What was their record again?
What could their record have been with an offense that wasn't a certifiable dumpster fire? The "what was their record" crowd is the same one that must enjoy watching Wisconsin win the B10 West most of the time.
My favorite thing about the "it's a style of play decision!" argument defending the total offensive output is that it ignores something as simple as yards per play, which removes the "style of play" factor and just judges the offense based on what it generates on a play by play basis vs every other offense. Here's Iowa's offensive YPP ranking the last 10 seasons (out of 130ish schools):
2021: 121st
2020: 78th
2019: 84th
2018: 86th
2017: 103rd
2016: 98th
2015: 53rd
2014: 65th
2013: 84th
2012: 118th
I'm fine with Iowa's STYLE of play. The most annoying thing about Iowa's style of play is that it requires a fucking offense that can move the chains to wear down the other teams defense and not your own. Running the ball and playing defense can work great if you can actually do those things, here's Wisconsin's offensive YPP rankings nationally the last 10 seasons:
2021: 71st
2020: 102nd
2019: 18th
2018: 14th
2017: 31st
2016: 77th
2015: 87th
2014: 7th
2013: 39th
2012: 39th
They were top 40 nationally in YPP 6 out of the last 10 season, and that's with pretty average to below average QB play.
In the last 10 seasons, Iowa has only generated more YPP than Wisconsin in two seasons - 2020 and 2015.
Oddly enough, those are the only 2 games Iowa has beat Wisconsin in over the last 10 seasons (that's only 9 meetings though because Iowa didn't play Wisconsin in 11/12). Do you think that's just a coincidence?
Iowa is choosing to play a style of football where they won't put up huge offensive numbers, and that's fine. But that style of offense still requires the offense to be EFFICIENT on a per play basis, and they're not, because their offensive scheme is massively broken and they have no idea how to use their talent even when they have it. George Kittle averaged about 2 receptions per game his Junior and Senior seasons - inexcusably poor utilization of one of the best players at that position in the country. In 2019 Iowa had two future first round NFL draft picks on their offensive line (and experience sprinkled in around them) - they ranked 98th nationally in rushing yardage per game and were south of 4 yards per rush.
So don't tell me "they were just young last year". No, this is a 10+ year long problem, and they've had plenty of talent over those 10+ years that they failed to get offensive production out of.