By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – With the Iowa football team preparing to face Wisconsin on Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin, this is an appropriate time to address one of the most asked questions about the long-standing border rivalry.

Why is Wisconsin’s running game almost always more productive than the Iowa running game?

Only three times since 2004 has Iowa averaged more rushing yards per game than the Badgers.

Even the 2008 season when Iowa running back Shonn Greene led the Big Ten in rushing and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top collegiate running back, Wisconsin still averaged more rushing yards per game as a team.

The Badgers averaged 211.2 rushing yards per game in 2008, while the Greene-led Hawkeyes averaged 188.7 rushing yards per game,

Iowa will enter Saturday’s game at Camp Randall Stadium 6-1 overall and ranked eighth in the Associated Press poll, while Wisconsin is 4-3 and unranked.

But when it comes gaining rushing yards, the Badgers once again have a substantial edge, averaging 218.9 yards per game compared to Iowa’s 116.6 per-game average.

That’s a difference of more than 100 yards per game, and it’s hard to envision Iowa winning on Saturday if those numbers hold true.

So, what gives?

Both teams take pride in running the football and make it a priority.

Both teams produce standout offensive linemen on a regular basis.

And both teams are known for being fundamentally sound and physical up front.

One theory is that Wisconsin’s gap blocking schemes are more effective than Iowa’s zone blocking schemes.

Iowa has used zone blocking schemes throughout Kirk Ferentz’s time as head coaching dating back to 1999.

And while it’s been effective at times, not once since 2004 has Iowa averaged more than 188.7 rushing yards per game, while Wisconsin has averaged at least 200 rushing yards per game in 12 seasons during that time.

That discrepancy helps to explain why Wisconsin has won seven of the last nine games in the series.

But again, why are the Badgers better at toting the rock?

I’ve been asked that question numerous times over the years, and have asked that same question to some people who have forgotten more about football than I’ll ever know, including former Iowa offensive coordinator Don Patterson.

And the answer that makes the most sense is that Wisconsin almost always has had an advantage over Iowa at running back.

“At this level, a running back has to be able to make that first defender miss,” Patterson said recently. “The blockers can’t account for everyone.

“Wisconsin has traditionally had running backs who do that in different ways, some with power, and some with speed and quickness.”

Since the 2000 season, Wisconsin has had 12 running backs named first-team All-Big Ten, while Iowa has had just three, including Tyler Goodson as a sophomore last season. The others were Fred Russell in 2002 and Shonn Greene in 2008.

Wisconsin has also had seven running backs selected in the NFL Draft since 2000, while Iowa has only had two taken during that time: Ladell Betts in the second round in 2002 and Shonn Greene in the third round in 2009.

There are currently five former Wisconsin running backs on active NFL rosters, but none from Iowa.

Some might argue that a running back is only as good as his offensive line, but a counter to that argument is that an offensive line is made better by a quality running back.

From Ron Dayne to Brian Calhoun to Montee Ball to Melvin Gordon to James White to Corey Clement to Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin has produced star running backs on a regular basis since 2000, many whom would go on to play in the NFL.

Iowa, on the other hand, hasn’t been nearly as successful in producing star running backs, although, Goodson has shown star potential.

Goodson and fifth-year senior Ivory Kelly-Martin give Iowa two proven running backs, but the Badgers also have an emerging one-two punch at running back in Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi and true freshman Braelon Allen.

Mellusi and Goodson are ranked fourth and eighth in the Big Ten in rushing with per-game averages of 98.9 and 83.7 yards, respectively, while Allen is ranked 13^th in the conference with a 71.3 per-game average.

This isn’t meant to be an indictment against Iowa running backs because there certainly have been some good ones under Kirk Ferentz, including Goodson.

But when searching for a reason, or for an explanation for why Wisconsin has almost always had a more effective ground game than Iowa since 2000, it might help to start in the backfield rather than the offensive line.

Iowa-Wisconsin per-game rushing averages since 2004

2021: Wisconsin, 218.9; Iowa, 116.6

2020: Iowa, 171.0; Wisconsin, 164.6

2019: Wisconsin, 233.1; Iowa, 137.6

2018: Wisconsin, 273.4; Iowa, 148.4

2017: Wisconsin, 222.9; Iowa, 139.2

2016: Wisconsin, 203.1; Iowa, 171.8

2015: Iowa, 181.7; Wisconsin, 150.3

2014: Wisconsin, 320.1; Iowa, 163.1

2013: Wisconsin, 283.8; Iowa, 179.9

2012: Wisconsin, 236.4; Iowa, 123.0

2011: Wisconsin, 235.6; Iowa, 137.7

2010: Wisconsin, 245.7; Iowa, 148.4

2009: Wisconsin, 203.8; Iowa, 114.2

2008: Wisconsin, 211.2; Iowa, 188.7

2007: Wisconsin, 200.8; Iowa, 126.3

2006: Wisconsin, 161.7; Iowa. 143.5

2005: Iowa, 174.7; Wisconsin, 168.2

2004: Wisconsin, 160.9; Iowa, 72.6