Penn State comes up a point short in 25-24 loss at Iowa: Recap
IOWA CITY — Penn State is at Iowa tonight in search of its first win in October and its first since firing head coach James Franklin back on Sunday. Interim head coach Terry Smith and the Lions arrived here at Kinnick Stadium around 5 p.m. ET for tonight’s 7 p.m. ET contest on Peacock. This is your home for live updates, stats, the score, and more as the game unfolds. Note: This page does not update automatically. So, please refresh your browser often for the latest information.
Iowa beats Penn State 25-24
10/18/2025 09:20:52 PMThe Hawkeyes outgained the Lions on the yardage counter and on the scoreboard to hand Penn State it’s fourth consecutive loss.
Penn State turns it over on downs
10/18/2025 09:14:54 PMThe Lions could not continue to move the ball on their most recent drive. Iowa takes over with a chance to run out the clock.
Touchdown, Iowa
10/18/2025 09:01:29 PMTouchdown, Iowa: Wetjen on an end around for six from the eight. In the blink of an eye, Iowa takes the lead back. It is up 25-24 and going for two, which it does not get. That’s the score with 3:54 to play.
Penn State adds a field goal
10/18/2025 08:52:56 PMRyan Barker’s 32-yard field goal attempt is good. Penn State 24, Iowa 19 with 4:56 to go in the fourth quarter.
Iowa adds a field goal
10/18/2025 08:38:31 PMDrew Stevens’ 31-yard field goal is good. Penn State 21, Iowa 19 with 13:17 to go in the fourth quarter.
The third quarter is over
10/18/2025 08:33:15 PMMoulten runs for 21 on the final play of the third quarter. Penn State 21, Iowa 16 after three. The Hawkeyes have 1st and 10 at the Lions’ 19-yard line when the fourth quarter starts.
Penn State turns it over on downs
10/18/2025 08:32:11 PMPenn State tries a direct snap to Luke Reynolds on 4th and 1 at the Iowa 40 and he’s ruled short of the line to gain. Iowa takes over at the Penn State 40 with :12 left in the third quarter.
Touchdown, Iowa
10/18/2025 08:22:56 PMTouchdown, Iowa: Gronkowski skips into the end zone untouched for six on a rollout keeper. Iowa will line up to go for two trailing 21-16 with 4:19 to go in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes’ two-point try is no good on an incomplete pass. It’s PSU 21, Iowa 16 with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.
Touchdown, Penn State
10/18/2025 08:12:36 PMTouchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen bounces outside for an eight-yard scoring scamper. Kirk Ferentz’s 66-yard field goal try turns a 10-7 Hawkeyes lead into a 21-10 deficit in about six minutes of game time.
The second half is underway
10/18/2025 08:04:40 PMThe second half is underway at Kinnick Stadium. It starts with a touchback. Penn State takes over at its own 25.
Terry Smith at halftime
10/18/2025 07:45:53 PMTerry Smith on the Penn State Sports Network:
“Lot of excitement, lot of plays, some bad decisions on my part; our whole motto this week is forget the last play and keep playing. That blocked field goal represented who we want to be as Penn State football. They should have been flagged for the test kick. In sports, they always say that God never lies, and that’s what just happened. We get the ball coming out.”
On Grunk
He’s been OK. Up and down. He forced the one late where they got down to the one. We just got to clean it up and let him use his legs a little bit more.
Touchdown Penn State to end the first half
10/18/2025 07:42:55 PMIowa’s 66-yard field goal attempt is blocked by Xavier Gilliam’s left hand and is returned for a touchdown by Elliot Washington. Penn State ends the half with a 14-10 lead thanks to Kirk Ferentz needlessly taking a risk there. The Lions get the ball to start the second half.
Penn State punts again
10/18/2025 07:35:48 PMPenn State spreads it out on third and four at the Iowa 31. Grunkemeyer scrambles and throws it away, which saves Iowa its final timeout after Singleton ran out of bounds on third down. Brutal. PSU punts with :55 to go.
Touchdown, Iowa
10/18/2025 07:30:40 PMTouchdown, Iowa: Gronkowski sneaks it in from a yard out. It will not be reviewed despite a long wait to see if it would be. Iowa has its first lead of the night, 10-7, with 1:14 left in the first half.
Iowa interception
10/18/2025 07:27:11 PMOn 3rd and 7 at the Iowa 23, Penn State spreads the field and Grunkemeyer’s is picked off and returned deep into the Lions’ territory. Grunkemeyer made the tackle at the PSU 1. The pass bounced off Luke Reynolds’ hands.
Penn State has the ball back
10/18/2025 07:21:50 PMIowa’s punt is a touchback. Penn State takes over at its own 20 with 1:51 to go in the first half.
It’s the two minute timeout
10/18/2025 07:18:07 PMMark Gronowski runs on 3rd and 4 and is ruled that his slide was short of the line to gain. It’s going to be reviewed I’m sure during the two minute timeout, which is now. It’s currently 4th and 1 at the Iowa 39.
Iowa gets an INT
10/18/2025 07:12:44 PMOn 3rd and 12 at the Iowa 38, Ethan Grunkemeyer throws deep to no one in particular. An Iowa DB picked it and it was overturned upon review. The Hawkeyes take over at their own 4 when play resumes with 6:14 left in the first half.
Iowa will punt again
10/18/2025 06:57:34 PMIowa set up a screen on 3rd and 11, and it had some blockers, but Dejuan Lane went there first, and Penn State forced a quick three-and-out early in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes punt from their own 20. Devonte Ross fields it at the Lions 10. They take over there.
Penn State will punt again
10/18/2025 06:54:32 PMEthan Grunkemeyer can only throw it away on third and long and does so in a way that draws an intentional grounding flag. Gabe Nwosu punts from his own 10 and Iowa takes over at its 34 with 14:41 left in the first half.
The first quarter is over
10/18/2025 06:49:47 PMOne quarter is in the books at Kinnick Stadium. Penn State 7, Iowa 3. Hawkeyes have a 69-45 yards advantage. Neither team has converted a third down yet. The Lions have it 2nd and 8 at their own 30 when the second quarter starts.
The Lions get another stop
10/18/2025 06:45:01 PMStevens’ 46-yard field goal is no good. It sails wide right, and Penn State gets another stop. The Lions take over leading Iowa 7-3 at its own 28 with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Penn State will punt
10/18/2025 06:40:20 PMPenn State tries an option run with Jaxon Smolik on 3rd and 2 and Iowa isn’t fooled by it. The Lions go three and out and will punt from their own 18 late in the first quarter.
Iowa is on the board
10/18/2025 06:33:58 PMDrew Stevens’ 39-yard field goal is good. Penn State 7, Iowa 3 with 4:24 left in the first quarter.
Iowa will try a field goal
10/18/2025 06:30:49 PMPenn State’s defense bends but doesn’t break as Iowa throws an incomplete pass on thrid and 6. Xavier Gilliam is hurt after the play. Iowa will try a field goal after a TV timeout while trainers attend to Gilliam.
Touchdown, Penn State
10/18/2025 06:21:05 PMTouchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen runs in from a yard out on fourth and goal at the one. The Lions have their first lead of the day off the Zakee Wheatley interception. It’s PSU 7, Iowa 0 with 8:45 to go in the first quarter.
The Lions have it in the Iowa red zone
10/18/2025 06:16:36 PMEthan Grunkemeyer had a nine-yard run on 4th and 4 to get to the Iowa 20. Jaxon Smolik just came in and ran for another first down. It’s first and goal for Penn State at the Iowa 10.
Penn State gets an INT
10/18/2025 06:13:00 PMINTERCEPTION: Iowa’s third down pass bounces off Jacob Gill and the ball flies wait into Zakee Wheatley’s hands. Penn State takes over at the Iowa 35 for Ethan Grunkemeyer’s first drive.
Penn State loses the toss
10/18/2025 06:07:49 PMIowa will take the ball first to start this contest at Kinnick Stadium.
Tonight referee
10/18/2025 06:07:24 PMIs Francisco Villar of the Big Ten.
Warmups are over
10/18/2025 05:43:44 PMNo major changes for Penn State. AJ. Harris is back in the lineup as one of the starting cornerbacks. The offensive line will start as listed below.
Offensive line update
10/18/2025 05:30:14 PMLooks like the first-team offensive line will be Shelton-Shanahan-Dawkins-Donkoh-Rucci with Vega Ioane out.
No travel roster surprises
10/18/2025 05:20:05 PMFreshmen Michael Troutmen, an offensive lineman, and Cortez Harris, a defensive end, are here with Vega Ioane and Jaylen Harvey back at home. Otherwise, no surprised.
Pregame warmups are underway
10/18/2025 04:59:38 PMStay tuned for info on how the offensive line looks.
The Lions will be without Vega Ioane
10/18/2025 04:58:23 PMThe starting left guard is out and did not travel with the team to Iowa City. Neither did second-team defensive end Jaylen Harvey. Here is the full availability report:
Here’s who is OUT:
#7 Kaden Saunders
#13 Tony Rojas
#15 Drew Allar
#16 Bekkem Kritza
#18 Max Granville
#19 Josiah Brown
#27 Lamont Payne Jr.
#30 Kari Jackson
#42 Mason Robinson
#44 Jaylen Harvey
#58 Kaleb Artis
#59 Brady O’Hara
#61 Liam Horan
#71 Olaivavega Ioane
#81 Donte Nastasi
#84 Peter Gonzalez
#95 Jordan Mayer
And here is who is questionable:
NONE.
Penn State and Iowa are here
10/18/2025 04:57:26 PMBoth teams rolled up to the stadium on coach buses around 4 p.m. ET