Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa football team secured a narrow 25-24 victory over Penn State on Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes finished the game with 313 total yards, including 245 rushing yards, while limiting Penn State to 266 total yards.

Quarterback Mark Gronowski led the offense with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 10 of his 16 passes for 68 yards. Running back Kamari Moulton contributed 99 rushing yards, and Kaden Wetjen added a rushing touchdown and led the team in receiving with 21 yards.

On defense, Koen Entringer recorded a career-high 11 tackles. Xavier Nwankpa had ten tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. Karson Sharar made nine tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance: "Very proud of our team, proud of the effort they gave out there, the way they competed. Certainly had to earn this win. They did an amazing job.

Consistently played hard all game. There were ups and downs like any game between two really good teams. They played through those ups and downs. Certainly fought and competed. Never gave up on each other either. I thought that was critical in a game where you have these swings. That's just part of football.

Something I told our players in the locker room, this is a feeling you can't buy. You just can't buy it. You have to earn it. You have to go out and fight and compete. They certainly did that.

Just really proud of them. They did it against a team we knew was extremely talented. They came in here ready to go. Played an excellent game as well. Only variable I could see from across this aisle was going to be the quarterback. Thought he did a great job. They were creative how they used their quarterback. Nothing easy about that thing.

Bottom line is it was a 60-minute game. You expect that certainly in conference play. Play a good team, that's the way it's going to be.

Proud of our defense. They dug in, did some good things, came up with some big plays, picks, fourth down stops.

The offense complemented with what they did. I thought our special teams, outside of my poor decision to go for a field goal before halftime, a lot of good things on special teams, too.

That's one I own. That was a bad decision. We're not looking back right now, but...

Last thing I want to say, what a great environment. You kind of expect that in Kinnick. Tell our players all the time, it's our job to make sure they are into it. I think our guys did that. Boy, the fans have just been fantastic. Night games in Kinnick are really special. Appreciate everybody being in there.

Actually had a couple defensive recruits here. Told them, one thing about our fans, they understand defense, they understand the value and importance of it, too. Hopefully that will help some a little bit.

Bigger picture is all about our players. Really pleased with them. Staff did a great job, too, getting the guys ready."

The game's scoring began after Iowa threw an interception on its first possession; Penn State capitalized by driving for an early touchdown following two fourth-down conversions on their opening drive.

Iowa responded later with Drew Stevens kicking a 39-yard field goal after moving downfield over nine plays on their second possession.

A key moment came late in the first half when Nwankpa intercepted Penn State and returned it to set up Gronowski’s one-yard touchdown run with just over one minute left before halftime.

Penn State managed another touchdown by blocking Iowa's field goal attempt as time expired in the first half and returning it for six points.

In the second half both teams exchanged touchdowns before Iowa narrowed Penn State’s lead further through another field goal by Stevens early in the fourth quarter.

After Penn State added three more points via field goal following an extended drive midway through the fourth quarter Gronowski broke free for a season-long 67-yard run which set up Wetjen’s eight-yard rushing touchdown late in regulation; however Iowa’s two-point conversion failed again.

The Hawkeyes' defense held strong on Penn State’s final possession forcing turnover on downs allowing Iowa’s offense to secure victory by running out the clock.

This win marks head coach Kirk Ferentz's 209th career victory extending his Big Ten record for most wins by any head coach in conference history.

It is also Iowa's fourth-ever win over an opponent ranked within AP Preseason Top Two teams.

Iowa has now won three out of its last four matchups against Penn State.

Five out of seven recent games between these programs have been decided by six points or fewer including each of their last four meetings held at Kinnick Stadium.

Individually Mark Gronowski became only the second Iowa quarterback since Butch Caldwell (1973) to rush for more than 100 yards in one game.

He also tied Larry Lawrence for second-most single-season rushing touchdowns by an Iowa quarterback (10).

Kicker Drew Stevens set an all-time school record with his two successful kicks giving him 68 career field goals surpassing Nate Kaeding.

With this result Iowa improved its night-game record this season to five wins without defeat while extending its home-night winning streak—dating back to 2022—to seven consecutive games.

The Hawkeyes’ offense has scored at least twenty-five points four times across their last five outings.

Under offensive coordinator Tim Lester Iowa has now achieved at least two hundred rushing yards eleven times since he took charge.

Defensively Iowa has registered interceptions during each contest over its past four games achieving multiple interceptions twice consecutively.

Next up Iowa will host Minnesota on October 25th as both teams compete for possession of Floyd of Rosedale trophy; kickoff time will be announced later.