Iowa will be without its leading running back for the remainder of the 2026 season after head coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed Tuesday that Kamari Moulton suffered a season-ending upper-body injury. The loss comes ahead of the Hawkeyes' matchup against Wisconsin on Saturday.
Moulton sustained the injury during Iowa's loss to Minnesota last week, leaving the contest in the second quarter and not returning. The fourth-year Hawkeye had become the centerpiece of Iowa's rushing attack, recording 541 rushing yards on 86 carries across six games. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns.
His best performance came in the Hawkeyes' 41-24 win at Washington in Week 6 when he rushed for a career-best 208 yards and two touchdowns. Moulton also accumulated 359 yards after contact and forced 28 missed tackles.
With Moulton out, Xavier Williams has been listed as Iowa's starting running back for the Badgers game. Williams has logged 25 carries for 190 yards. Braeden Jackson and Nathan McNeil are also among the options available to the Hawkeyes.
South Dakota transfer LJ Phillips could also become an essential part of the rotation if he is healthy. Ferentz described Phillips as day-to-day despite his absence from the depth chart. Phillips has dealt with injuries throughout the season, including a sprain suffered in Iowa's season opener versus Northern Illinois on September 5.
Article Continues BelowThe injury creates a big challenge for the Hawkeyes. The Badgers have limited opponents to an average of 96.4 rushing yards per game, adding pressure on Iowa's remaining backs to compensate for Moulton's absence.
The Hawkeyes will host Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday in a showdown for the Heartland Trophy, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m.