Transitioning Nittany Lions Prepare for Battle in Kinnick (Game Preview)

Penn State (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) at Iowa (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, October 18

Time (EST): 7:08 PM

Location: Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, IA)

• Average Home Attendance (2025): 69,250.00

• Highest Home Attendance (2025): 69,250 (all three games)

• Capacity: 69,250

Game Theme: Black & Gold Spirit Game

Coverage

• TV: Peacock (Paul Burmeister & Michael Robinson & Caroline Pineda)

• Radio (Broadcasters)

  • Neutral: CommRadio (Nolan Collery & Jack Rachinsky)

  • Penn State: Penn State Sports Network (Steve Jones & Jack Ham)

  • Iowa: Hawkeye Radio Network (Gary Dolphin & Pat Angerer)

• Live Stats: ESPN GameCast (fan-focused) & StatBroadcast (enhanced)

Storylines

Tale of the Tape: Turnover at the Top

Following the firing of head coach James Franklin on Sunday, longtime assistant Terry Smith has taken over at the helm. This paired with the announcement on Saturday that Drew Allar would be out for the rest of the season with an injury to be replaced by redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer.

Smith Preaches Effort in Post-Practice Media Session

Interim head coach Terry Smith said on Wednesday that one thing he won’t accept from his players is a “lack of effort.” Smith reiterated wanting people to see that the team plays hard and has lots of effort. (Source: BlueWhite Tailgate Pawcast on YouTube)

Harrell Not Expected to Play Saturday

Head coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned in the opening statement of his Monday press conference that starting linebacker Jaden Harrell is “making progress” but the coaches are “not counting on him to be ready in a full capacity.” Harrell has forced two fumbles and recorded 32 total tackles this season and has not seen the field since the loss to Indiana on September 27. (Source: Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics)

The Head-to-Head History of Penn State-Iowa (Source: Winsipedia)

Penn State is 18-14 against Iowa all-time. Their last meeting was on September 23, 2023, when Penn State beat Iowa 31-0 at home in the White Out.

Penn State is 10-6 against Iowa on the road all-time, with their last road meeting being on October 9, 2021 when Iowa defeated Penn State 23-20. Penn State last beat Iowa on the road on October 12, 2019 by a score of 17-12.

Penn State has won the last one head-to-head meeting dating back to 2023. Iowa last beat Penn State on October 9, 2021 (see above).

Penn State at Iowa: By The Numbers

*Turnovers no longer include failed 4th-down conversion attempts.

Penn State	Offense	Iowa
35.7	Points Per Game	30.7
200.8	Pass Yards Per Game	142.0
169.0	Rush Yards Per Game	184.0
42.25%	3rd Down %	47.56%
5 (0.83)	Turnovers (per game)	5 (0.83)

*Takeaways no longer include opponents’ failed 4th-down conversion attempts.

Penn State	Defense	Iowa
18.5	Points Allowed PG	13.0
157.8	Pass Yards Allowed PG	167.7
144.3	Rush Yards Allowed PG	79.0
40.22%	Opponent 3rd Down %	35.06%
8 (1.33)	Takeaways (per game)	6 (1.00)

Players To Watch on Offense

No. 7 Penn State (Spread Offense)

*With interim head coach Terry Smith stating that the coaches will be “examining” the depth chart, we included WR Koby Howard for this week.

• QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, R-Fr.

  • 4-star recruit, No. 5 QB in Class of 2024 (ESPN)

  • Started for Olentangy HS (Lewis Center, OH) in 2022 & 2023

  • Led a 15-play, 94-yard TD drive against Nevada (August 30)

  • Overall (4 games)

    • Passing: 8-for-11, 105 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

    • Rushing: 4 car, 8 yds, 1 TD

  • Conference (1 game)

    • Passing: 0-for-0, 0 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT

    • Rushing: 1 car, 0 yds, 0 TD

  • 2023 High School (13 games)

    • Passing: 266-for-401, 3,517 yds, 39 TD, 9 INT

    • Rushing: 67 car, 102 yds, 3 TD

• RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.

  • Has scored a touchdown in each game this season

  • Most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (6) in his collegiate career

  • Career Rushing Yards: 3,344

  • Yards needed to pass certain players for all-time Penn State rushing yards:

    • 55 to pass Curt Warner (3rd)

  • Overall (6 games): 70 car, 467 yds, 7 TD

  • Conference (3 games): 36 car, 194 yds, 4 TD

  • Away (1 game): 8 car, 50 yds, 2 TD

• WR Devonte Ross, Sr.

  • Overall (6 games): 16 rec, 240 yds, 3 TD

  • Conference (3 games): 11 rec, 163 yds, 2 TD

  • Away (1 game): 0 rec, 0 yds, 0 TD

• WR Koby Howard, Fr.

  • 4-star recruit, No. 29 WR in Class of 2025 (Rivals)

  • Chose Penn State over Florida, Florida State and Tennessee

  • 2021-22: Pensacola Catholic HS (FL)

  • 2023: Western HS (FL)

  • 2024: Chaminade-Madonna Prep (FL)

  • Suffered two season-ending injuries during his HS career

  • Overall (2 games): 0 rec, 0 yds, 0 TD

  • 2024 Prep (7 games): 18 rec, 293 yds, 4 TD

  • 2023 High School (13 games): 65 rec, 1,065 yds, 12 TD

Iowa (West Coast Offense)

• QB Mark Gronowski, Gr.

  • Overall (6 games)

    • Passing: 85-for-130, 743 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT

    • Rushing: 58 car, 159 yds, 8 TD

  • Conference (3 games)

    • Passing: 48-for-67, 437 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT

    • Rushing: 25 car, 71 yds, 5 TD

  • Home (3 games)

    • Passing: 43-for-64, 367 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 25 car, 58 yds, 3 TD

• RB Kamari Moulton, So.

  • Overall (4 games)

    • Rushing: 50 car, 261 yds, 2 TD

    • Receiving: 9 rec, 71 yds, 0 TD

  • Conference (3 games)

    • Rushing: 47 car, 239 yds, 2 TD

    • Receiving: 9 rec, 71 yds, 0 TD

  • Home (2 games)

    • Rushing: 21 car, 97 yds, 0 TD

    • Receiving: 3 rec, 21 yds, 0 TD

• RB Xavier Williams, R-Fr.

  • Overall (4 games)

    • Rushing: 33 car, 241 yds, 3 TD

    • Receiving: 5 rec, 30 yds, 0 TD

  • Conference (1 game)

    • Rushing: 7 car, 55 yds, 2 TD

    • Receiving: 1 rec, 6 yds, 0 TD

  • Home (2 games)

    • Rushing: 19 car, 160 yds, 1 TD

    • Receiving: 3 rec, 26 yds, 0 TD

Players To Watch on Defense

Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)

• DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.

  • Overall (6 games): 23 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks

  • Conference (3 games): 14 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

  • Away (1 game): 3 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

• LB Amare Campbell, Jr.

  • Overall (6 games): 50 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks

  • Conference (3 games): 28 tot, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack

  • Away (1 game): 10 tot, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack

• CB Audavion Collins, R-Jr.

  • Overall (6 games): 21 tot, 0 INT, 2 PD

  • Conference (3 games): 12 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

  • Away (1 game): 3 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

Iowa (4-2-5 Defense)

• DE Max Llewellyn, Sr.

  • Overall (6 games): 12 tot, 6 TFL, 5 sacks

  • Conference (3 games): 6 tot, 2 TFL, 2 sacks

  • Home (3 games): 6 tot, 4.5 TFL, 4 sacks

• LB Karson Sharar, Sr.

  • Overall (6 games): 36 tot, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack

  • Conference (3 games): 20 tot, 2 TFL, 1 sack

  • Home (3 games): 12 tot, 1.5 TFL, 0 sacks

• CB T. J. Hall, Sr.

  • Overall (6 games): 22 tot, 0 INT, 8 PD

  • Conference (3 games): 14 tot, 0 INT, 5 PD

  • Home (3 games): 7 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

Quick Picks & Analysis

Bryan: Kinnick is a scary place at night… for those who go in blindly. With a week under their belts in a rejuvenated offense, the Nittany Lions have a chance to hang on and win close. Penn State 20, Iowa 18.