Iowa City Today

Iowa Hawkeyes will host Penn State on Saturday, October 18, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City for the annual ANF Black & Gold Spirit Game. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:08 p.m. Central Time and will be broadcast on Peacock and the Hawkeye Radio Network.

The Hawkeyes enter the matchup with a 4-2 overall record and 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference, while Penn State holds a 3-3 record and remains winless in conference play. Iowa is coming off a decisive 37-0 victory over Wisconsin, marking its first shutout of the season and its highest point total ever scored in Madison. The team forced three turnovers against the Badgers, converting them into 17 points, and limited Wisconsin’s offense to just 209 yards—the fewest allowed since 1996.

This game marks Iowa’s fifth and final night game of the season; the team has won all four previous night games in 2025. Iowa has a strong history under the lights at Kinnick Stadium, with a current six-game winning streak and an overall record of 19-7 in night games at home.

Graduate quarterback Mark Gronowski has led Iowa’s offense this season, completing 85 of 130 passes for 743 yards and three touchdowns across six games. He has also contributed eight rushing touchdowns—tied for fifth-most nationally—and has achieved both passing and rushing touchdowns in multiple games this year. Gronowski now holds the record for most wins by a starting quarterback at any level with 53 career victories.

Running back Kamari Moulton has returned from injury to lead Iowa’s rushing attack over the past three games, accumulating 261 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries so far this season. Iowa has demonstrated depth at running back, with six players surpassing 95 rushing yards through six weeks.

Wide receiver Kaden Wetjen has been recognized as the nation’s top return specialist, winning The Jet Award for his performance in 2024. Wetjen currently leads the NCAA in combined return yards and is the only player in the country to have both a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns this season.

On defense, Iowa ranks seventh nationally in total defense (246.7 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (13.0 points per game). The unit has not allowed a point in the third quarter all season and leads the nation in fourth-down defense percentage (.111). Linebackers Jaden Harrell and Karson Sharar have stepped up as new starters, ranking first and second on the team in tackles.

Senior placekicker Drew Stevens has moved into second place all-time in program history for career field goals made (66) and ranks third in career scoring (301 points). Stevens is two field goals shy of breaking Nate Kaeding’s school record of 67 field goals made.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz continues his tenure as the longest-serving active head coach in college football and became the Big Ten Conference’s all-time winningest coach earlier this season with his 206th conference victory. Ferentz has led Iowa to notable achievements during his 27-year tenure, including ten bowl game victories and multiple conference milestones.

Saturday’s game will be the 33rd meeting between Iowa and Penn State. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 18-14 but Iowa won the last meeting at Kinnick Stadium in 2021 by a score of 23-20.