PREGAME
5 things to watch
before Iowa’s season-opener, but he could be on track to see his first action of the season against the Badgers. Head coach Kirk Ferentz was hopeful he could return before the bye, but was optimistic Vander Zee would make the return after the off week.
Even if Mark Gronowski plays this weekend, the Hawkeyes will likely attempt a run-heavy game plan against the Badgers. Iowa’s rushing attack has been inconsistent this season, totaling 160 yards at Rutgers compared to just 104 yards in its loss to then-No. 11 Indiana.
Injuries have played a large role in causing those inconsistencies. Kamari Moulton, Jaziun Patterson, and Xavier Williams have all missed time due to injury, with Moulton returning three weeks ago from his injury in the season-opener against Albany. Wisconsin has a stingy defense, but it had trouble stopping a powerful Michigan rushing attack, yielding 175 yards on an average of 5.1 yards per carry.
A successful run game will give the Hawkeyes a huge advantage and help take the load off the passing game.
To the surprise of many fans, Gronowski was listed as QB1 on Monday’s depth chart. The senior quarterback suffered a lower-leg injury in the fourth quarter of Iowa’s loss to Indiana and didn’t return, causing plenty of concern. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester called the status of the injury “cloudy” at his bye week press conference last week, but it appears the week off paved the way for Gronowski’s return. Whether Gronowski plays or not, Lester will likely orchestrate a simple game plan for his quarterback, which probably will feature a lot of short, high-percentage passes and no designed quarterback runs.
While second-year wide receiver Reece Vander Zee suffered a foot injury just days
Ferentz echoed those hopes at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
“This week, he started to work back a little bit,” Ferentz said. “So his volume of work right now, he’s missed a lot of meaningful snaps, but at least we can start to work them in. He looked fine today.”
Vander Zee will likely see a small amount of snaps should he play on Saturday, but adding a 6-foot-4 wideout could help the Hawkeyes in red zone passing situations.
Forcing turnovers has been a staple for defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s defenses in Iowa City, but that hasn’t been the case in 2025. The Hawkeyes have forced just three turnovers this season, but they may have found a rhythm against an explosive Indiana offense last time out. Iowa managed to intercept Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the fourth quarter ,Mendoza’s only interception this year, and were close to gaining several other takeaways, forcing two fumbles Indiana recovered.
Wisconsin’s faulty quarterback situation naturally presents a strong opportunity for Iowa’s secondary to make some big plays, but the Hawkeyes’ stout defensive line of Aaron Graves, Ethan Hurkett, and Max Llewellyn could wreak havoc on the Badgers.
Iowa is probably Wisconsin’s best opportunity for a win this season, so expect Badger coach Luke Fickell and company to pull out all of the strings to try and beat their rival. A fake punt could even be in play, but Ferentz likely still has the infamous Badgers’ fake punt of 2010 on his mind.
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Iowa coordinators reflect on 3-2 start
Mark Gronowski’s health is a concern, but his o ensive coordinator remains confident.
When an off week rolls around in the Big Ten football season, a mixed reaction usually follows.
Fans express disappointment in not seeing their team play for two weeks. The team is both happy to get some much-needed rest and recovery while also nervous that the idle week could slow down its momentum.
For the 3-2 Iowa Hawkeyes, the week off presented an opportunity for reflection and improvement ahead of a challenging three-game slate against Wisconsin, Penn State, and Minnesota.
“We’ll get back on our feet Monday, and hopefully use this week really wisely,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said after Iowa’s 20-15 loss to Indiana on Sept. 27. “And then we’ll turn our attention to the next three-game block and go from there.”
There are plenty of things to deal with, especially on offense and on special teams.
Much of Iowa’s preseason hype focused on quarterback Mark Gronowski. The fifth-year senior came to the Hawkeyes with an impressive resume from South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits were already an FCS powerhouse when Gronowski arrived in 2020, but he elevated Brookings, South Dakota into a championship town by the end of his career.
Gronowski was a model of consistency for South Dakota State, totaling more than 10,000 career passing yards, 96 touchdowns, and just 22 interceptions. The Jackrabbits won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023 and just missed out on playing for a three-peat last season.
Gronowski decided to enter the transfer portal after last season. The senior received numerous offers, including one from the prestigious Miami Hurricanes. But Gronowski felt the Hawkeyes were the perfect fit, and he announced his commitment on Jan. 7.
Gronowski’s final drive totaled minus-5 yards.
Gronowski’s numbers did improve that game, but only marginally — 13 of 24, 83 yards, zero touchdowns, one interception. While Hawkeye fans groaned roars of apathy from their Lay-Z-Boy recliners, Gronowski’s outlook remained positive.
Iowa fans had high expectations for Gronowski and the passing game, which has featured a revolving door of quarterbacks over the last few campaigns. Gronowski’s first two games saw those fears from fans again come to light.
Gronowski had just 44 passing yards in the season opener against Albany — the lowest output of his college career. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester didn’t have an open game plan, but Gronowski struggled to complete easy throws, often missing wide-open targets throughout the game.
“I really came into this game a lot more confident, a lot more calm, was able to make a lot better decisions throughout the game,” Gronowski said after the game. “We were running a ton of [run-pass options] just trying to attack those safeties, and we’re trying to get aggressive in the run game.”
Three games later, Gronowski has turned that optimistic mindset into points. Iowa scored touchdowns on each of its rst three ossessions in a - win over a ad assachusetts
three touchdowns, two of which came in the fourth quarter. Gronowski continued his efficiency into a showdown with No. 11 Indiana, going 19 of 25 for 144 yards and an interception, but went down with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter and wouldn’t return, forcing backup Hank Brown into the game.
Entering a game in the fourth quarter against a top-15 tea is a di cult s ot or an uarter ac and it showed as Brown completed just 5 of his 13 passing attempts for 48 yards and a back-breaking interception in Hoosiers territory. Brown said he was disappointed with his performance and stressed the need to hone in on his fundamentals during the break.
“I think I definitely left some stuff out there, but definitely an opportunity to grow from it and learn from it,” Brown
said after the game. “This bye week will be a great opportunity.”
Lester agreed with Brown’s reaction, emphasizing the need for development.
“Any quarterback that goes in there for the first time just needs to calm down and relax a little bit. And I thought he did that. He made some good plays, but he’s got to improve,” Lester said at his press conference on Sept. 30.
The extent of Gronowski’s injury remains unknown, but his improved play has left the offense in a much better position coming out of the bye week. Iowa ranks 114th in the nation in total offense, but anyone who has
“This is a fun week for me to have those guys take a ton of reps and see where they’re at,” Lester said. “And they both need them because they don’t get as many as the other guys that have been on the scout field. These guys are getting a ton of reps this week, and just to see the improvement that we’re going to need.”
Whether it’s Gronowski, Brown, or Hecklinski under center, Lester is confident in his supporting cast of pass-catchers. The Hawkeyes have struggled to find consistent production at wide receiver for years, but Lester feels he has found a productive wide receiver group with Sam Phillips, Jacob Gill,
watched the Hawkeyes likely sees they are closer to being a well-rounded unit than a bad one.
Gronowski’s prognosis will play a significant role in Lester’s game plan, but Iowa feels it has a deeper quarterback room this season. Brown logged three games of Southeastern Conference action with Auburn, including one start against New Mexico, where he threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns.
The wild-card in the room is redshirt freshman Jeremy Hecklinski, who transferred in from Wake Forest in the
Seth Anderson, and Reece Vander Zee, who Lester hopes will make his season debut this weekend against Wisconsin.
Generating catches for each receiver on the field is one of the many keys to orchestrating a balanced offensive attack, and Iowa has done just that. Fifteen Hawkeyes have caught a pass this season, with three of them totaling at least 75 receiving yards through five games.
Phillips, who currently occupies Vander Zee’s spot as the X receiver, leads the group with 179 yards on 10 catches, averaging 17.9 yards per reception. The Chattanooga
“Our depths are the proper depths. They’re making plays. I’d like to see more run after catch. It’s something we haven’t seen yet, but it’s something we’re building to,” Lester said. “It’s always the last thing that comes. So I’m proud of that room, that room’s done a good job in creating some separation, making some plays.
The Hawkeyes have been perennially dominant on special teams under coordinator LeVar Woods, but this unit has taken a step back this season. Fifth-year wide receiver Kaden Wetjen is having an big season in the return game, totaling two touchdowns, but that’s been the lone bright spot for this group.
One of the problems with this group in recent weeks has come from an unlikely source — kicker Drew Stevens. Stevens, in his fourth season, has already carved out an impressive college career after joining Iowa as a walk-on in the spring of 2022.
Stevens wasn’t expected to contribute that year after he lost the starting kicker battle to Aaron Blom, but was suddenly thrust into the lead role by Week 3 after Blom missed a game-tying field goal in the final seconds of the Hawkeyes’ 10-7 loss to Iowa State. Aside from a late-game benching against Nebraska in 2023, Stevens has kicked every extra point and field goal for the Hawkeyes ever since. The senior has accumulated 288 career points and numerous clutch kicks for Iowa, highlighted by a game-winning 53-yard field goal against Nebraska last season.
Stevens was expected to continue his momentum from last season into his final campaign, but the last three games have seen him make uncharacteristic mistakes. The senior missed a 38-yarder and an extra point in a Week 3 win over Massachusetts, as well as a 40-yard attempt in Iowa’s victory at Rutgers the following week. Those miscues didn’t severely impact the outcome of those games, but his costly miss
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in the Hawkeyes’ loss to Indiana could have. With the game tied at 13 late in the fourth quarter, Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer returned an interception to the Hoosiers’ 29 to give the Hawkeyes a chance to take the lead.
Iowa went three-and-out on its ensuing drive and a 2- ard eld goal ro tevens seemed like a lock. The kicker had been nearly automatic from that distance up to that point, having missed just once from inside 49 yards since 2023.
The snap and hold were clean, but tevens ic issed adl to the le t stunning the innic tadiu crowd and keeping the game tied. Indiana connected on a 49-yard touchdown pass on its next possession to win the game and deny the Hawkeyes an upset victory.
Woods still remains confident in his kicker.
“Over the course of his career, he’s gone on and he’s made big kicks for this football team, [he] just didn’t get it done,” Woods said at his bye week press conference on e t . hat to e is a one-off. hat s not rew tevens. t s not the gu now the guy I’ve watched work and grow over the last four years.”
Woods’ face clearly showed a frustrated expression, but he attributes moments like those to failed execution from all 11 players on the eld. Woods nows the runt o the criticism falls on the kicker, similar to the quarterback, but stresses the need for cleaner execution on all phases.
nitial highlights o the issed eld goal showed a clean procedure, but a closer
inspection revealed that the holder, Ty Nisson, held the ball with the laces slightly acing towards tevens. hat a not seem like a big deal, but kickers stress the importance of kicking the football on its smooth side for a cleaner, crisper kick.
“There’s 10 other guys out there. There’s 10 other things, 10 other layers that go into that, in regard to any play on in football, articularl in eld goals Woods said.
Iowa’s mistakes on special teams have also carried over to the punt team, which has yielded a blocked punt in three consecutive games. Those mistakes haven’t been directly responsible for Hawkeye defeats, but they could come back to haunt Iowa later in the season.
Woods admitted that it’s hard to stay calm and that he’s “trying to keep my blood pressure low,” but again emphasized execution in all phases of the play. o sna location getting the unter ulled off his line not great in that Woods said. o that de nitel doesn t hel ut again, those are some of the things that we’re looking for and we need to improve upon. Again, I don’t really attribute it to anything other than that.”
Weekly Wager
On The Line
The Daily Iowan sta shares their thoughts on this week’s upcoming games
One on One: Jeremy Hecklinski
: The Wake Forest transfer discussed his most prized possession his favorite NFL team, and his dream vacation.
The Daily Iowan : What is your most prized possession?
Jeremy Hecklinski: I want to say my Xbox.
Who is on your football “Mount Rushmore”? I’ll go with Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, and let’s throw Patrick Mahomes up there.
What skill, outside of football, would you most
like to learn? Juggling.
What is your favorite NFL team, and who is your favorite player? Chiefs. And my favorite player is Aaron Rodgers.
What is your dream vacation? Yellowstone.
Which family member are you closest to? My mom.
What is the most ridiculous nightmare you’ve had?
Probably falling off a skyscraper.
What is your most random impulse purchase? I bought a 60-inch TV when I got here, and I didn’t even have anywhere to put it.
Have you ever met a celebrity? I actually met Steve Kerr when I was like 8-years-old.
Kid Captain Lily Sebastian exceeds expectations
Lily’s fight for survival was di icult, but the now 12-year-old has surpassed expectations and grown her support system to new heights.
Four years later, Lily was free from in-home nursing.
extended well-past her peers to the international scene.
Lily Sebastian was born a twin, two months earl . ter a t ical ve-wee sta her twin sister was discharged, ready to go home and begin her life. Lily, however, remained in the hospital for 299 days.
Born with a giant omphalocele, a condition in which the abdominal organs develop outside o a a s sto ach il received her rst surgery on the day she was born.
Throughout those 299 days, Lily struggled to breathe. She struggled to survive. Her body was giving up, forcing a couple of resuscitations and an eventual tracheostomy, a surgical procedure opening the trachea and creating an alternate airway for breathing.
After about 10 months, Lily was released, and entered her ho e or the rst ti e in her li e. he could ta e her rst reath o resh air outside. Meet her new twin sister. However, the struggle was not over.
il was still on a ventilator the onl difference being it was now in her room instead of a hospital. She still had the trach and an added feeding tube.
“Because we were at the University of Iowa, we had so much faith and trust in them,” Amber Sebastian, Lily’s mother, said. “And when we tell our story, looking back, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, we did that.’”
Lily’s father, Rob Sebastian, agreed.
“Miss. Lily is resilient and easy with everyod . ghter and ust o e astian said as he began to choke up, taking a moment to look at his daughter, who sat to his right, staring up at him. “Just an all around good girl.”
Now 12 years old and in 7th grade, Lily still faces a chronic kidney disease and a heart condition, but is exceeding care expectations.
“She’s brave and she’s tough, and she’s super proud of her nurses, doctors and the hospital,” Amber Sebastian said. “Through everything, we’ve seen her strength. She’s pretty happy and unn and ust ta es li e as it co es.
Lily lives life to the fullest, running around outside and playing video games with friends, who all know about her being a Kid Captain for Iowa football’s game against Wisconsin on Oct. 11.
At school, Lily hands out her Kid Captain cards, growing her support system, which has
“We’ve been mailing those trading cards all over, as far as Germany,” Amber Sebastian said. “Lily has support from a lot of people that love her.”
“My grandparents, my auntie, my uncles, my cousins,” Lily listed.
Hundreds of people are in Lily’s corner ghting alongside her in her ourne .
With family ties to the University of Iowa, the Sebastian family holds a special place in their heart for the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Lily continues to be seen by several clinics, attending appointments when necessary.
“Her body almost gave up a few times and [the doctors] helped her come back,” Amber Sebastian said. “But from in womb on, she continued and continues to fight through every obstacle. We are so proud of her.”
Game Guide
Camp Randall craziness
Iowa has won in Madison just three times since 2005, one of which came during the memorable 2015 campaign. The Hawkeyes entered the early-October matchup with a perfect 4-0 record and looked to potentially crack the AP Top25 with a win over then-No. 19 Wisconsin. Both offenses struggled throughout the game, but Iowa’s defense was able to force a few crucial fourth quarter turnovers and come up with the game-winning stop to secure a 10-6 triumph.
