Blog Article
Iowa Football 2025 Season Preview: A New Era Begins
Iowa football has never seen anything like Mark Gronowski.
Here’s a quarterback who doesn’t just win games – he wins championships. Two FCS national titles. A 49-6 record as a starter. The 2023 Walter Payton Award. This isn’t some developmental project or “potential” quarterback Iowa hopes might work out.
This is a proven winner stepping into the most crucial position on the team.
The Bottom Line: For the first time in years, Iowa’s offense might match its defense.
Why This Quarterback Is Different
Most Iowa quarterbacks arrive with hope.
Gronowski arrives with hardware. His 2023 season at South Dakota State tells you everything you need to know about what Iowa just acquired:
- 3,058 passing yards and 29 touchdowns
- Just five interceptions the entire season
- Led an undefeated 15-0 national championship team
- Named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year
But here’s what makes this even better for Iowa.
Gronowski was seriously considering the NFL after receiving an invitation to the combine. The fact that he chose Iowa City over professional football should tell you something about Tim Lester’s vision for this offense.
“It’s the Shanahan system that they are running there,” Gronowski told ESPN. “That’s what a lot of NFL teams are running. My goal throughout the process of transferring was getting in a situation to become the best player and be the best potential prospect for the NFL.”
His shoulder surgery recovery? Ahead of schedule.
“The recovery has gone great,” Kirk Ferentz shared. “Everything is right on schedule. He’s probably a little bit ahead, that type of deal.”
The Offense Finally Gets Serious
Iowa hasn’t had a top-35 scoring offense since 2008.
Think about that number for a second. Sixteen years of offensive mediocrity while fielding consistently elite defenses. The 2024 season epitomized this frustration: 131.6 passing yards per game with only 10 passing touchdowns.
That changes now.
Tim Lester didn’t just bring in a quarterback. He orchestrated a complete offensive overhaul:
- Warren Ruggiero hired as senior analyst from Wake Forest to modernize the passing attack
- Sam Phillips was recruited from Chattanooga to add speed and playmaking at receiver
- Multiple top-10 PFF-graded offensive linemen returning for protection
- West Coast system implementation is designed for Gronowski’s dual-threat ability
The running game faces its biggest challenge with Kaleb Johnson’s departure (1,537 yards, 21 touchdowns in 2024). But new running backs coach Omar Young brings NFL and major college experience to develop Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson.
The receiving corps finally has weapons. Phillips joins Jacob Gill and the breakout candidate Reece Vander Zee, giving Gronowski actual targets who can stretch defenses.
Defense Stays Elite Despite Losses
Phil Parker loses his best players and keeps winning anyway.
That has been the Iowa defensive story for over a decade, and 2025 won’t be any different. Yes, linebacker Jay Higgins is gone. Yes, defensive backs Nick Jackson and Jermari Harris moved on. But Parker’s system keeps producing NFL talent regardless of personnel changes.
The defensive line remains dominant:
- Aaron Graves and Ethan Hurkett anchor the pass rush
- Portal additions Jonah Pace (Central Michigan) and Bryce Hawthorne (South Dakota State) add depth
- Iowa’s development pipeline continues churning out pros
Xavier Nwankpa leads a secondary that needs young players like T.J. Hall and Deshaun Lee to step up immediately. The linebacker position represents the biggest question mark, with Jaden Harrell and Karson Sharar taking over.
But this is Iowa defense we’re talking about. They’ll figure it out.
The Schedule Is Brutal
Iowa’s 2025 schedule makes their 2024 slate look like a scrimmage.
Three College Football Playoff teams visit Kinnick Stadium: Indiana (September 27), Penn State (October 18), and Oregon (November 8). These aren’t just games – they’re statements waiting to happen.
Here’s the complete gauntlet:
Non-Conference:
- Albany (August 30) – Home opener
- At Iowa State (September 6) – Cy-Hawk rivalry in Ames
- UMass (September 13) – Home on Big Ten Network
Big Ten Road Tests:
- At Rutgers (September 20) – Conference opener
- At Wisconsin (October 11) – Classic Big Ten battle
- At USC (November 15) – First LA trip as conference foes
- At Nebraska (November 28) – Black Friday finale
“I think they pull off one big upset in Kinnick,” said Hawkeye Insider expert David Eickholt. “Maybe reclaim some of that ‘Kinnick at Night’ talk.”
The projected win total sits at 7.5. Most experts expect Iowa to cruise past that number if Gronowski delivers.
Recruiting Momentum Builds
Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class proves the program’s national relevance.
The rankings vary by service, but the talent level doesn’t:
- 33rd nationally per On3
- 38th per 247Sports
- 48th per ESPN
- 54th per Rivals
Four four-star prospects headline the class:
- Iose Epenesa – defensive lineman (No. 6 EDGE nationally)
- Thomas Meyer – tight end and top Iowa prospect
- Burke Gautcher – linebacker
- Plus multiple three-stars with serious upside
The 2026 class already ranks 23rd nationally, according to ESPN. The momentum is real.
Special Teams Stays Perfect
Drew Stevens doesn’t miss.
His 2024 numbers speak for themselves: 40-for-40 on extra points and 20-of-23 on field goals (87%). Return specialist Kaden Wetjen scored touchdowns on both kick and punt returns while averaging 27.3 yards per return.
In close games, this unit wins you football games.
Why This Year Matters
Iowa’s track record against elite competition has been embarrassing.
The Hawkeyes are 0-6 against Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State since 2021, getting outscored 215-34 in those games. The 35-7 loss to Ohio State in 2024 showed exactly how far Iowa had fallen behind the conference elite.
But 2025 presents the perfect opportunity for redemption.
Penn State and Oregon both visit Kinnick Stadium. Indiana comes to town riding their Cinderella story. These games will determine whether Iowa’s offensive upgrades translate into victories against championship-caliber opponents.
Expert sentiment is cautiously optimistic. CBS Sports and other outlets project the Hawkeyes to exceed their 7.5-win total, with some expecting them to finish in the top half of the Big Ten’s offensive rankings for the first time in over a decade.
The ceiling is 8-9 wins if everything clicks. The floor is another year of offensive frustration if Gronowski can’t translate FCS success to Big Ten competition.
The Program-Defining Moment
Everything changes if Mark Gronowski succeeds.
Iowa has built an identity around development, defense, and doing more with less. But in the expanded Big Ten, “less” might not be enough anymore. The addition of Gronowski represents the program’s most aggressive attempt to compete with the conference’s elite programs.
Success in 2025 proves that strategic upgrades can coexist with Iowa values. Failure raises difficult questions about the program’s direction in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The quarterback revolution starts now.
Either Iowa finally breaks through, or they get left behind.
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