In a game that felt like a mirror image of the notorious 2023 season, the Iowa football team ended its home schedule with an improbable 20-17 comeback victory over Michigan State on Senior Day.
For the second straight year, the hero on Senior Day was kicker Drew Stevens, who won the football game with a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
The Hawkeyes improve to 7-4 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play, ending a two-game losing streak in the process. The loss drops the Spartans to 3-8 overall and 0-8 in league play. Michigan State has now lost nine consecutive Big Ten games dating back to last season.
“I’m just really proud of how our players stayed the course,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game. “They didn’t flinch, they just kept pushing and playing encouraging each other, and then they continued to compete, which is the most important thing.”
Bad day for Gronowski
Gronowski’s Kinnick Stadium finale mirrored his debut, where he threw for just 44 yards against Albany. The quarterback has had his fair share of inconsistencies this season, but was clearly out of sync from the start. Gronowski’s was forced to throw his first pass out of bounds, but his next two passes were well off the mark, and the Michigan State pass rush got home for a sack on Iowa’s second series, causing the Hawkeye faithful to murmur in disgust.
Write about Gronowski interception – After star returner Wetjen took the ensuing Spartan punt in Michigan State territory, offensive coordinator Tim Lester dialed up an aggressive play call for the veteran signal-caller. Gronowski had plenty of time after the play fake, but opted to throw into double coverage and into the arms of Spartan defensive back Malik Spencer. The officials initially ruled the pass incomplete, but quickly overturned it to an interception after reviewing the play.
Lester clearly showed little confidence in Gronowski’s passing for the rest of the half, and Gronowski didn’t complete his first pass of the game until the two-minute timeout, where he found running back Kamari Moulton on a five-yard screen pass.
Iowa led 7-0 at the break, but Gronowski’s fortunes hardly changed. The senior tried to evade a sack on third down by attempting a shovel pass to one of his receivers, but the ball was knocked out of his hand by a chasing MSU defender, and the Spartans pounced on the loose change. Michigan State would later take the lead on its ensuing possession, and the Hawks were in trouble.
Gronowski redeemed himself with an improbable fourth quarter comeback, but he still finished with a pedestrian 147 passing yards.
“We keep telling our guys, one play at a time, one play at a time, stay in the present moment, and eventually it’ll go through,” Gronowski said. “And that’s what happened in the fourth quarter.”
Wetjen does it again
Wetjen’s 2025 campaign has already been one for the history books, and he added another legendary chapter on Saturday. Michigan State didn’t give Wetjen a chance to return the opening kickoff, but it made the mistake of letting him return a pair of punts in the first half.
Wetjen nearly brought the first attempt to the house, but he was run out of bounds by Spartan punter Ryan Eckley. Iowa’s offense continued to struggle throughout the half, and Wetjen provided a much-needed spark on the next return. Even though Wetjen nearly burned it on the previous return, Michigan State still kicked to him, and he made them pay with an electric 62-yard score to give the Hawkeyes a 7-0 lead.
Contrary to what some fans may believe, Wetjen never thinks about potentially scoring a touchdown when the ball his coming his way. It’s all an instinct.
“I was thinking probably a little too much my first couple years returning,” Wetjen said. “I just kind of learned it just comes over time as well, and it comes from experience.”
Would not be denied. 😤@WetjenKaden x #Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/ZsVkrG79xu
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 22, 2025
Wetjen’s touchdown allowed him to surpass legendary Iowa return man Tim Dwight for the most combined kick returns in program history (four punt, two kickoff). It marked Wetjen’s third punt return touchdown of the season and his first since Oct. 25 against rival Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes finally win a close game
Losing close games has defined the 2025 Iowa football season, but when the Hawkeyes had their backs against the wall, they delivered in the clutch. Gronowski and the offense looked dead in the water for much of the contest, but came alive late in the fourth.
Another incredible Wetjen punt return gave Iowa a short field, and Gronowski connected with fellow senior Jacob Gill for a 13-yard score to tie the game.
No. 5 with the tuddy. @jacobagill1 x #Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/PcYDKxY7uw
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 22, 2025
Unlike previous one-score games, the Hawkeye defense stopped MSU on its next possession to give their own offense a chance to win the game.
Iowa would do just that, driving down to the Spartan 26-yard line. Stevens had missed a field goal attempt earlier in the game, but drilled this one from 44-yards out to clinch a seemingly unlikely Hawkeye victory.
“All of us had every faith that Drew would get it done,” Ferentz said.
Clutch. 🙌@DrewTS7 x #Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/Uque8syniT
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 23, 2025
“That’s what you dream of,” Stevens said. “… It’s, really kind of a storybook ending, a little bit.
Up next
The Hawkeyes return to action next Friday, Nov. 28, for a rivalry matchup against Nebraska in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers are 7-3 overall and take on Penn State in State College later tonight. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m. local time.