The Penn State team that trots onto the field at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday won’t be the same one that started the season with national championship aspirations.
Led by interim head coach Terry Smith and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, the unit will look to salvage a lost season, beginning with its first win in a month.
Here’s what to know about the Hawkeyes before the Nittany Lions visit for a night-time matchup in the land of corn.
Head coach:
Just as it’s been since 1999, Iowa is led by head coach Kirk Ferentz, the longest-tenured coach in college football. The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, are led by the shortest tenured head coach in the country.
Ferentz has guided the program to a 208-126 record, making him the winningest coach in Big Ten history, including 12 consecutive bowl appearances. The Hawkeyes have finished 11 seasons ranked in the AP Top 25 poll under Ferentz’s watch, as well as winning two conference titles (2002, 2004) and earning three more conference championship appearances (2015, 2021, 2023).
Prior to joining the Hawkeyes, Ferentz built his resume with stints at Connecticut, Worcester Academy, Pitt, Maine and in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
Ferentz holds a 10-9 overall record against Penn State, though he’s won just two of the last nine matchups.
Coordinators:
Iowa’s offensive coordinator is Tim Lester, who took over in 2024 after Ferentz’ son Brian parted ways with the team. The offense hasn’t seen much improvement under Lester’s watch though, still resembling traditional sluggish Hawkeye offenses.
The team is averaging the second-fewest yards per game in the Big Ten above only Wisconsin, including by far the worst passing yards in the conference at 142.
The defense, however, has also lived up to traditional Hawkeye standards under coordinator Phil Parker, who’s held the role since 2013. The team hasn’t had a losing season since Parker’s arrival, and he’s touted as one of the best in the business.
Iowa is allowing 246.7 yards per game this season, third best in the conference, and has been particularly stout in the run game, allowing a conference best 72 rushing yards per game. It may prove to be the toughest test yet for a Nittany Lion ground game that hasn’t lived up to expectations.
The Hawkeyes’ special teams coordinator is LeVar Woods, a former Iowa linebacker who spent time in the NFL. His entire coaching career, which began in 2008, has been with the program, and he was elevated to his current role in 2018.
His unit remains strong, with the most punt return yardage and second most kick return yardage nationally, though the team’s kicking and punting ranks middle of the pack.
Standout players:
Unlike James Franklin, Smith didn’t name a long list of opposing players he’s been impressed by. Still, Iowa has plenty of playmakers, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Safety Zach Lutmer is arguably the best player on the team, accounting for 31 tackles, a sack, four passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery at the midway point in the season. The redshirt sophomore saw time in a rotational role last season but has broken out in 2025.
Defensive end Max Llewellyn could also create havoc against Penn State, ranking second in the Big Ten with five sacks.
Cornerback TJ Hall is another name to know — he’s been targeted 34 times this season, surrendering just 14 receptions. He’s responsible for six of the team’s 14 pass breakups and has yet to allow a touchdown, per PFF.
Offensively, quarterback Mark Gronowski has been underwhelming after arriving with lots of buzz from the FCS ranks this offseason. He was a two-time national champion with South Dakota State and won the Walter Payton Award, given to the top FCS player, in 2023, as well as being named a finalist in 2024.
However, he’s completed 85 of 130 pass attempts for 743 yards, including just three touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He does need to be accounted for in the ground game, racking up 58 carries for 159 yards this season.
Iowa employs a running-back-by-committee approach, with Kamari Moulton leading the way with 50 touches for 261 yards. Xavier Williams isn’t far behind with 33 carries for 241 yards, while three other players have at least 25 rush attempts.
The strength of the offense may be in the trenches, as the five highest graded players on the unit are linemen, per PFF. Center Logan Jones leads the way, though preseason All-Big Ten honoree, right tackle Gennings Dunker, is also a name to know.
Record:
Iowa sits at 4-2, including a 2-1 record in Big Ten play, though both losses have come against its two ranked opponents.
The Hawkeyes nonconference slate included a 16-13 loss to rival Iowa State and dominant wins over UAlbany and UMass. Conference results include a 38-28 win over Rutgers, a 20-15 loss to Indiana and a 37-0 win over Wisconsin.
Series history:
The two teams have a history that dates back well before Penn State joined the Big Ten, with the first meeting being a 19-0 Iowa win in 1930. After a long hiatus, the series picked up again in 1971, when the Nittany Lions won five consecutive games before losing 7-6 in 1976.
The two then split a home-and-home series in 1983 and 1984, before meeting during Penn State’s first year in the conference in 1993.
The Nittany Lions came out on top in three consecutive seasons by a combined score of 133-48, before the Hawkeyes eeked out a 21-20 win the next year.
Ferentz began his tenure with a 31-7 loss to Penn State before rallying off five consecutive wins, capped off by the infamous 6-4 final in 2004. The two then met for another six-game string from 2007-2012, splitting it three wins apiece. They played six more times from 2016-2021, with the Nittany Lions taking four games.
Most recently, Penn State won 31-0 in 2023, taking an 18-14 all-time lead.
Prediction: Iowa 21, Penn State 16
Iowa’s defensive dominance paired with a hostile home environment don’t bode well for a first-time head coach and first-time starting quarterback.
Smith promised Penn State would play with effort and intensity on Saturday, but their actions say otherwise, with a sense of guilt and surrender hanging over the program following the events of the last week. Smith also admitted the team canceled practice on Sunday and had sluggish days on Monday and Tuesday as players were left “traumatized” by Franklin’s firing.
While the Nittany Lions certainly have the talent to win this game comfortably, it’s hard to see the team rallying given the circumstances and vibe within the program. This team may not be in the headspace to respond come kickoff.
