IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa football team defeated Penn State, 25-24, on Saturday night on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa ended the night outgaining Penn State, 313-266 with 245 of those yards coming on the ground.

Mark Gronowski rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns and completed 10 of his 16 passing attempts for 68 yards.

Kamari Moulton added 99 yards on the ground and Kaden Wetjen had a rushing touchdown and led the team with 21 yards receiving.

Defensively, Koen Entringer led the way with 11 tackles (five solo) and Xavier Nwankpa had 10 tackles (seven solo) with an interception and a forced fumble. Karson Sharar had 2.5 tackles for a loss.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

"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."

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After an Iowa interception on its first possession, Penn State took advantage of the good field position and drove 10-plays and 35 yards, including two fourth down conversions, scoring on a one-yard rush.
• On Iowa’s second possession they drove 54 yards over nine plays before Drew Stevens connected on a 39-yard field goal.
• After a Nwankpa interception set the Hawkeyes up at the one-yard line Gronowski punched it in for the score with 1:14 remaining in the half.
• Iowa attempted a 66-yard field goal with six seconds remaining in the first half as Penn State blocked the kick and returned it for a touchdown.
• Penn State opened the second half with a 10 play 75-yard drive that lasted 5:35 and ended with an eight-yard touchdown rush.
• With 4:19 left in the second half Iowa answered back with an eight play 74-yard drive, that was capped with a four-yard touchdown rush from Gronowski. The two-point try was unsuccessful.
• Iowa cut into the Penn State lead with 13:17 remaining in the game with five play 27-yard drive that ended in a 31-yard field goal from Stevens.
• On their ensuing possession Penn State drove 61 yards over 16 plays and put three points on the board with a 32-yard field goal.
• Gronowski broke open a 67-yard rush on Iowa’s first play of its next possession and Wetjen finished the two-play scoring drive with an eight-yard rush with 3:54 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion was no good.
• Iowa’s defense would get a stop on fourth down and Iowa’s offense would run out the remainder of the clock.

POSTGAME NOTES

• The victory is 209 for head coach Kirk Ferentz, extending his Big Ten Conference record.
• It was Iowa’s fourth all-time win against a team that was ranked in the AP Preseason Top 2 and first since (Ohio State)
• The Hawkeyes have won three out the last four against Penn State. 
• Five out of the last seven contests between these two programs have been decided by six points or less, including the last four in Iowa City.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• QB Mark Gronowski completed 10-of-16 attempts for 68 yards to go along with nine rushes for a season-high 130 yards and two touchdowns.
  • It is Gronowski’s fifth career 100-yard rushing game.
  • He had a 67-yard rush – a season-long by a Hawkeye – in the fourth quarter.
  •  Gronowski had a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter and a 4-yarder in the third quarter. It is his seventh straight game with a rushing score.
  • It is his second multi-touchdown game of the season and the ninth of his career. 
  •  Gronowski has 10 rushing touchdowns this season, tying Larry Lawrence for the second-most by a QB in a single season in program history.
  • Gronowski is the first Big Ten quarterback with a rushing touchdown in seven straight games since Denard Robinson. (2011) 
  • Gronowski is the first Iowa quarterback to rush for 100+ yards in a single game since Nov. 24, 1973. (Butch Caldwell)
  • It is the 54th win of Gronowski’s career.
• RB Kamari Moulton recorded 99 yards on 17 attempts with a long of 21 yards.
• WR Kaden Wetjen registered his second rushing touchdown of the season.
• DB Deshaun Lee recorded his first interception of the season (second of his career) in the second quarter.
• DB Xavier Nwankpa had an interception in the second quarter and returned it 28 yards to the 1.
  • It is Nwankpa’s first pick since the 2023 season and the third of his career.
  • He had a forced fumble in the fourth quarter – the first of his career – and finished with 10 tackles which tied his career-high.
• DB Koen Entringer set a career-high with 11 tackles – his second career double-digit tackle game.
• LB Karson Sharar had nine tackles and a career-high 2.5 TFL.
• K Drew Stevens became Iowa’s all-time field goals leader with his two makes – from 39 yards in the first and 31 yards in the fourth. He now had 68 career field goals, passing Nate Kaeding for the program record.

MISCELLANEOUS

• The Hawkeyes are 5-0 in night games this season. 
• Iowa has won seven straight night games in Iowa City dating back to the 2022 season.
• Iowa’s offense has registered 25+ points in four out of the last five games.
• Iowa recorded their fourth 200+ rushing performance of the season against Penn Iowa has rushed for 200+ yards 11 times under Tim Lester.
• Iowa has outrushed its opponents in six out of seven games this season.
• Iowa’s defense has recorded an interception in each of the last four games.
  • The Hawkeyes have had multiple interceptions in back-to-back contests.
• Iowa won the toss and elected to The Hawkeyes have played 335 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 245 times (158-87). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 90 times (51-39).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to action Oct. 25, hosting Minnesota in a battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. Game time and television designation is TBA.