Fourth-quarter Mark Gronowski is truly a completely different animal.
The senior signal caller was in the midst of one of his worst games of his college career after completing only five of 10 passes for 24 yards and an interception in the first half.
The Hawkeyes were clinging to a slim 7-3 at halftime after another dynamic return touchdown by Kaden Wetjen.
KADEN WETJEN TO THE HOUSE! @HawkeyeFootball
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 22, 2025
📺: FS1 pic.twitter.com/aNmIzVtdO1
The defense kept the Hawkeyes ahead in the first half as the offense could not get anything going, and it eventually came back to bite them.
Michigan State scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a commanding 17-7 lead, and the offense still could not respond.
In the fourth quarter, Gronowski FINALLY woke up, and after an Iowa field goal, he gave the Hawkeyes the lead.
He threw a dart to Jacob Gill in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, and gave Iowa hope they could complete the comeback.
After another stop by the Iowa defense, Gronowski again showed his poise after completing two deep passes to DJ Vonnahme and Reece Vander Zee to give Drew Stevens a chance to seal the win.
Stevens stepped up and, after missing an attempt to end the first half, calmly knocked in the game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the Hawkeyes the win.
While the Iowa offense was far from pretty, the Iowa defense made multiple big stops and held Michigan State to just 80 rushing yards.
Wetjen also provided another magical moment, and Gronowski showed his poise and determination to help the Hawkeyes seal an ugly win on senior night.
The seniors are going home happy after earning a gritty win in their final game in Kinnick Stadium, and the Hawkeyes hope to finish the season strong as they travel to Lincoln to close out the year.