Iowa Hawkeyes, who finished their regular season with a convincing 40–16 victory over Nebraska, quickly turned what appeared to be a promising back-and-forth rivalry game into a one-sided showcase. Both teams seemed to be trading haymakers early on—big plays, fast reactions, and lots of energy in a cold, hostile setting. However, the Hawkeyes gradually withdrew once Iowa got comfortable, relying on their traits of running the ball, being patient, and taking advantage of errors. It was flawless.
Iowa’s defense tightened up after a 10–10 first quarter and a 24–16 halftime lead, but the offense continued to run. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the Hawkeyes were still accumulating points and chewing clock, while the Cornhuskers had completely stalled. With the victory, Iowa is now 8–4 and has some breathing room prior to the bowl season. Additionally, it completed an outstanding run through their Big Ten protected rivalry slate, decisively defeating Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
And once more, Mark Gronowski was at the beginning of this. After suffering yet another setback, Iowa’s graduate-transfer quarterback persevered. Although Gronowski’s toughness has been a recurring theme throughout the season, it was particularly apparent in this competitive setting. He didn’t blink despite the frigid wind, early defensive pressure, or the emotional electricity that naturally arises during Nebraska-Iowa games. Rather, he gave what may have been his most comprehensive performance while wearing an Iowa uniform.
Gronowski finished with three touchdowns after throwing for 166 yards and running for an additional 64. The momentum was drastically altered by his leadership during Iowa’s four consecutive scoring drives, which took place from the end of the first quarter to the second. He scored 24 points in that time alone, turning a close game into one that Iowa could manage. He performed like a quarterback who was aware of the situation and didn’t let it scare him.
Gronowski set the tone, but in the end, the defense delivered the decisive blow. It wasn’t a pretty first half. In two quarters, Nebraska outran Iowa by more than 175 rushing yards, largely because Emmett Johnson consistently broke chunk gains. For a brief moment, it appeared as though the Hawkeyes would face a four-quarter battle because of the kind of leaky run defense Iowa has rarely displayed.
Then, after halftime, everything was different. By the end of the game, Iowa had given up 231 rushing yards, but none of those came with any consequences in the second half. Over the last two quarters, the Hawkeyes pitched a shutout, obstructing Nebraska’s rushing lanes and eliminating the passing game entirely. With Iowa’s secondary glued to receivers and giving up nothing easily, the Cornhuskers only managed 69 yards through the air on a 9-for-24 day. Rashad Godfrey Jr., Jayden Montgomery, Zach Lutmer, Karson Sharar, Ethan Hurkett, and others all contributed to tightening the screws with strong performances.
One of Iowa’s most unlikely offensive contributors, former walk-on tight end DJ Vonnahme, also had another breakthrough moment. Due to injuries sustained earlier in the season, Vonnahme has gradually emerged as one of Gronowski’s most reliable targets. He led the team with three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown against Nebraska, demonstrating both explosiveness and dependability. His ascent has been one of the season’s greatest tales for a Breda, Iowa, freshman who began the season buried on the depth chart. With 22 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns, he currently has a solid foundation for what should be a bright future.
It was also the long-awaited moment for another young offensive player. For a large portion of the season, Kamari Moulton has been grinding out the hard yardage—nothing spectacular, just tried-and-true runs that keep an offense on track. However, he had a chance to shine against Nebraska. Moulton gave Iowa the physical boost it needed to pull away with 93 rushing yards and two end zone touchdowns. It was never going to be easy to replace Kaleb Johnson, but Moulton has accepted the challenge and finished the regular season with 783 yards at five yards per touchdown.
The bigger picture is worth repeating for anyone doubting the program’s future: Iowa is one of just five American teams to have won at least eight games each season over the past ten years. There is no need to introduce the other four: Michigan, Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama. When it comes to winning consistently year after year, Iowa is right there with them. There are instances when it’s actually better to stay where you are.
