IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa football team defeated Minnesota, 41-3, on Saturday afternoon on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa scored in all three phases of the game and outgained the Gophers 274-133 in total yards.

Mark Gronowski completed 12 of 19 passes for 135 yards, throwing one touchdown and rushing for another. Jeremy Hecklinski was 1-for-1 for six yards and also scored a rushing touchdown.

Kamari Moulton led the Hawkeye rushing attack with 75 yards on 15 carries. Kaden Wetjen led Iowa receivers with 49 yards and returned a punt 50 yards for a score.

Defensively, the Hawkeyes recorded three takeaways. Zach Lutmer had a pick-six, while TJ Hall and Cam Buffington also had interceptions. Xavier Nwankpa led the team with six tackles (five solo). Aaron Graves had two sacks, and Max Llewellyn and Ethan Hurkett each added one.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

"It was a complete team performance. All three phases really did a great job, especially in that first half playing off each other and doing a great job.

Our players did a great job focusing all week and then certainly carried it out to the game this afternoon. Good to get that strong start. They started out really strong on offense first three drives. I think at one point we were like 19-3, so I've been told, in terms of plays. Nothing wrong with that, certainly. Just the way everything fed off of each other was really pleasing.

I want to congratulate Kaden, too. I understand he's tied with Tim Dwight for return touchdowns, which is saying a lot. That's a great accomplishment. The last week we had Drew Stevens move ahead of Nate Kaeding, and now to tie Tim Dwight, those are two outstanding historical performers in our program. So really a good deal.

There's still things we have plenty to work on right now and things that need to be looked at a little bit closer. Overall looking back the last three weeks certainly with game competition, and I'd include the bye week, I think our team has really grown. They've improved. Their work ethic and attitude has just been outstanding, and it's good to see them get rewarded with their performances out on the field, not only today, but the last three weeks. Just really pleased with the guys, really proud of them.

We'll take this bye week here, hopefully use it smartly. We have a big stretch coming up. November football is so important in college. We'll have something to point to. We'll take tomorrow and enjoy it a little bit and get back to work on Monday."

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. Nine plays later, the Hawkeyes scored on a two-yard rush by Gronowski to cap a 75-yard drive.
• After forcing a Gopher three-and-out, Iowa drove down the field in 10 plays before Drew Stevens connected on a 34-yard field goal.
• On the first play of the next drive, Lutmer intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.
• After another Minnesota punt, Iowa needed only five plays and 29 yards to score as Gronowski connected with Reece Vander Zee with 13:33 left in the first half.
• With 11:23 remaining in the first half, Iowa extended its lead to 31-0 on a 50-yard punt return touchdown by Wetjen.
• Iowa added a 46-yard field goal from Stevens with 4:06 left in the third quarter to cap a six-play, 20-yard drive.
• Minnesota got on the board with a 33-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the third quarter, ending a 10-play, 59-yard drive.
• After an interception by Buffington, Iowa scored again on a six-yard touchdown rush from Hecklinski to finish a five-play, 21-yard drive with 5:30 left in the game.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Iowa’s 4-1 start in Big Ten play is the team’s best through five games since 2015.
• The Hawkeyes are bowl eligible for the 24th time in the last 25 seasons.
• Iowa has won 11 of the last 12 meetings over Minnesota.
• The Hawkeyes are 31-11 in their last 42 rivalry trophy games. The team is 2-1 in trophy games this season.
• The 38-point margin of victory is Iowa’s largest in the series since winning 55-0 in 2008.
• The victory is No. 210 for head coach Kirk Ferentz, extending his Big Ten Conference record.
• The Hawkeyes have held the Gophers to 14 points or less in four straight meetings and in five out of the last six.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• QB Mark Gronowski completed 12-of-19 attempts for 135 yards and one touchdown. He also had nine rushes for 24 yards and one touchdown.
  • He had a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter – his eighth consecutive game with a rushing score.
  • Gronowski has 11 touchdowns this season, tying Wilburn Hollis for the most rushing touchdowns by an Iowa quarterback in program history.
  • His eight straight games with a touchdown is a Big Ten record for the most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown by a QB.
  • Gronowski’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Reece Vander Zee was his fourth TD pass of the season and first in Big Ten play.
  • The victory is Gronowski’s 55th win of his career.
• RB Kamari Moulton finished the game with 15 rushes for 75 yards.
  • He has led the RB room in rushing in four straight games.
• QB Jeremy Hecklinski scored a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter in his first career action.
  • He was also 1-for-1 for six yards through the air.
• WR Reece Vander Zee had a 29-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter – Iowa’s longest touchdown catch of the season. It was Vander Zee’s first touchdown of the season and fourth of his career.
• WR Kaden Wetjen had a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. It is his second punt return touchdown and third overall return touchdown this season.
  • The return touchdown is the fifth of Wetjen’s career, tying Tim Dwight for the most combined return touchdowns in program history.
  • It was Wetjen’s third career punt return touchdown, second behind Dwight (5) in the Iowa record books.
  • He is now tied for fifth in Big Ten single season history with two punt return scores and tied for ninth in league history in career punt return touchdowns.
  • Wetjen is one of three players nationally to have multiple punt return touchdowns this season.
  • He also had three receptions for 49 yards in the passing game.
• Wetjen is the only player in the country with a receiving, rushing, punt and kickoff return for a touchdown this season.
• DB Zach Lutmer recorded an interception and returned it 34-yards for his first career pick six to extend Iowa’s pick six streak to 18 seasons. It is Lutmer’s second interception of the season and third of his career.
• DB TJ Hall recorded his first interception of the season (second of his career) in the third quarter.
• LB Cam Buffington had his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
• DL Aaron Graves had a season-high two sacks.
• K Drew Stevens connected on a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 46-yarder in the third. He is 16-of-21 in field goal attempts this season.
  • He now had 70 career field goals, extending his school record.

MISCELLANIOUS

• Iowa’s defense extended its pick six streak to 18 consecutive seasons – the second-longest streak nationally (behind Utah’s 22 seasons).
  • It is the 56th pick six in program history and the 39th inside Kinnick Stadium.
• Iowa scored via offensive, defensive and special teams touchdown in the victory.
  • It is the first time since Iowa's win over Michigan State in 2020 that the team scored a touchdown in all three phases.
  • Iowa scored in all three phases against Northwestern in 2024 (the defensive score a safety).
• The Hawkeye defense had a season-high three interceptions – a high for the unit since 2023 vs. Michigan State.
  • Iowa has recorded an interception in each of the last five games.
  • Iowa has had multiple interceptions in three straight games.
  • The Hawkeyes scored 14 points off the three Minnesota turnovers.
• Iowa’s defense limited the Gophers to 134 yards of total offense in the game, including 24 rushing yards.
  • The 134 yards are the fewest allowed against the Gophers since 2008 (134 yards). The total ties for the ninth fewest allowed in a game under Ferentz.
  • Minnesota had 12 yards (one rushing yard) in the first quarter and 44 yards (-9 rushing) in the first half.
  • The Hawkeyes had a 128-12 advantage in total yards in the first quarter and 186-44 over the first 30 minutes.
  • Iowa had nine TFL and four sacks – the second-most in a game this season.
• The Hawkeyes scored on their opening drive for the third time this season, needing nine plays to cover 75 yards.
  • It was the first time Iowa has scored on its opening drive since Week 3 against UMass.
• Iowa’s 31 first-half points were the most scored in a half since 2021 (at Maryland).
• The Hawkeyes have outrushed their opponents in seven of the team’s eight games.
• Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 336 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 246 times (159-87). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 90 times (51-39).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes are idle Nov. 1.  Iowa returns to action Nov. 8, hosting Oregon inside Kinnick Stadium.  The start time has yet to be announced.