Hawkeyes Prove Resilient in Big Ten Opener Against Rutgers
It was another rollercoaster night for Iowa football, and this time, the Hawkeyes found themselves on the right side of the scoreboard. Playing in front of a record-breaking Rutgers home crowd, Iowa managed to silence the noise and walk away with a gritty 38-28 win in their Big Ten opener. The game felt familiar—early mistakes, defensive struggles, and plenty of tense moments—but in the end, Iowa showed the resiliency that head coach Kirk Ferentz has built his program on.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski had the kind of night Hawkeye fans had been waiting for. Not only did he command the offense with confidence, but he also made history, rushing for three touchdowns—the most by an Iowa quarterback in a single game since 1990. Each score seemed to come at exactly the right time, especially in the fourth quarter when Iowa needed him most. His 42-yard strike to Dayton Howard set up the go-ahead touchdown, and later, a short plunge iced the game for good. As Gronowski put it afterward, the offense had to be “the reason” this time, and it delivered.
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That doesn’t mean it came easily. Rutgers looked unstoppable in the opening quarter, racking up yards through the air and scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions. Iowa’s defense looked shell-shocked, unable to generate pressure or keep up with Rutgers’ tall, athletic receivers. Ferentz himself even walked down the sideline, urging his defense to stay the course. Slowly but surely, adjustments were made. By the second half, Iowa’s defense stiffened, forcing punts, blocking a field goal, and eventually grabbing their first interception of the season thanks to Jaxon Rexroth.
Special teams also set the tone early. Kaden Wetjen electrified the crowd with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, giving Iowa an immediate spark. Kamari Moulton, returning from injury, added a rushing score and proved he could be a steady hand in the backfield. Though the offense hit some frustrating moments—like a tipped pass turning a likely touchdown into just a field goal—the team never folded.
The win pushes Iowa to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. More importantly, it showed this group’s ability to respond when everything seems to be slipping away. Rutgers had momentum and a late lead, but the Hawkeyes answered with poise and physicality on both sides of the ball. For Ferentz, now with 207 career wins, it was a reminder that resilience is often the difference between heartbreak and celebration.
Looking ahead, Iowa will welcome Indiana to Kinnick Stadium for Homecoming, a matchup that suddenly feels even bigger. If the Hawkeyes continue to show this kind of grit and timely execution, their season could carry some real weight in the Big Ten race. For now, though, Friday night in New Jersey will be remembered as the night Iowa found its rhythm—and proved it can handle the fight.
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