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Penn State Falls to Iowa in Another Heartbreaker at Kinnick Stadium

The Nittany Lions give up a late touchdown in losing their fourth straight game and first without James Franklin.

Mark Wogenrich

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen dives into the pile against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium.
Penn State running back Kaytron Allen dives into the pile against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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IOWA CITY, Iowa | Penn State dropped another heartbreaker at Kinnick Stadium, falling to Iowa 25-24 after giving up a late touchdown run with 3:54 remaining. The loss was Penn State’s fourth straight at Kinnick by five points or less. The Nittany Lions also have lost four games this season by a combined total of 13 points.

Penn State led 24-19 with under 5 minutes remaining when Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski broke a 67-yard run on first down that turned the game. Kaden Wetjen scored on the next play, as Iowa needed just two plays to go 75 yards and take the lead.

Penn State had one last gasp, with Kaytron Allen (28 carries, 145 yards, two touchdowns) opening the drive with a 6-yard gain. But on 3rd-and-5, Penn State turned to Nicholas Singleton, who gained a yard. Iowa brought a full blitz on fourth down, which quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer eluded enough to make a desperate heave downfield to Trebor Pena. The pass fell incomplete, with Pena under heavy coverage, and the Nittany Lions fell to 3-4.

Penn State faced a trip to Kinnick Stadium that no one could have predicted. James Franklin no longer is the Penn State coach, having been fired following a 22-21 loss to Northwestern that dropped the team to 0-3 in the Big Ten.

Penn State led 21-10 in the second half after Allen's second touchdown run, but the Hawkeyes outscored the Nittany Lions 15-3 from there. After the game, Penn State interim coach Terry Smith and players said they were in meetings and did not watch the interview.

Penn State 21, Iowa 19: Nittany Lions hold Iowa to field goal

Penn State's defense made a critical stand, as cornerback Audavion Collins delivered a huge second-down tackle for loss to force 3rd-and-long. Iowa (4-for-12 on third down) couldn't convert and settled for a 31-yard field goal.

Third quarter: Penn State 21, Iowa 16

Iowa ended the third quarter with a surge, scoring on quarterback Mark Gronowski's 8-yard run and stopping Penn State on a fourth-down trick play. The Nittany Lions ran a play they used with Tyler Warren last season, with tight end Luke Reynolds moving under center while quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer faked a play change.

Iowa didn't bite, stuffed Reynolds short and reclaimed the momentum. Meanwhile, Kayton Allen ended the third quarter with 97 yards rushing. Iowa running back Kamari Moulton capped the quarter with a 21-yard gain to the Penn State 19-yard line.

Penn State 21, Iowa 16: Hawkeyes respond

Penn State scored 14 points between offensive touches for Iowa, so the Hawkeyes needed a response. Gronowski, who hasn't thrown the ball well, changed the game by scrambling.

He capitalized on Penn State's defense dismissing his run game on 3rd-and-3, leading to a 38-yard gain through open field. Gronowski then capped the drive with a well executed tuck on a 3rd-down-zone read, taking advantage of a wide open left side. Iowa's 2-point pass fell incomplete, but we have a ballgame.

Penn State starts 2nd half with a decisive score

Kaytron Allen is the No. 1 back tonight, which he proved on the Nittany Lions' first drive of the third quarter. Allen cut loose for a 30-yard gain, by far the game's longest play so far, and darted past an Iowa linebacker for an 8-yard touchdown, giving Penn State a 21-10 lead.

Penn State still tinkered with the Jaxon Smolik changeup looks, but the real star on this drive was Allen. He has 16 carries for 83 dominant yards. A third-and-14 pass interference on Iowa certainly helped as well.

Halftime: Penn State 14, Iowa 10

The Nittany Lions really have no business leading this game. Its quarterback has thrown two interceptions, the offense has 98 total yards, and Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton is averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Yet the Nittany Lions have turned a tipped interception and a blocked field goal into two touchdowns and a 14-10 halftime lead over the Hawkeyes. Zakee Wheatley's first-drive interception gave the Nittany Lions a short field, which Kaytron Allen converted into a 1-yard touchdown run.

The half then ended with one of the most bizarre plays of the season (detailed below). Neither offense is killing it; they're a combined 3-for-15 on third, and the quarterbacks have combined for 96 yards passing and three interceptions.

But Iowa has made some baffling fourth-down decisions (punting from its own 38 on 4th-and-1, attempting the 66-yard field goal), and Penn State has capitalized.

Iowa's wild decision

Iowa deserved that. Penn State's Xavier Gilliam blocked a 66-yard field-goal attempt, which Elliot Washington II recovered for a touchdown to end the first half. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz had an opportunity to reconsider his decision, after kicker Drew Stevens' first attempt came up seven yards short.

Penn State interim coach Terry Smith argued with officials that Iowa should have been flagged for attempting a test kick. But even after the miss, Ferentz doubled down, giving Stevens another shot into the wind. And Penn State made Ferentz pay. It was Penn State's first blocked field goal for a touchdown since Grant Haley vs. Ohio State in 2016.

Ethan Grunkemeyer's second pick is deflating

The Penn State quarterback's first interception meant little, but the second proved costly. Grunkemeyer tried to drive a throw to tight end Luke Reynolds, who was covered and could get only a hand on the ball.

That was the problem, as Grunkemeyer's tip fell into the arms of Iowa's Xavier Nwankpa. Making things worse, Nwankpa ran over Grunkemeyer to the 1-yard line, and Iowa converted the touchdown for a 10-7 lead.

An interception Penn State didn't mind

Before his second interception, Ethan Grunkemeyer threw one that wasn't really his fault and didn't bother Penn State. Grunkemeyer and receiver Devonte Ross weren't synced on a 3rd-and-long go route, a throw initially ruled incomplete. Upon video replay, however, Iowa's Deshaun Lee was got credit for an acrobatic interception at the 4-yard line.

The interception was a de facto punt, and the Nittany Lions got a stop on their next defensive series (albeit when Iowa declined to attempt a 4th-and-1 from its 39-yard line.

First quarter: Penn State 7, Iowa 3

Penn State played a lively first quarter, bringing the energy that interim coach Terry Smith promosed. The Nittany Lions scored on their opening drive, set up by a one-handed Zakee Wheatley interception, an held Iowa to a field goal on three possessions.

The Nittany Lions also benefitted from Iowa steering away from its run game in certain spots, despite Karami Moulton averaging 8 yards per game. Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton is playing across the formation and causing more disruption, and Wheatley has been quite active.

Meanwhile, Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki revived the two-quarterback look with Jaxon Smolik running the option. It worked on the opening drive, but Iowa stuffed Smolik on third-and-short to force a punt. That could have been red flag for the Nittany Lions' offense.

Penn State's run defense remains an issue

The quarterbacks aren't lighting up the game (combined 2-for-8 for 17 yards and an interception), but Iowa's backfield could take over this game at some point. The Hawkeyes bored through Penn State's defensive line on their second series, with Kamari Moulton gaining 38 yards on four straight carries.

But the Hawkeyes abandoned the run at the Penn State 25-yard line. Safety Zakee Wheatley nearly sacked Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski, and A.J. Harris had good coverage on a third-down go route. The Hawkeyes settled for a field goal, cutting Penn State's lead to 7-3.

Penn State turns interception into early lead

The Nittany Lions made their first interception of the Big Ten schedule, turning that into a 7-0 lead behind quarterbacks Ethan Grunkemeyer and Jaxon Smolik. Cornerback Zion Tracy, who spent a few plays jawing with Iowa receivers, tipped a pass that safety Zakee Wheatley intercepted for a huge momentum shift for Grunkemeyer's first start.

Penn State's first offensive series looked much more like an Andy Kotelnicki offense, with designed quarterback runs and a pair of plays for Smolik, the No. 2 quarterback. Grunkemeyer deftly converted a 4th-and-4, dodging three tackles for a 9-yard gain, and Kaytron Allen ended the drive with a 1-yard scoring run on another fourth down, giving the Nittany Lions a 7-0 lead.

Two more key Penn State players are out

Vega Ioane, Penn State's starting left guard and its best offensive lineman, is out for the game. Ioane was listed on the Big Ten's pregame availability report. Ioane's status for the remainder of the season is unknown. Starting quarterback Drew Allar and linebacker Tony Rojas already are out for the season.

Penn State likely will turn to T.J. Shanahan Jr., or sophomore Cooper Cousins on the interior to replace Ioane. Shanahan started the last two games at right guard. Cousins missed the Northwestern game but is not listed as out or questionable on the availability report. Interim head coach Terry Smith said that Cousins is "week to week."

In addition, defensive end Jaylen Harven is out. Harvey has made one start and plays significantly in the line rotation. He has made five tackles this season.

Penn State arrives with new gear

The Nittany Lions arrived at Kinnick Stadium wearing "IF" T-shirts. The shirts are a reference to Smith's coaching philosophy of working together and playing as a team. Their entrance was normally quiet.

How to watch the Penn State-Iowa game

Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Devonte Ross runs with the ball after breaking a tackle vs. the Northwestern Wildcats.
Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Devonte Ross (5) runs with the ball after breaking a tackle during the fourth quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

When Penn State was 3-0 and ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25, this game appeared destined for a FOX Big Noon Kickoff. Instead, the Penn State-Iowa game will be streamed only on Peacock. This marks Penn State's first Peacock-only appearance since the 2024 game against Washington, which also was the White Out.

The Peacock broadcasting crew features former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, who should have plenty of insight into what went wrong with the Nittany Lions this season.

RELATED: Nick Saban blasts Penn State for firing James Franklin

James Franklin's GameDay appearance

During his first public appearance since the firing, Franklin told the hosts of ESPN College GameDay that he should be in Iowa for tonight's game. But that was the secondary point of Franklin's live appearance from Athens, Georgia.

Penn State's former head coach appeared on GameDay to position himself as another team's next head coach. He projected resilience six days after being fired, showed some humility but otherwise didn't get to the root of what happened. Instead, he made this appearance the first step of his next job interview.

"Twelve years, a ton of good moments, a bunch of big wins, but decisions were made, and I'm not involved in those decisions," Franklin said. "I'm very, very grateful for the time I had and most importantly for the relationships I was able to build. I thought we were going to win a national championship there. We were close. That goal hasn't changed. We're just going to go win a national championship somewhere else now."

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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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