighting it as a key motivation point during the Badgers’ 2025 season preparation.
“When things get tough and when things aren’t going our way, I think that’s been a big thing. A guy like [Aaron Witt] always reminds me, think about those 42 points,” Peterson said when meeting with the media on Wednesday. “[Luke Fickell too]. We can’t help but think about it when we’re doing stuff after practice and in the weight room.”
BadgerExtra’s Jim Polzin followed up by asking Peterson whether the Iowa game stands out the most from the team’s three rivalry losses, as compared to the Nebraska or Minnesota defeats.
“Yea [the Iowa game does],” Peterson responded. “Because when have you heard of Iowa scoring 42 points, ever? For me, it’s that one. Obviously, it’s all three of them. 42 points is unacceptable to anybody, but especially those guys.”
Here is the full exchange, courtesy of Rivals’ Donnie Slusher.
The #Badgers have done 42 pushups at the end of every practice this spring, a nod to the 42-10 loss to Iowa last season.
When asked why that loss stood out among the three rivalry losses, Darryl Peterson responded:
“When have you ever heard of Iowa scoring 42 points, ever?” pic.twitter.com/Q4Hr5zEKwg
— Donnie Slusher (@DonnieSlusher_) April 9, 2025
Wisconsin hosts Iowa on Oct. 11, 2025, a key part of what is the most challenging conference schedule in the Big Ten. With the Badgers not playing Nebraska in 2025, wins in rivalry matchups against the Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers will be a requirement for the team to return to bowl eligibility.
In terms of Iowa’s classic reputation as a defense-only team, it passed 40 points four times in 2024, including three times in Big Ten play (40 vs. Washington, 40 vs. Northwestern and 42 vs. Wisconsin). The team’s expectations are just as high entering 2025, especially after the high-profile transfer addition of quarterback Mark Gronowski.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, is searching for a significant step forward on that side of the football. New coordinator Jeff Grimes is set to return the group’s scheme closer to the program’s classic identity, one that the Badgers got away from under air raid OC Phil Longo. The Badgers are hoping for a similar outcome to what Iowa experienced during its transition from Brian Ferentz to new coordinator Tim Lester in 2024 — a 12-point-per-game jump.
For reference, the Hawkeyes and Badgers have scored an identical 576 points over the last two seasons. That includes the Hawkeyes’ 2023 campaign of a Power Five-worst 15.4 points per game.
Motivation can come in many forms. Wisconsin shouldn’t have much trouble finding it, given the team’s 5-7 finish to 2024 and first bowl-less season since 2001. But it’s hard to point to Iowa’s offense as a specific problem, especially when the team averaged a full five more points per game (27.7) than Wisconsin (22.6) last season.
Six months from today, Peterson and the Badgers will get a chance at reversing that trend, plus ending a three-game losing streak to one of their premier rivals.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Darryl Peterson comments on 2024 loss to Iowa
