The 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes were led by twenty seventh-year head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa played their home games at Kinnick Stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, and sold out all seven home contests for the fourth consecutive season.

The Hawkeyes ended the 2025 season with a 3427 win over the No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores in the ReliaQuest Bowl to finish with a 9–4 record (6–3 Big Ten). During the regular season, Iowa lost four games by a total of 15 points to opponents all ranked in the top 20.

Graduate student center Logan Jones was named First-team All-Big Ten, Unanimous First-team All-American, and awarded the Rimington Trophy. Fellow graduate student Kaden Wetjen, return specialist, was named First-team All-Big Ten and Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year for the second time, and Consensus First-team All-American. Senior quarterback Mark Gronowski tied the single-season Big Ten record for rushing touchdowns by a QB (16) and ended his career with an NCAA record 58 wins as a starter.

Offseason 2025 NFL draft

3 83 Kaleb Johnson RB Pittsburgh Steelers 5 164 Yahya Black DT Pittsburgh Steelers 7 234 Mason Richman OT Seattle Seahawks 7* 249 Connor Colby G San Francisco 49ers 7* 255 Luke Lachey TE Houston Texans

Transfers Outgoing Kahlil TateDBAustin PeayTrent CakericeDTCentral (IA)Rusty VanWetzinga IVLBCentral MichiganJoey VanWetzingaDLCentral MichiganJudah MalletteWRDrakeCade McNamaraQBEast Tennessee StateMarco LainezQBElonKyson Van VugtOLFresno StateMason KnippOLIndiana StateLeshon WilliamsRBKansasGrant LeeperTEMiami (OH)John NestorDBMinnesotaGavin HoffmanTEMissouriEthan AghakhanDENew HampshireGraham FriedrichsenWRNorthern IowaGrant GlausserRBNorthern IowaRyan KuennenDLNorthern IowaCole MarshTENorthern IowaAyden PriceWRNorthern IowaChase BrackneyDESacramento StateJeff BowieDLSouth DakotaCaden CrawfordDLSouth DakotaGraham EbenLBSouth Dakota StateReese OsgoodWRSouth Dakota StateJalyn ThompsonLBSouth Dakota StateTripp WoodyKSyracuseBrendan SullivanQBTulaneKaleb BrownWRUABJames ResarQBUNC PembrokeJohnny PascuzziTEWest VirginiaAmare BickhamDBWestern IllinoisMax WhiteRBWyomingCJ LeonardWRUnknownDevan Van NessLBUnknown

Incoming Hank BrownQBAuburnBryant WorrellLSBoston CollegeJonah PaceDLCentral MichiganSam PhillipsWRChattanoogaBryce GeorgeOLFerris StateGeorge NahasIOLIowa StateTy HudkinsDBPurdueShahid BarrosDBSouth DakotaMark GronowskiQBSouth Dakota StateBryce HawthorneDLSouth Dakota StateJeremy HecklinskiQBWake Forest

Schedule

Rankings

Game summaries Albany (FCS)

After a sluggish first 20 minutes of play, the Hawkeyes running game came alive and the defense settled in. The 347 victory tied Kirk Ferentz with Woody Hayes in overall wins as a Big Ten coach (205).

Statistics ALBIOWA First downs 9 20 Plays–yards 47–177 69–358 Rushes–yards 21–43 53–310 Passing yards 134 48 Passing: –– 13–26–0 9–16–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 23:23 36:37 Team Category Player Statistics Albany Passing Jack Shields 13/26, 134 yards, TD Rushing Jack Shields 12 carries, 30 yards Receiving Caden Burti 3 receptions, 56 yards Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 8/15, 44 yards, TD Rushing Xavier Williams 11 carries, 122 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Gill 1 reception, 13 yards

at No. 16 Iowa State (Cy–Hawk Trophy)

The Hawkeyes never led in this game and lost for the first time in seven tries at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa is now 1–5 when Fox Big Noon Kickoff is on site.

Statistics IOWAISU First downs 16 14 Plays–yards 63–214 57–238 Rushes–yards 39–131 30–104 Passing yards 83 134 Passing: –– 13–24–1 18–27–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 31:08 28:52 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 13/24, 83 yards, INT Rushing Jaziun Patterson 11 carries, 60 yards Receiving Jacob Gill 5 receptions, 52 yards Iowa State Passing Rocco Becht 18/27, 134 yards, TD Rushing Abu Sama III 12 carries, 47 yards Receiving Brett Eskildsen 2 receptions, 39 yards

UMass

This was Iowa's last game before the conference schedule and their first-ever meeting with UMass. The victory moved Kirk Ferentz into first place in overall wins as a Big Ten football coach. The Hawkeyes came out inspired, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions. Kaden Wetjen returned a punt 95 yards at the beginning of the third quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Minutemen in a 47–7 rout. Wetjen earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

Statistics MASSIOWA First downs 8 22 Plays–yards 49–119 71–435 Rushes–yards 27–26 40–201 Passing yards 93 234 Passing: –– 13–22–0 21–31–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 27:56 32:04 Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing AJ Hairston 4/8, 56 yards Rushing Rocko Griffin 10 carries, 28 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 5 receptions, 37 yards Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 16/24, 179 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nathan McNeil 10 carries, 56 yards Receiving Sam Phillips 3 receptions, 75 yards

at Rutgers

The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play under the lights on a Friday night in Piscataway. The teams raced out to a 21-point tie in the first 22 minutes. The game pace slowed, and Iowa blocked a crucial field goal as they pulled away in the fourth quarter. Kirk Ferentz maintained his unblemished record when facing the Scarlet Knights (50). Kaden Wetjen, who opened the game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, earned Big Ten Special Teams recognition for the second consecutive week.

Statistics IOWARUTG First downs 22 20 Plays–yards 56–346 70–400 Rushes–yards 38–160 30–70 Passing yards 186 330 Passing: –– 12–18–0 24–40–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:54 31:06 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 12/18, 186 yards Rushing Kamari Moulton 14 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Dayton Howard 1 reception, 42 yards Rutgers Passing Athan Kaliakmanis 24/40, 330 yards, INT Rushing Antwan Raymond 18 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ian Strong 8 receptions, 151 yards

No. 11 Indiana

Indiana, boasting the #3 scoring offense (54.8) and #5 scoring defense (8.3) in the country, defeated Iowa for the first time since 2012. The Hawkeyes faltered in the fourth quarter and Indiana took advantage with a 49-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 remaining. Iowa had won nine of the last ten games in this series.

Statistics IUIOWA First downs 18 17 Plays–yards 62–337 69–284 Rushes–yards 39–104 31–92 Passing yards 233 192 Passing: –– 13–23–1 24–38–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 27:18 32:42 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 13/23, 233 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Roman Hemby 15 carries, 86 yards Receiving Elijah Sarratt 6 receptions, 132 yards, TD Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 19/25, 144 yards, INT Rushing Kamari Moulton 18 carries, 75 yards Receiving Sam Phillips 5 receptions, 64 yards

at Wisconsin (rivalry)

Iowa won its fourth consecutive games in this series for the first time in two decades (2002–2005), and blanked Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time in 96 years. The Hawkeyes capitalized on three Badger turnovers in the first half. Iowa was able to run at will as this was the most lopsided win for the Hawkeyes since 1968 against the Badgers. The Hawkeyes have outscored Wisconsin 79–10 in the last two matchups.

Statistics IOWAWIS First downs 18 12 Plays–yards 61–319 57–209 Rushes–yards 36–210 36–127 Passing yards 109 82 Passing: –– 18–25–1 8–21–2 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 31:15 28:45 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 17/24, 107 yards, INT Rushing Kamari Moulton 15 carries, 96 yards, TD Receiving Kamari Moulton 3 receptions, 29 yards Wisconsin Passing Hunter Simmons 8/21, 82 yards, 2 INT Rushing Dilin Jones 16 carries, 69 yards Receiving Lance Mason 1 reception, 29 yards

Penn State

The Hawkeyes battled an emotional Penn State team who was playing their first game just days after the firing of head coach James Franklin. Both teams had success running the football, but Iowa popped a few more big plays and outlasted the Nittany Lions. The Hawkeyes' third win in the last four games in the series sent Penn State to 0–4 in Big Ten play. Senior defensive back Xavier Nwankpa earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Penn State.

Statistics PSUIOWA First downs 19 11 Plays–yards 74–266 49–313 Rushes–yards 46–173 33–245 Passing yards 93 68 Passing: –– 15–28–2 10–16–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 36:12 23:48 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 15/28, 93 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 28 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trebor Peña 3 receptions, 19 yards Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 10/16, 68 yards, INT Rushing Mark Gronowski 9 carries, 130 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kaden Wetjen 2 receptions, 21 yards

Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale)

Minnesota has not won consecutive games at Kinnick Stadium in nearly 45 years (1981). Iowa dominated the first half, scoring in all three phases of the game. This was the most lopsided game in the series since 2008 as the Gophers never had momentum. The victory once again brought the Hawkeyes to bowl eligibility.

Statistics MINNIOWA First downs 10 13 Plays–yards 53–133 56–274 Rushes–yards 25–24 36–133 Passing yards 109 141 Passing: –– 16–28–3 13–20–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 26:50 33:10 Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Drake Lindsey 16/28, 109 yards, 3 INT Rushing Xavier Ford 8 carries, 25 yards Receiving Le'Meke Brockington 6 receptions, 54 yards Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 12/19, 135 yards, TD Rushing Kamari Moulton 15 carries, 75 yards Receiving Kaden Wetjen 3 receptions, 49 yards

No. 9 Oregon

Fox Big Noon Kickoff was on hand for this top 20 showdown. These teams had only played each other three times prior and this was their first meeting in over 30 years. Rain was a factor as both teams struggled passing. Iowa took their first lead of the game at 1615 with 1:51 remaining. But, in their first visit to Iowa City since 1989, Oregon prevailed with a field goal, 1816.

Statistics OREIOWA First downs 19 18 Plays–yards 57–373 61–239 Rushes–yards 36–261 43–101 Passing yards 112 138 Passing: –– 13–21–1 10–18–0 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:40 33:20 Team Category Player Statistics Oregon Passing Dante Moore 13/21, 112 yards, INT Rushing Noah Whittington 17 carries, 118 yards Receiving Jamari Johnson 4 receptions, 36 yards Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 10/18, 138 yards, TD Rushing Kamari Moulton 23 carries, 87 yards Receiving DJ Vonnahme 2 receptions, 43 yards, TD

at No. 17 USC

Playing at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 1976, the Hawkeyes took control early before stalling out down the stretch. For the second consecutive week rain was a factor but Iowa drove the ball effectively in the first half, leading 21–10 at intermission. USC outscored Iowa 160 in the second half to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Senior Mark Gronowski became the first Hawkeye to have rushing, receiving, and passing touchdowns in the same game in over 30 years. This was the first meeting of the schools since the 2019 Holiday Bowl. Iowa's last win at the Coliseum remains 1961, and The Trojans have an 83 advantage in the overall series.

Statistics IOWAUSC First downs 17 21 Plays–yards 53–320 63–360 Rushes–yards 33–183 31–106 Passing yards 137 254 Passing: –– 13–20–1 23–32–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:44 29:16 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 12/19, 132 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kamari Moulton 15 carries, 90 yards Receiving DJ Vonnahme 4 receptions, 59 yards USC Passing Jayden Maiava 23/32, 254 yards, TD Rushing King Miller 19 carries, 83 yards Receiving Makai Lemon 10 receptions, 153 yards, TD

Michigan State