Game Balls: Wisconsin - Black Heart Gold Pants

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We’ve got a surprise winner this week!

Wow that was FUN. Let’s give out some game balls.

Tim Lester

Lots of love to go around on offense. Brendan Sullivan’s presence as a run threat has super charged an already-great run game. Kaleb Johnson now has 20 touchdowns from scrimmage (19 on the ground). He already has as many offensive touchdowns this year as Iowa had as an entire team last year. The whole running back room plus Sullivan was dynamic all night. Iowa had a couple of big pass plays in there, too. They made Wisconsin look soft.

But I’m going Lester this week. He has Iowa averaging 222 rushing yards per game through 9 games, and 212 in conference-only games. Both numbers lead the league by a good margin. Iowa hasn’t led the league in rushing in all games since 1997, and they haven’t led the league in conference-only games since 1960.

That’s not the only major improvement by this offense. Last year, Iowa converted just 29.4 percent of their third down attempts. Unsurprisingly, that was last in the league. This year, the number is a much more robust 45 percent, a number that would’ve led the league last year.

Lester has completely transformed Iowa’s fortunes. They’re no longer a punchline. This is to the point that this guy might get some love as a head coach again this offseason. Please, be ready to up this guy’s salary. Keep him at all costs.

Deshaun Lee

What an improvement! Two weeks ago, Lee was basically a healthy scratch in East Lansing as Iowa looked for any answer other than Lee at the cornerback spot opposite Jermari Harris. Two weeks later, he looks completely locked in as the other corner. Lee finished the game with 3 tackles, a crucial pass breakup on Wisconsin’s opening drive that prevented a touchdown, and a pick on the next Wisconsin possession that turned into an Iowa touchdown.

Also a shoutout to Nick Jackson, who had an amazing interception that set up Iowa’s fourth touchdown, plus 8 tackles. Iowa outmuscled the Badgers significantly with this group too.

Rhys Dakin

Another day at the office for the true freshman. Ho-hum, just Rhys punching the clock. The Aussie had 3 punts for 160 yards, a 53.3 yard average. He had another punt downed inside the opponent’s 10.