Mark Gronowski becomes all-time winningest QB with fourth quarter win at Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Last week, it was Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz’s record worth celebrating. This week, it was quarterback Mark Gronowski’s.

After trailing by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Iowa football (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) needed a spark. After a back-and-forth onslaught all night. Gronowski answered the call.

With three rushing touchdowns and 186 passing yards, the sixth-year quarterback became the winningest quarterback in NCAA history with a 38-28 win over Rutgers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten).

Gronowski broke the NCAA record for wins by a starter with his 52nd career victory — his first in Big Ten play.

“Tonight was a really good night for us, and you’ve got to win games like this if you’re going to have a good team,” Ferentz said. “Everybody stayed the course, coaches, players, and, you know, paid off for us at the end.”

Forget a blackout, SHI Stadium had a Freaky Friday-themed football game.

The game had an over/under line of 47.5 at kickoff, and there were 42 combined points in the first half alone. For an Iowa football team that held opponents to less than 20 points a game, it allowed 21 to the Scarlet Knights before halftime. However, the Hawkeyes also scored 21 points.

Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen beelined his way to the end zone to start the game, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Gronowski hadn’t touched the ball yet, but by the time he did, it was tied again.

The score sat at 21-all through the entire third quarter. Iowa kicker Drew Stevens missed a field goal, but defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett blocked a Rutgers field goal to keep it tied.

Every opportunity existed for a lead throughout the third quarter. Nothing was clicking to create a lead.

The Scarlet Knights finally found one, though, after a lengthy touchdown drive with eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter. That was when Gronowski and the Hawkeye offense finally flashed their true potential.

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“Really starting to gain that confidence back, and feeling like I can go out there and play and have all the belief with the guys around me,” Gronowski said. “That confidence is such a big thing with me, with the guys, the offensive line, with the receivers, and as long as we keep building that, this train is going to just keep pushing forward.”

Gronowski took deep shots downfield and connected with receiver Dayton Howard for a 41-yard completion. The quarterback scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown two plays later.

“It’s a blast,” Gronowski said. “I mean, all we can do as an offense is go out there and score points.”

Then finally, the turnover drought ended.

Cedar Rapids native Jaxon Rexroth snagged a lobbed pass by Rutgers’ Athan Kaliakmanis on third-and-8 in Rutgers territory. The interception was the first pick of the season, and first one since last season’s win over Maryland.

Of course, Rexroth isn’t a defensive back, so the “Noboyz” tag coined by assistant defensive coordinator Seth Wallace still remains, but the Hawkeyes could exhale knowing that part of their defensive plan still exists.

“He was a safety when he first came in,” Koen Entringer said. “But he’s a DoughBoy for life now.”

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The Hawkeyes defense, despite allowing over 300 passing yards for the first time since 2022, held Rutgers to just 70 rushing yards. The defense also had eight pass breakups, compared to Rutgers’ solo PBU.

Gronowski’s record-breaking win had him running the ball 13 times, just one less than running back Kamari Moulton, who his return to the lineup after being injured in the season opener.

It may be more QB carries than Ferentz would prefer, but the duality Gronowski displayed helped give the Hawkeyes some life when they needed it most.

“Mark happens to have a skill set that’s pretty versatile,” Ferentz said. “I think you’ve seen him get more comfortable with each week. He’s representing our team, but I think he can play better.”

Though in a short week and managing a cross-country trip, the Hawkeyes took their biggest step thus far, with a gauntlet of Big Tens teams on the horizon. If it can carry over, that’s the next task.

“Saw a lot of growth, lot of improvement,” Ferentz said. “There’s more out there to be had.”

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