Iowa opened the 2025 season with a 34-7 win over UAlbany at Kinnick Stadium, giving fans a first look at transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski. While the final score was decisive, the offense still showed familiar growing pains through the air.
Gronowski finished just 8-of-15 for 44 yards, with his longest completion going for 13. His most glaring miss came on Iowa’s opening drive, when he spiked a wide-open touchdown chance to Sam Phillips into the turf, forcing a field goal. The Hawkeyes leaned on his arm through the first quarter, but three straight incompletions late in the frame summed up the struggles.
Albany briefly took the lead with a 7-3 drive against Iowa’s defense, but that would be their only highlight. From there, the Hawkeyes abandoned the pass and turned to their ground game — and dominated.
Redshirt freshman Xavier Williams stole the show, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries. Terrell Washington Jr. added 69 yards on 15 attempts, while Gronowski reminded defenses of his dual-threat ability with 39 rushing yards and a touchdown on designed runs. Iowa piled up more than 300 rushing yards overall, averaging 5.8 yards per carry despite losing Kamari Moulton to an early arm injury.
Defensively, Iowa was as sharp as expected. The Hawkeyes allowed just 177 total yards, forced seven punts, and held Albany to 2-of-11 on third downs. Quarterback Jack Shields was limited to 30 rushing yards, while the Great Danes were shut out in the second half.
Gronowski exited in the third quarter with leg cramps, making way for sophomore transfer Hank Brown to finish the night. Gronowski is expected to be ready next week.
The win marked Kirk Ferentz’s 205th at Iowa, tying him with Woody Hayes for the most in Big Ten history. Ferentz, who took over in 1999, now sits at 205-124 with the Hawkeyes.
With an opener in the books and history on the horizon, Iowa turns to its first major test: a trip to Ames for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against ranked Iowa State. The rivalry showdown will serve as an early measuring stick for where the Hawkeyes truly stand.