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Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Penn State fans need to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2025
A new college football season will soon arrive in Iowa City, Iowa and the big question will be whether or not the Iowa offense will have a new look that thrives more than in recent years. Iowa had some ups and downs as the Big Ten expanded, and the Hawkeyes had some close calls go the other way to prevent a more favorable postseason landing spot. But that has been par for the course for Iowa lately as the Hawkeyes continue to build a solid defense and running game. Will they have a passing game worth reckoning with in 2025? That may be the biggest question. Here's a look at the Hawkeyes entering the 2025 college football season. Advertisement 2024 in review The theme of Iowa football in recent years has been playing with solid defense and wondering if the offense can do anything. It has been a struggle to get the Iowa offense to click at times. Iowa finished the 2025 season ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing offense but 17th in passing offense. Iowa had 10 touchdown passes and averaged just 20.0 passes per game, the lowest average among Big Ten programs. Kaleb Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing average with 128.08 yards per game and had a Big Ten-leading 21 games. He is now a Pittsburgh Steeler, so Iowa will look to replace his rushing production with Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson. Iowa went 8-5 last season with a 27-24 loss in the Music City Bowl to the Missouri Tigers to close out the season. Iowa had a one-point loss to Iowa State and lost by a field goal to UCLA, but suffered double-digit setbacks against Ohio State and Michigan State. Some would say Iowa was just a few plays away from a 10 or 11-win season, but the Hawkeyes know what needs to improve to flip some of those close games in their favor. Head coach profile Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz during a timeout against Penn State in Beaver Stadium Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in State College, Pa. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz returns for his 27th season as head coach of the Hawkeyes, remaining college football's longest tenured head coach. Ferentz will soon become the all-time leader in Big Ten coaching victories as he enters the 2025 season jus one conference win shy of the current record of 205 wins held by Woody Hayes of Ohio State (Penn State's Joe Paterno accumulated 162 wins in Big Ten play during his career, good for fifth on the Big Ten's all-time list). Advertisement Top offensive player Nov 8, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz shakes hands with Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) after a score in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Iowa is home to one of the top offensive linemen in college football this season with offensive tackle Gennings Dunker. Dunker is being scouted as one of the best offensive tackles in the 2026 NFL draft pool and could be a potential first-round draft pick. Dunker was a second-team All-Big Ten player last season and will be a tough challenge for opposing defensive linemen to get around this fall. Top defensive player Aaron Graves stands for a photo during Hawkeye football media day in Iowa City, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. H1a5033 Cr2 Defensive tackle Aaron Graves is back in 2025 after recording six sacks for the Hawkeyes last season. Graves was an honorable mention for All-Big Ten last fall and should be in the mix for more All-Big Ten honors this season. Graves would have been a decent draft pick in the NFL draft had he turned pro in 2025, so his return is a nice boost for the Iowa defensive line, which should be very good this season. Advertisement 2025 schedule Aug. 30 vs. Albany Sept. 6 at Iowa State Sept. 13 vs. UMass Sept. 19 (Fri) at Rutgers Sept. 27 vs. Indiana Oct. 11 at Wisconsin Oct. 18 vs. Penn State Oct. 25 vs. Minnesota Nov. 8 vs. Oregon Nov. 15 at USC Nov. 22 vs. Michigan State Nov. 28 (Fri) at Nebraska Iowa faces some challenges in the Big Ten schedule with three games against teams that were in the College Football Playoff last season, but they also get to play those games at home (against Indiana, Penn State, and Oregon). Penn State has had some tough matchups in Iowa over the years, but the Nittany Lions have owned the upper hand in the series in recent years. This road trip for Penn State is well worth monitoring for a potential upset alert. The Hawkeyes skip games against Ohio State and Michigan this season but will play on the road twice in November against USC and Nebraska. Iowa also plays its in-state rival from the Big 12 Iowa State on the road in Ames, Iowa this season. With a win total floating around 7.5, predicting which way Iowa's season may go seems risky without knowing if the offense will be rejuvenated at all. However, Iowa winning eight games feels very on-brand for Iowa. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads Advertisement This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: What to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2025 from a Penn State view
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa Football: 5 bold predictions for the Hawkeyes ahead of 2025 season
Iowa Football: 5 bold predictions for the Hawkeyes ahead of 2025 season With the 2025-26 college football season slowly making its way here as the dog days of summer drag on before training camp starts and pads begin popping, it is a good time to look at a slightly revamped Iowa Hawkeyes team. Iowa was more active in the portal than they have been in recent years, adding some instant infusions of talent on both sides of the ball. Those new players have hope swirling around the program that they could be a player in the Big Ten and, if things break right, maybe even a shot at the College Football Playoff. As the season nears its kickoff, Iowa is seeing answers on offense, an uptick on the defense front, and is still trying to find out who will be the next great defensive back wearing the black and yellow. With that, check out five bold predictions for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2025. Bonus Prediction: Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson combine for 1,400 rushing yards In 2024, Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson combined for 782 yards on 147 carries. The two combined to average a strong 5.3 yards per carry. For context, Kaleb Johnson ran for 1,599 yards on 240 carries. If these two had been given all of those carries, they were on pace for roughly 1,300 yards. Moulton figures to be the lead back in the offense, with Patterson spelling him in a rotational capacity. With the offensive line in their second year of Lester's scheme, after paving the way for 2,564 yards in 2024, these two figure to have a breakout season and combine for at least 1,400 rushing yards. A wide receiver surpasses 700 receiving yards Iowa has not had a wide receiver go for more than 700 yards since Ihmir Smith-Marsette had 722 yards in 2019. That changes this year. Iowa has a much more experienced quarterback than they have in some time, and an upgraded receiver room that has been a weakness for a while. The name to keep an eye on is Jacob Gill. In 2024, he managed to reel in 411 yards on 35 receptions with a rotating door at the quarterback position. If he and Mark Gronowski can stay healthy in 2025, the two feel destined to build a connection as Gill brings that steady, knowledgeable, reliable skill set to the table. Three or more defensive linemen register at least five sacks Last year, Iowa had three defensive linemen register at least five sacks. Ethan Hurkett led the way at 6.5 and was followed by Aaron Graves with six and Max Llewellyn at 5.5. Look for Iowa to once again see that happen. The three aforementioned names are returning to Iowa for another year. More experienced, the trio should once again have a strong output, while possibly being Iowa's strength defensively. If Brian Allen can take the next step in his development, after tallying three sacks last year, he could become the fourth member to join the club. Xavier Nwankpa reels in four or more interceptions With a position change to allow Xavier Nwankpa to play more naturally and instinctively, he could be the name to watch as Iowa's breakout defensive back in 2025. A former five-star recruit, the talent has flashed for Nwankpa, but the consistency of that talent has been the issue. Entering his fourth year with the program and under defensive coordinator Phil Parker, Nwankpa could be primed for a breakout season. With just two interceptions in his career so far, the Iowa native has the potential to be the difference-maker on the back end in 2025. Mark Gronowski combines for at least 25 total touchdowns Mark Gronowski has only had fewer than 25 touchdowns once in his career, and that came in his freshman season when he had 15 passing touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns. The other three seasons at South Dakota State, he tallied touchdown totals of 38 in 2022, 37 in 2023, and 33 in 2024. There will be an adjustment period and some growing pains moving to the Big Ten, but Tim Lester's offense should help to alleviate many of those issues. Gronowski has the arm talent Iowa has been missing, paired with the dual-threat running ability to find the end zone 25 times for Iowa this year and be an offensive weapon they have been severely missing. Iowa averages over 30 points per game offensively The last time Iowa averaged more than 30 points per game was in 2020, the COVID-19-shortened season. They averaged 31.8 points per game. Before that, the last time Iowa averaged more than 30 points per game in a full season was 2018. In 2024, Iowa took a step forward and averaged 27.7 points per game, which was good for 72nd best in the country. With a better quarterback, more time to learn the system, and an experienced line up front, the Hawkeyes grow on offense and have enough firepower to win some games on their own, as opposed to prior years of relying on defensive scores and special teams plays.
