It might be good to let out a big exhale.
In what was a chaotic Big Ten clash, Iowa football improved to 1-0 in the conference with a thrilling 38-28 road win over Rutgers on Sept. 19.
Here’s how it happened, with grades for the Hawkeyes’ offense, defense and special teams.
Offense: B+
After dropping a dud in their only previous game against a power-conference opponent this season — a loss to Iowa State — the Hawkeyes’ offense looked much better against Rutgers.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski’s steady ascent continued, building off what was his best performance as a Hawkeye in the win over UMass.
Gronowski finished the game against Rutgers 12-for-18 passing for 186 yards. He also continued to use his legs as a weapon, running for three touchdowns. Gronowski has now rushed for at least one touchdown in each of the Hawkeyes’ first four games this season.
After Rutgers took a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter, Gronowski helped orchestrate a 7-play, 80-yard touchdown drive for the Hawkeyes to regain the lead. That drive included a beautiful 42-yard completion to receiver Dayton Howard. The Hawkeyes scored two plays later on a Gronowski run.
Iowa kept hold of the lead for the remainder of the game.
The Hawkeyes also found success from its running backs. Jaziun Patterson had six carries for 37 yards. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, Patterson’s outing was cut short after suffering an ankle injury, continuing what has been an injury-riddled season for this unit.
In his return to action, running back Kamari Moulton made an immediate impact.
Moulton started Iowa’s 2025 season opener against UAlbany, but his outing did not last long. The redshirt sophomore rushed three times for 22 yards before exiting with an injury in the first quarter. He was unavailable for Iowa’s contests against Iowa State and UMass.
Moulton’s presence was felt early against Rutgers when he got into the end zone on a 6-yard rush to tie the score at 14 after the extra point in the first quarter. He finished the game with 14 carries for 68 yards.
First-half defense: F
This was Iowa’s worst defensive half of the season, and it’s not even close.
Rutgers put up explosive numbers, recording 253 total yards.
Rutgers’ passing game diced Iowa’s defense. The Scarlet Knights tossed the ball around the yard faced by very little resistance.
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis put on a clinic, passing for 184 yards in the first half. Iowa had given up just 361 passing yards combined across its first three games, which was indicative of how well that unit was playing during that span.
That Iowa defense allowed only 30 points in the first three games combined, but gave up 21 in the first half to Rutgers.
It was a totally different story in the first half against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights scored touchdowns on their first three drives of the game. It wasn’t until 2:45 remaining in the first half that Iowa forced its first fourth down of the game.
Second-half defense: A
This was much more of what we’re used to seeing out of Iowa’s defense.
The Hawkeyes settled in nicely after a horrendous first-half performance, forcing three-and-outs on Rutgers’ first two offensive drives of the second half.
After a searing first half, Iowa managed to better contain Kaliakmanis, who threw for 146 yards in the second half. Credit to him and Rutgers’ passing attack. Kaliakmanis still finished the game with 330 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. But the Hawkeyes’ defense was far more effective in the second half after an abysmal start.
Jaxon Rexroth made a big-time play to seal it for the Hawkeyes. Through three games and more than three quarters, Iowa’s defense had failed to generate a turnover. That finally changed. The Hawkeyes got pressure on Kaliakmanis and it appeared to affect his throw. He got rid of the ball, but it hung up in the air and Rexroth came up with an interception.
After allowing 21 points in the first half, Iowa’s defense gave up only seven in the second half.
Special teams: B+
Kaden Wetjen brought fireworks on the very first play of the game. He caught the opening kickoff a few yards into his own end zone and turned on the jets, returning it to the house for a touchdown.
That set the tone just a handful of seconds into the game, giving Iowa a 7-0 lead after the extra point.
After a rough outing against Iowa State, Wetjen has now scored a special teams touchdown in each of the last two weeks. He had a 95-yard punt-return touchdown against UMass, which tied a Big Ten record, and then followed it up with a kickoff-return touchdown against Rutgers.
Wetjen now has two punt-return touchdowns and two kickoff-return touchdowns in his Iowa career.
Meanwhile, typically reliable kicker Drew Stevens left points on the field for the second consecutive week.
Against UMass, Stevens uncharacteristically missed an extra point and a 38-yard field goal. He missed another field goal against Rutgers. With the score tied at 21 in the third quarter, Stevens failed to convert on a 40-yard field goal. Stevens had plenty of leg on both field-goal misses, but the problem was accuracy.
Stevens finished the game 1-2 on field goals and converted on all extra points against Rutgers.
Iowa caught a break late in the first half.
The Hawkeyes finally forced a fourth down, setting up what would’ve been a 32-yard field goal. But a false start on the Scarlet Knights moved them back five yards. Then Rutgers kicker Jai Patel clanked the field goal off the right upright and it was no good, giving the Hawkeyes their first defensive stop of the game with the score tied at 21.
Iowa’s special teams made a major momentum-swinging play in the third quarter.
With the game tied at 21, Rutgers kicker Jai Patel came on for a 27-yard field goal. But Ethan Hurkett blocked the kick, keeping the score knotted.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa football report card vs Rutgers: Hawkeyes show major grit in chaotic road win
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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