https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/no-21-iowa-football-loses-first-half-lead-to-no-17-usc-26-21-in-second-straight-loss/

Iowa 21, USC 26

Kaden Wetjen was so close to converting this 4th down.

📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/a2EYa493xq

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 15, 2025

Iowa's offensive line doesn't have a handful of its normal rotation, by the way.

Beau Stephens is out, Gennings Dunker isn't in, Kade Pieper isn't playing.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Iowa's offensive line doesn't have a handful of its normal rotation, by the way.

Beau Stephens is out, Gennings Dunker isn't in, Kade Pieper isn't playing.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Iowa's been called for five penalties this afternoon, including another DPI on Watson on that third down.

USC at its 43-yard line with 10:35 to go.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Three-and-out for the offense, Iowa punts it away to USC's 31 with 11:26 to play.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Touchdown, USC.

Jackson gets his second TD of the game with a run right up the middle. PAT is good.

USC leads for the first time today, 26-21 with 13:36 to go.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

End of Q3: Iowa 21-19.

Ball is on the Iowa 7-yard line with second and three for the Trojans.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

TJ Hall is hurt after defending a touchdown pass. Was called for a DPI on the play.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Gronowski's picked off on third down after the ball bounces out of Gill's hands. Trojans regain possession at the Iowa 40-yard line with 1:52 to go in the third quarter.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Makai Lemon is ridiculous 🤩

The WR's highlight TD cuts the No. 17 @uscfb deficit to two points.

📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/vD7OZRlErW

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 15, 2025

Touchdown, USC.

Lemon grabs the ball in double coverage for the 12-yard score. Trojans were cruising on that drive, too. Two-point conversion is no good, however.

Iowa leads 21-19 with 3:33 to go in the third quarter.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Mark Gronowski is now responsible for 20 TD this season, the most by an Iowa QB since Nate Stanley in 2018 (27).

— Matt Benson (@mbenson6) November 15, 2025

Gronowski's short on the third down rush and Iowa has to punt away.

This is going to be a big drive for the Hawkeye defense. Turning this into a one-score game with this much time on the clock would not go in Iowa's favor.

Trojans start at their 18-yard line, 7:47 in Q3.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Gronowski is believed to be the first Iowa QB catch a touchdown since Matt Sherman did against Minnesota on Nov. 19, 1994. pic.twitter.com/nIY3TGPWgX

— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) November 15, 2025

Lots of boos as the USC field goal unit is sent onto the field.

Trojans kick a 29-yard field goal. It's 21-13 with 11:11 to go in Q3.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

That's twice now the Hawkeye d-line got a hand on Maiava but didn't get the sack. Happened right before the USC field goal attempt in the second quarter.

This time, Trojans are now marching into Iowa territory.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

HALFTIME: 21-10 Iowa

Very solid first half for the Hawkeyes. Loved the offense's aggression through the opening 30 minutes, but reminder that USC has done well bouncing back after a not-so-great first half.

Numbers ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NVDQCdYrTR

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Halftime. Iowa 21, USC 10

USC forced to kick a field goal after a third down drop. Trojans nearly set up for a touchdown but was called for an ineligible receiver downfield.

The 41-yard attempt was good. It's 21-10 Iowa with 39 seconds to go in the first half.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Vander Zee's passing rating is 472.0. The national leader entering today, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, is at 192.6.

— Mike Hlas (@Hlas) November 15, 2025

PAT is good. Hawkeyes lead 21-7 with 3:24 to go in the half. https://t.co/kpj3yyDVwd

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

This trick play⁉️

No. 21 @HawkeyeFootball scores on a reverse pass to QB Mark Gronowski 🤯

📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/hz248zcuNL

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 15, 2025

Touchdown, USC.

Bryan Jackson gets in with a 2-yard score after a 75-yard drive. Took just under five minutes off the clock, too. PAT is good.

14-7 Iowa with 9:15 to go in the half.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Mark Gronowski is the first FBS QB with a rush TD in each of his team's first 10 games of the season since Houston's D'Eriq King in 2018.

The first Power Conf QB with a rush TD in each of his team's first 10 games of the season since Florida's Tim Tebow in 2007.

— Matt Benson (@mbenson6) November 15, 2025

Tough to stop Mark Gronowski around the goal line 💪

The QB gives No. 21 Iowa the 14-0 lead at No. 17 USC.

📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/pliSHuVzxm

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 15, 2025

Touchdown, Iowa.

Tush push for Gronowski gives the QB his 13th rushing TD of the season, shows the ball to the USC fans for proof as a celly, too. PAT is good.

14-0 Iowa with 14:12 to go in the half.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

DPI against USC on third down puts Iowa back in the red zone with 2:05 to go in the opening quarter.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Not this time 🚫@HawkeyeFootball stuffs USC on 4th & 1.

📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/kVL3mOiMfa

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 15, 2025

USC doesn't convert on fourth down in the midfield and Iowa's got the ball back at USC's 45-yard line.

Really good stuff by the Hawkeyes, especially considering how much movement there was on both sides before the snap.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Howard gets us started. 💥@DaytonHoward4 x #Hawkeyes

📺 B1G Network pic.twitter.com/fFHWGLztIF

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 15, 2025

Hawkeyes defense forces a three-and-out on USC's first possession.

USC punt is not good, Iowa's got field position inside Trojan territory — just 19 yards to the USC 46-yard line.

10:09 to go in the first quarter.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Iowa forces USC to punt. Iowa 7, USC 0 10:09 1st.

Hawkeyes go for it on 4th and 1 and Dayton Howard gets the touchdown.

Talk about a fast start, great play calling by Tim Lester to make it happen. PAT is good.

7-0 Iowa with 11:26 to go in the opening frame.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Hello Jacob Gill! He makes a great completion on second down to put Iowa at the Trojan 11-yard line. That was a 44-yard play.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

TJ Washington returns the ball to the 31-yard line after kickoff.

Hawkeye offense is on the field.

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Crowd check before the teams run out of the tunnel pic.twitter.com/IbateRiGvR

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Pretty clean injury report for the Hawkeyes. Everyone who needed to be available is available. pic.twitter.com/qXsBFlxjDo

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025

Hellooooooo 👋 from (not-so) sunny LA 🌧️

Checking in from the Coliseum with No. 21 Iowa football visiting No. 17 USC (and hello to South Carolina folks here WBB later today)

Kickoff’s at 12:30 PT. Follow along for updates and let’s have some fun 👍 pic.twitter.com/298gKNZRx8

— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 15, 2025