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Fun Facts: Penn State-Iowa. Hawkeyes are perfect at night and against the spread
Penn State is struggling lately. Penn Station, however, continues to keep humming.
Oct. 16, 2025 10:06 am, Updated: Oct. 16, 2025 10:43 am
- The last three Penn State-Iowa games at Kinnick Stadium were decided by a total of 10 points.
- Iowa is seventh in the nation in total defense and eighth in scoring defense.
- The two biggest upsets by point spread in the nation this season are Penn State’s loss to 24.5-point underdog UCLA and its loss to 20.5-point underdog Northwestern the following week.
- Iowa and Texas Tech are the only teams that haven’t allowed a point in a third quarter.
- The Hawkeyes lead the nation in fewest penalties per game with 2.2.
- Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith had 15 touchdown catches for the Nittany Lions from 1988-1991 and had a Penn State single-game record 165 receiving yards against USC in 1991. Since then, Nittany Lion receivers eclipsed that mark 15 times.
- Smith’s nickname in college was “Superfly.” He played professionally for the Toronto Argonauts, Shreveport Pirates and Albany Firebirds.
- Penn State was the preseason No. 1 pick of Sports Illustrated and Phil Steele, and was No. 2 in the preseason AP and coaches polls. It is tied for last-place in the Big Ten at 0-3.
- Iowa defensive end Max Llewellyn is second in the Big Ten in sacks with 5.
- There is a Welsh pro rugby player named Max Llewellyn. He plays for Gloucester.
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11. Penn State wide receiver Devonte Ross scored Troy’s three touchdowns in its 38-21 loss at Iowa last year. He had TD catches of 63 and 62 yards, and returned a punt 77 yards for a score.
12. Iowa is 4-0 in night games this season, 0-2 in day games. It’s also 4-0 against unranked teams, 0-2 against ranked teams.
13. The Hawkeyes are 5-0 against the spread (FBS games only). The only other unbeaten teams against the number are Memphis (5-0) and Miami, Fla. (4-0).
14. Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ salary is the highest-paid assistant coach in college football at $3.1 million annually. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker is seventh with a base salary of $2.052 million.
15. Since its 47-7 loss at Iowa on Sept. 13, Massachusetts is 0-3 and has been outscored 105-15. Albany began the season with a 34-7 loss at Iowa. It fell to Stony Brook last Saturday, 47-12, to slip to 1-5.
16. Penn State has won the last four NCAA wrestling team championships and 12 of the last 15.
17. Penn Station is the busiest transportation facility in the Western Hemisphere, serving over 27 million passengers per year in Midtown Manhattan.
18. Hawkeyes Coach Kirk Ferentz played linebacker and fullback in high school in Upper St. Clair, Pa. This year’s Upper St. Clair Panthers were 7-1 entering their game Friday against Moon Area. The Panthers went 11-1 last season.
19. Lower St. Clair, Pa., no longer exists.
20. Seven of the 11 U.S. states with the most No Kings rallies Saturday are Big Ten states. Iowa isn’t among the seven, but will have 40 of them nonetheless.
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