Kirk Ferentz climbs to the top of the Big Ten win list
In short: The 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes season was defined by record-breaking individual performances and a relentless coaching legacy. From a quarterback's historic win streak to a coach surpassing legends, the Hawkeyes proved their grit in a season that saw them secure a dominant bowl victory.
The 2025 season served as a milestone year for head coach Kirk Ferentz, now in his twenty-seventh year at the helm. A 34–27 win against the No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores in the ReliaQuest Bowl saw Ferentz reach 205 Big Ten victories, matching Woody Hayes' conference record. This victory also set a new personal record for Ferentz, marking his 11th career bowl win as a Big Ten coach.
On the field, the Hawkeyes' success was driven by standout individual achievements. Senior quarterback Mark Gronowski achieved a rare feat, becoming the first Hawkeye in over three decades to record rushing, receiving, and passing touchdowns in a single game. Mark Gronowski tied the Big Ten's highest total of rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (16) and finished his tenure with an NCAA-record 58 victories as a starter. Meanwhile, graduate student center Logan Jones earned Unanimous First-team All-American honors and the Rimington Trophy.
Special teams also provided significant momentum throughout the year. Return specialist Kaden Wetjen was named a Consensus First-team All-American and earned the Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year title for the second time. His ability to flip the field was highlighted by a 95-yard punt return against UMass and a 62-yard return against Michigan State, the latter of which broke a record held by Tim Dwight for nearly thirty years. Despite some struggles, including a loss to Indiana—the first since 2012—the Hawkeyes finished the season with a 9–4 record.
The team's resilience was evident in their ability to navigate high-stakes matchups. Despite narrow defeats against top-20 sides, they achieved their first shutout of Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium in 96 years. The season ended with a powerful ReliaQuest Bowl performance, proving Iowa is a steady power in the Big Ten Conference.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-2025-iowa-hawkeyes-football-team.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
