While Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers were enjoying their bye week, rivals Wisconsin and Iowa were engaged in a defensive showdown that culminated in a Hawkeyes win.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Rhule wasn’t afraid to admit that he found the low-scoring Wisconsin-Iowa game very entertaining. He called it a “beautiful defensive football game.”
“People watch the Iowa-Wisconsin game and say it’s a bad football game or an ugly football game. I think it’s a beautiful defensive football game,” Rhule said.
But most fans agree that there was nothing “beautiful” about that game. While Iowa has an elite defense, their lack of scoring had nothing to do with Wisconsin being elite.
— Connor Happer (@ConnorHapper) October 16, 2023
Iowa have been one of the lowest-scoring teams in the entire country for the entire year. They’re averaging less than 21 points per game.
And yet, despite being ranked 115th out of 133 in team offense, the Hawkeyes are 6-1, have already secured their bowl game appearance and might have the inside track on reaching the Big Ten Championship Game.
Rhule and his Huskers don’t face the Hawkeyes until the final game of the season. We’ll see if he’s as impressed with “beautiful defensive football” afterwards.