Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes are in a state of uncertainty with their QB situation right ahead of the Wisconsin game. This season for the Hawkeyes is coming off to be a bit of up-and-down, sitting at a 3-2 overall record and 1-1 in Big Ten play. The concern? Mark Gronowski, the starting QB, suffered a knee injury late in the fourth quarter against Indiana. It was a shaky moment as he limped off the field, leaving fans holding their breath. Since then, his status has remained unclear. But we have got a bit of intel.

“Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told ESPN that he’s “hopeful” Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski will be able to go against Wisconsin today,” On3 Pete Thamel posts on X. “He said Gronowski practiced nearly the whole week – more than he expected – and called it a ‘good week.'” This pretty much clears that Gronowski remains a game-time decision for Saturday’s showdown. The injury happened in a scramble late in the fourth quarter against Indiana. After that, fans saw him limping off toward the medical tent, hoping to recover enough to continue playing, but ultimately unable to shake it off during the game.

This week off, thanks to Iowa’s bye, may have helped. But then a starting QB being questionable on health concerns raises doubts about Iowa’s rest of the season. Sure, backup quarterbacks Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski have been sharing reps in practice. But neither has thrown much this season and has the dual-threat capability Gronoski carries. On top of that, the Hawkeyes’ offense was already struggling this season. The run game took a big dip this season; the Hawkeyes averaged 178.8 rushing YPG. That really hurt in close losses to rivals like Iowa State (16-13) and Indiana (20-15).

And the worst part is that Gronowski is a major contributor to the ground game. He completed 150 rushing yards on 54 carries and had 7 TDs. He even became the first Hawkeyes QB since 1968 to score rushing TDs in each of his first four games. Then Iowa’s offense just couldn’t push the ball downfield, letting defenses crowd the line and shut down the run. It even limits their passing game, too. But soon, the first true spark came in week four against Rutgers when Mark Gronowski finally started clicking with his receivers.

The offense put up 21 points to keep pace with Rutgers, then dropped another 17 in the second half while the defense held Rutgers to just seven. That sealed the Hawkeyes’ first Big Ten win. In that game, Mark completed 12 out of 18 passes for 186 yards. Sure, the following game against Indiana portrayed the QB inconsistency, with fans burning the QB’s jersey because of a mere 83 yards. But still, Gronowski’s dual-threat abilities keep the Iowa hopes alive. But with this questionable status, nothing is guaranteed for Iowa as they walk into Camp Randall Stadium.

The Hawkeyes get a surprising lean

The stage is set for the battle for the Heartland Trophy. The odds? Vegas has Iowa favored by 3.5 points over Wisconsin. Sure, Mark Gronowski being questionable definitely draws a line, but still, there are larger things to see. Vegas is predicting a low-scoring, hard-fought game with the over/under set at 36.5 points. On the other side, Wisconsin’s offensive situation is a mess.

Starting QB Billy Edwards Jr.’s status is shaky at best, leaving the Badgers potentially scrambling to figure out their offense. Given their struggles, it’s tough to see them putting up many points. Looking back at Wisconsin’s season, they’ve only cleared 17 points once, in a win over Middle Tennessee. In fact, teams like Miami (OH) have managed to keep them at 17 or less. This offense ranks them 11 worst in the FBS.

As of now, the Badgers have accumulated 309.2 yards per game. And then even they are facing a pile of injuries with senior centre Jake Renfro and Kerry Kodanko being out all season. Vegas’s prediction of a 20-17 final score hints at a close game, but leaning slightly toward Iowa, and a 20-16 result feels spot-on for many.