Skip to main content

Penn State vs Iowa Postgame Show

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby: Thomas Frank Carr10/19/25ThomasFrankCarr

The Penn State Nittany Lions football team dropped its fourth-straight game in conference play to fall to 3-4 on Saturday night. The team, fresh off the emotional blow of head coach James Franklin’s firing, couldn’t get it done on the road and lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes. We’ll discuss the game, how the team responded to the week, and what another loss means to the program.

Join the show live immediately following the game to discuss the loss. We’ll be talking with fans for roughly an hour about what led to the defeat and what the team’s outlook is now that it’s struggling for bowl eligibility.

The Penn State football team fights to close finish

Interim head coach Terry Smith fired up his team this week and found the right combination on offense and defense to play a close game with the Hakweyes. Defensively, Zakee Wheatley got an interception on Iowa’s first drive of the game, which Penn State turned into a touchdown. After a field goal by Iowa, the team traded punts for much of the first half. Then, after an Ethan Grunkemeyer interception set up an Iowa touchdown, it seemed that all was going the wrong way for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State punted with roughly a minute left in the first half, and Iowa set up for a 66-yard field goal. Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam blocked the attempt, and Elliot Washington returned the block for a touchdown before half. The team then scored coming out of halftime to take a 21-10 lead.

However, the Nittany Lions tried to go for a fourth and one from their own 40-yard line, which tight end Luke Reynolds did not convert. Penn State and Iowa traded drives in the fourth quarter, but Iowa QB Mark Gronowski broke a long 67-yard run to set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Hawkeyes.

More Postgame Coverage

Hear what interim head coach Terry Smith had to say after the game in his postgame press conference. Blue White Illustrated is out on the road in Iowa, and reporter Greg Pickel will bring you Smith’s comments, plus his own thoughts on the game afterward, with our weekly Instant Analysis.

The team now gets a much-needed bye week and will need to find its composure as the team is now in the thick of its toughest road of Big Ten games. The team will head out to Columbus, Halloween weekend, to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated right now so you don’t miss any of the news, including the coaching search to replace Franklin.