IOWA CITY, Iowa — Even after a change on the high, it was the identical end result for Penn State, which suffered its fourth straight loss Saturday.
After firing James Franklin earlier within the week, the Nittany Lions, enjoying their first recreation underneath interim coach Terry Smith, blew a fourth-quarter lead in opposition to Iowa to lose 25-24 and fall to 3-4 this season — and 0-4 within the Large Ten.
And a go to to No. 1 Ohio State is subsequent on the schedule, after a bye week.
Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski rushed for a career-high 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Kaden Wetjen scored the go-ahead landing on an 8-yard run with 3:54 remaining within the recreation for the Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1 Large Ten).
The Nittany Lions’ four-game dropping streak is tied for the longest in AP ballot historical past by a group that was ranked high 2 within the first ballot of the season. The earlier group to do it was 1961 Iowa, which was AP No. 1 within the preseason and began 4-0 earlier than dropping 4 in a row.
“I believe we gave all the things we had,” Smith mentioned. “There was nobody that didn’t give nice effort. We simply should execute.”
Iowa trailed 24-19 with 4:56 to play Saturday after Penn State’s Ryan Barker kicked a 32-yard area objective, however Gronowski ran 67 yards on the primary play after the following kickoff, establishing Wetjen’s run one play later. Gronowski missed on the 2-point conversion cross, giving the Nittany Lions an opportunity to take the lead.
Iowa’s protection then stopped Penn State close to midfield, blitzing quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer on fourth down on the Penn State 49 and forcing an incomplete cross.
Gronowski then clinched the win with a 14-yard run on third down that allowed the Hawkeyes to expire the clock.
Gronowski had a 1-yard landing run late within the first half, then added a 4-yard landing run within the third quarter that bought the Hawkeyes to inside 21-16.
Kaytron Allen rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions led 14-10 at halftime after Iowa kicker Drew Stevens had his 66-yard area objective try with six seconds left blocked by Xavier Gilliam. Elliot Washington II picked up the unfastened ball and ran 35 yards for the landing.
Grunkemeyer struggled at instances, throwing two interceptions, one to Xavier Nwankpa that he returned to the Penn State 1-yard line, establishing Gronowski’s first landing.
“I’m tremendous happy with these guys and the way in which they performed,” Smith mentioned. “We simply have to wash it up in order that we will end video games.”
Penn State final misplaced 4 video games in a row in the course of the 2020 season, which it began 0-5. It’s the fourth 0-4 begin within the Large Ten for the Nittany Lions since becoming a member of the convention in 1993.
ESPN Analysis and The Related Press contributed to this report.