Mark Gronowski ran for a touchdown and threw for another as Iowa defeated Minnesota 41-3 on Saturday. It was the third consecutive win for the Hawkeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten), who became bowl eligible. Iowa had rushing, passing, defensive and special teams t ouchdowns in the first half, building a 31-0 halftime lead. "We really wanted to get after them," Gronowski said. "That's just great complementary football." Said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz: "All three phases really did a great job, especially in that first half, playing off each other and doing a great job," Gronowski had a 2-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of the game; his 11th of the season. Drew Stevens had a 34-yard field goal to increase Iowa's lead to 10-0, then Zach Lutmer returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown to give the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.Gronowski, who threw for 135 yards, threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Reece Vander Zee early in the second quarter, then Kaden Wetjen scored on a 50-yard punt return two minutes later. "We were getting the ball to our playmakers," Gronowski said. "I really liked the rhythm we had in the first half." "Defense, offense, special teams - everybody was moving today," Wetjen said. It was the first tim e since the 2019 Holiday Bowl - a 49-24 win over USC - that Iowa had touchdowns in all three phases of the game. "The same outcome is pretty good," a smiling Ferentz said. Stevens' 46-yard field goal in the third quarter gave Iowa a 34-0 lead. Iowa backu p quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski had a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to close the scoring. Minnesota (5-3, 3-2), which came in having won three of its last four games, had just 133 yards against the Hawkeyes, who rank eighth nationally in tot al defense. The Gophers' only points came on a 34-yard field goal from Brady Denaburg in the third quarter. Minnesota redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey threw three interceptions. Those turnovers, along with the punt return by Wetjen, bothered G ophers coach PJ Fleck. - Iowa/AP College Football
(DS#15 QB) rSr/2026  QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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