Iowa vs WisconsinHeartland Trophy
A bronze bull on a walnut base that ended 110 years of Iowa-Wisconsin football without a trophy.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Heartland Trophy came to be
Iowa and Wisconsin had played football since 1894 without a trophy until athletic directors Bob Bowlsby of Iowa and Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin announced the Heartland Trophy in 2004.
The bull was designed and crafted by Frank Strub, an artist who had played football at Iowa.
According to Iowa's announcement at the time, the bull was meant to symbolize the physical, hard-nosed games the two programs usually play.
The trophy was unveiled before the November 20, 2004 game at Kinnick Stadium, and Iowa won the first one 30-7.
The trophy itself. A metal bull mounted on a walnut base, measuring about 30 inches tall, 36 inches long and 18 inches deep. It was designed and crafted by artist Frank Strub, a former Iowa football player.
Heartland Trophy history
- 1894
First meeting, October 29, 1894: Wisconsin wins 44-0.
- 2004
Heartland Trophy debuts; Iowa wins the first one 30-7 at Kinnick Stadium on November 20.
- 2011
The annual game pauses for two seasons (2011-12) after Big Ten realignment, returning in 2013.
- 2013
Wisconsin starts a run of six wins in seven meetings (2013-2019), taking the trophy-era lead.
- 2020
Iowa wins 28-7 in Iowa City on December 12 in the pandemic-shortened season.
- 2022
Iowa begins a four-game winning streak (2022-2025); the trophy has stayed in Iowa City since.
- 2025
Iowa shuts out Wisconsin 37-0 in Madison on October 11, its first shutout at Camp Randall Stadium since 1929 and first shutout of the Badgers since 1996.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Iowa Hawkeyes 37, Wisconsin Badgers 0 | Camp Randall Stadium |
| 2024 | Iowa Hawkeyes 42, Wisconsin Badgers 10 | Kinnick Stadium |
| 2023 | Iowa Hawkeyes 15, Wisconsin Badgers 6 | Camp Randall Stadium |
| 2022 | Iowa Hawkeyes 24, Wisconsin Badgers 10 | Kinnick Stadium |
| 2021 | Wisconsin Badgers 27, Iowa Hawkeyes 7 | Camp Randall Stadium |
Heartland Trophy facts worth knowing
The rivalry went 110 years, from 1894 to 2004, before it had a trophy.
The series is almost dead even: Wisconsin leads 49-48-2 through 99 meetings, and the trophy series is tied 10-10.
The Hawkeyes have held the bull since 2022, winning four straight meetings by a combined 118-26.
Iowa's 37-0 win in 2025 was its first shutout of Wisconsin in Madison since a 14-0 win in 1929.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Heartland Trophy?+
The Heartland Trophy is the trophy Iowa and Wisconsin play for in college football, first awarded in 2004. A metal bull mounted on a walnut base, measuring about 30 inches tall, 36 inches long and 18 inches deep. It was designed and crafted by artist Frank Strub, a former Iowa football player.
How did the Heartland Trophy come to be?+
Iowa and Wisconsin had played football since 1894 without a trophy until athletic directors Bob Bowlsby of Iowa and Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin announced the Heartland Trophy in 2004.
Who has the Heartland Trophy right now?+
Iowa holds the Heartland Trophy after winning the 2025 game, Iowa 37, Wisconsin 0. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Iowa-Wisconsin series?+
Wisconsin leads the all-time series 49-48-2 as of the end of the 2025 season. In games played for the Heartland Trophy since 2004, the series is tied 10-10.
When is the next Heartland Trophy game?+
Wisconsin Badgers play at Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 at Kinnick Stadium. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Heartland Trophy game?+
You can bet Iowa vs Wisconsin on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the end of the 2025 season; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, hawkeyesports.com, hawkeyesports.com.
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