35. Wisconsin 17, Iowa 9 (2016)

After a 4-0 start, including big wins over No. 5 LSU and No. 8 Michigan State, both away from Camp Randall Stadium, the Wisconsin Badgers dropped two straight, losing by a touchdown at Michigan and at home against Ohio State in overtime. Wisconsin faced a must-win game in order to make another trip to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship game. The game was a tough road game in a tough environment, Iowa City. Despite Bucky having won the previous three meetings there, it is still a nightmare to play at. The Badgers held Iowa to 236 yards of total offense and a third quarter touchdown by Corey Clement proved to be the difference as Wisconsin earned the win and it brought the Heartland Trophy back to Madison, ending Iowa’s six-game trophy game win streak.

There aren’t many people who could break a tackle from All-Big Ten linebacker Josey Jewell. But that is exactly what happened on one of the key plays of the contest. With a little less than four minutes to play and Wisconsin clinging to a 14-6 lead, the Badgers faced a 3^rd-and-1 from their own 29. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook handed the ball to Clement who found no room up the middle and tried bouncing it to the right, where he met the All-Big Ten linebacker in the backfield at the 27. Clement slipped the tackle using a stiff arm and escaped down the sideline for 34 yards to the Iowa 37.

The rushing attack helped set up an Andrew Endicott 36-yard field goal, which solidified the big win for Wisconsin. That field goal turned out to be huge, as Desmond King returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards down to the 23. Iowa’s Keith Duncan booted a 25-yard field goal to cut it to 17-9. But the Hawkeyes had an illegal procedure penalty on the onside kick attempt and the Badgers proceeded to take a knee to finish off the dub.

The contest remained scoreless for nearly the first 20 minutes. The Badgers embarked on a 58-yard drive, which finished with a Bart Houston touchdown pass to tight end Troy Fumagalli.

Iowa finished the half with consecutive field goals to cut it to 7-6 at recess. However, the Badgers had a chance to score a touchdown in between those two Iowa drives. Hornibrook threw to tight end for Kyle Penniston for 54 yards down to the Hawkeyes 5. But on 3^rd-and-Goal from the 1, Clement fumbled and it was recovered by King in the end zone.

A Hornibrook pass to freshman wide receiver Quintez Cephus for 57 yards early in the second half set up a touchdown to make it 14-6. The ball was given to Clement three times and he ran the five yards for the score.

Prior to the Wisconsin field goal, Iowa drove down the field, but Duncan missed a 38-yard field goal to keep the Badgers in front by eight.

The victory set the Badgers up for another Big Ten West title. It began a six-game winning streak leading to another Big Ten Championship game appearance. Despite the fact that Colin Cowherd said they’d go 6-6 on the season, the Badgers finished 10-2 in the regular season and 11-3 overall, ending with a win in the Cotton Bowl over P.J. Fleck and Western Michigan.