Hawkeyes spoil the first game for interim coach Terry Smith and the first start for quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer

The Nittany Lions allowed Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski to run for 130 yards, the most for a PSU opponent in 10 years.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAAF game from October 18, 2025 on ESPN.

The Iowa Hawkeyes went into the locker room at the end of the first half down 14-10 thanks to a last-second blocked field goal.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2) take on a conference opponent when they host the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3) on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in a Big Ten clash. The two teams are tied ATS (1-1) in those meetings while the scoring has gone over the total on one occasion.

As the team headed to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes, Penn State players and coaches wore t-shirt with the word "IF" in bold letters on the front. Since the team's coach literally just got fired, do these shirts have anything to do with Franklin?

The Nittany Lions meet the Hawkeyes for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff at Beaver Stadium that no one could have predicted. James Franklin no longer is the Penn State coach, having been fired following a 22-21 loss to Northwestern that dropped the team to 0-3 in the Big Ten.

The list of PSU players who are out against the Hawkeyes includes Allar, Ioane, linebacker Tony Rojas, and reserve edge rusher Jaylen Harvey. Without Ioane, Penn State still has a couple of options. Anthony Donkoh and TJ Shanahan can play guard.

Mark Gronkowski could have waltzed into the end zone after this fake had the Nittany Lions confused.