“That’s the vibe that we had going into it,” Cephus said. “We knew we would have some chances to make plays, and we knew that we were going to be a big part in the game coming into it.”

The No. 13 Badgers followed that exact blueprint en route to a 24-22 victory over the No. 18 Hawkeyes, with Cephus and Danny Davis serving as complements to a dazzling performance from Taylor.

Davis scored his first two touchdowns of the season — including the first rushing score of his career — and Cephus added 94 receiving yards and a touchdown to help UW (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) end a two-game losing streak.

UW wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore had talked to his players about winning each day in practice. That mind-set carried over to game day, with Cephus and Davis producing big plays at key moments.

Start with Cephus. UW was leading 14-6 early in the second half but losing the field-position battle when it took over at its own 14-yard line. Four plays later, the Badgers were in the end zone after Cephus sandwiched a pair of big chunks through the air around two runs by Taylor.

The first, a 52-yarder from Jack Coan to Cephus, is UW’s longest pass play of the season to date. Three plays later, Cephus beat Riley Moss in one-on-one coverage and caught a back-shoulder pass from Coan for a 27-yard score.

“We’d kind of been backed up and hadn’t really flipped the field on them,” UW coach Paul Chryst said. “In fact, early it seemed like … we were kind of losing a little bit of ground. The first one was big, flipping the field. …

“I thought those were huge plays for us, not just in yards but (we) needed something to happen. He competes and Jack gave him a chance. (Cephus) means a ton to this offense.”

Cephus also a drew a pass-interference penalty on Iowa’s Michael Ojemudia in the first half that set up Davis’ first touchdown of the day.

“Whenever they’re giving you one-on-ones on the outside with our receivers,” Coan said, “you’re always going to have a chance for a big play.”

Davis hadn’t scored a touchdown since the 2018 regular-season finale against Minnesota until he ended that drought with a 17-yard run two plays after Cephus drew the pass-interference penalty.

The timing of the play was a little off, with the shotgun snap arriving in Coan’s hands just as Davis was reaching Coan. But the handoff went off without a hitch, and Davis raced around the left side before diving into the corner of the end zone.

“I think I grabbed it from him,” Davis said. “It was pretty funny, but I know with the jets you’ve got to hit it with speed so I just tried to get around the corner and make a play.”

On UW’s next series, Davis gave UW a 14-6 lead when he caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Coan on first-and-goal.

Taylor ended up stealing the spotlight, finishing with 250 yards against the Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-3), but don’t forget the receivers’ role in that output as well.

“We’ll take some of the credit in the blocking game,” Davis said. “It was a great night all-around.”

Photos: Wisconsin Badgers hold off Iowa Hawkeyes in Big Ten West showdown