IOWA CITY, Iowa — Results remain the same despite a change at the top penn stateWhich had to face its fourth consecutive defeat on Saturday.
after Dismissing James Franklin Earlier in the week, the Nittany Lions, playing their first game under interim coach Terry Smith, took a lead in the fourth quarter iowa to lose 25-24 And dropped to 3-4 this season – and 0-4 in the Big Ten.
and tour number 1 Ohio State After a bye week, the next one is on the schedule.
iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski Rushed for a career-high 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Caden Wetjen Scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run with 3:54 remaining in the game for the Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten).
The Nittany Lions’ four-game losing streak tied the longest in AP poll history for a team that was ranked top 2 in the poll prior to the season. The previous team to do so was 1961 Iowa, which was ranked AP No. 1 in the preseason and started 4–0 before losing four in a row.
“I think we gave it our all,” Smith said. “There wasn’t anybody who didn’t make a great effort. We just have to build on that.”
Iowa trailed 24-19 with 4:56 left after Penn State’s Saturday game Ryan Barker Kicked a 32-yard field goal, but Gronowski ran 67 yards on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, forcing Wetjen to run one play later. Gronowski missed the 2-point conversion pass, giving the Nittany Lions a chance to take the lead.
Iowa’s defense stopped Penn State near midfield while attacking the quarterback. ethan grunkemeyer Fourth down at the Penn State 49 and forced an incomplete pass.
Gronowski then capped the victory with a 14-yard run on third down, allowing the Hawkeyes to run out the clock.
Gronowski scored on a 1-yard touchdown run at the end of the first half, then added a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to bring the Hawkeyes within 21–16.
Ketron Allen Ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions led 14–10 at halftime after the Iowa kicker Drew Stevens His 66-yard field goal attempt was blocked with six seconds remaining Xavier Gilliam, elliot washington ii Picked up the loose ball and ran 35 yards for a touchdown.
Gruenkemeyer struggled at times, throwing two interceptions, one Xavier Nwankpa He returned to the Penn State 1-yard line, setting up Gronowski’s first touchdown.
“I’m very proud of those guys and the way they play,” Smith said. “We just have to clean it up so we can finish the game.”
Penn State last lost four consecutive games during the 2020 season, starting 0-5. This is the fourth 0–4 start in the Big Ten for the Nittany Lions since joining the conference in 1993.
ESPN Research and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
