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Indiana Football Game Preview: Iowa – key question, injury report, how to watch

6I5A5606by: Drew Rosenberg09/26/25drew_rosenberg2
Syndication: The Herald-Times
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 © Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Indiana football heads to Iowa for their first road game of the 2025 season.

The Hoosiers are coming off a massive 63-10 win over Illinois and will look to continue proving that they are one of the best teams in the country.

Iowa comes into this game 3-1 with wins over Rutgers, Albany, and UMass, but lost to Iowa State. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is in his 27th year with the Hawkeyes, boasting a record of 207-125 during his tenure.

Transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski has thrown for 492 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in four games, but has added 143 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Saturday’s game will be another chance for Indiana to prove they are a real contender in the Big Ten when they travel to a hostile environment.

Below is the full preview ahead of Saturday’s week four game.

Opposing Q&A: Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, players preview Week 5 matchup with Indiana

Key Question

Will Indiana be able to avoid complacency after big win over Illinois?

Curt Cignetti has often emphasized the point of stalking complacency and eliminating self-satisfaction within his program.

Coming off of Indiana’s biggest win under Cignetti, Saturday’s matchup with Iowa will be the perfect opportunity for the Hoosiers to show that buy-in.

Oftentimes, we see teams have a let-down performance immediately following a big win.

Last season, we saw Alabama lose to Vanderbilt after their massive win over Georgia. We also saw Ohio State beat Indiana and then lose the following week against Michigan.

Kinnick Stadium is not an easy place to play, and Indiana has not won there since 2007.

With a bye week and Oregon on the other side of Saturday, this is a textbook trap game for Indiana.

“It’s a more difficult challenge than the last one,” Cignetti said this week. “The sooner our guys realize that, the better.”

Cignetti is saying all the right things, but none of that will matter when Indiana steps onto the field on Saturday.

They will have to avoid complacency and show up in a tough road environment if they want to start 5-0 for the second straight season.

Coach Q&A: Curt Cignetti previews Indiana’s Week 5 road trip to Iowa

Matchup History

Indiana football has faced off against Iowa 78 times and has gone 28-46-4 in those games.

The Hoosiers have lost the last four meetings between the two programs, with their last win coming in 2012.

The most recent matchup happened in 2021 when the No. 17 Hoosiers traveled to Iowa City and were dominated 34-6 by No. 18 Iowa.

Michael Penix Jr. threw three interceptions, including two to Riley Moss, who returned both for touchdowns in the loss.

(ON3+) Early Look: Taking a look at Indiana’s Week 5 opponent, Iowa

Injury Report

Running back Lee Beebe suffered a knee injury against Indiana State and will miss the rest of the 2025 season.

Redshirt-senior safety Bryson Bonds also will miss the rest of the 2025 season after suffering a knee injury in week one.

True freshman safety Byron Baldwin Jr. was called day-to-day by Cignetti after week one, but has yet to play for Indiana. His status for Saturday is in doubt.

Iowa will be without their leading rusher, Jaziun Patterson, on Saturday, per Kirk Ferentz.

Indiana braces for ‘more difficult challenge’ in road clash at Iowa

Quick Hitters

Who?  #11 Indiana (4-0) vs Iowa (3-1)

When?  Saturday, Sep. 27 | 3:30 p.m. ET

Where?  Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa)

TV: Peacock

Radio:  Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Spread:  Indiana -7.5 per BetMGM

Over/Under: 47.5 per BetMGM

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