Iowa State takeaways from Iowa’s season-opening win

AMES — “That’s football.”

It’s a time-worn phrase regularly employed by Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz and Iowa State’s head coach Matt Campbell and it speaks to their shared approach to the game.

Keep it simple. Don’t believe the hype. Grind through every day, shunning glitz, glamour and flash; embracing “the hard” and rejecting short cuts.

So now that we’re arrived at Cy-Hawk week, 2025 edition, fans should be certain of one thing: This game’s drama likely will spring from unexpected sources while featuring unforeseen twists and turns likely to put both fan bases on edge.

Campbell’s No. 22 Cyclones (2-0) opened as 2.5-point favorites for the 11 a.m. game that will be broadcast nationally on Fox — so, all that said, here are five takeaways from Iowa’s season-opening, 34-7, win over FCS Albany from an ISU perspective:

1. What’s up (or down) with the passing game (again)?

Mark Gronowski’s a proven “gamer” and winner, having led South Dakota State to two FCS national championships. But his debut as Iowa’s starting quarterback proved to be a dud — and that’s before he shuffled to the sidelines in the third quarter because of cramping issues.

Gronowski did account for two touchdowns in his first game as a Hawkeye — one rushing, one passing — but completed just 8 of 15 throws for 44 yards. Expect a much better performance from the former Walter Payton Award winner on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. His track record’s simply too long and too strong.

2. Iowa’s offensive line appears to be as good as advertised.

Iowa returned almost all of a line that paved the path for ultra-productive Kaleb Johnson (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) last season. The Hawkeyes also feature one of the best tackles in college football in Gennings Dunker, who helped his team overcome the loss of lead back Kamari Moulton to injury in the second quarter, and bullied a Great Danes defensive front that couldn’t stop the run.

Iowa’s backup running back Xavier Williams had a breakout game, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. The Hawkeyes ground out 310 rushing yards in total — and the Cyclones’ defensive line has been underwhelming early this season. That’s a major cause for concern.

3. The Hawkeyes’ defense remains strong, despite youth infusion.

Yes, Albany is no FCS power, but that obvious truth doesn’t diminish how good Iowa’s defense looked outside of a couple early hiccups. The Hawkeyes returned just a handful of starters to their defensive unit, but four of those players (defensive linemen Aaron Graves, Ethan Hurkett and Max Llewellyn, and safety Xavier Nwankpa) provide a strong corer of production and leadership to rebuild from.

Iowa State’s failed to rush for more than 90 yards in the past two Cy-Hawk meetings and relied on Rocco Becht’s arm (and kicker Kyle Konrardy’s record-setting leg) to eke out a win at Kinnick Stadium in 2024.

4. Injuries are a concern. Who could be back for the Cy-Hawk game?

Assuming Gronowski’s cramping issues was a one-off issue, a handful of other Hawkeyes’ absence in the season opener diminished depth and it’s unclear — as of Monday — who will be back for Saturday’s game.

Talented backup receiver Reece Vander Zee suffered “a freak injury” before the opener and if he’s out again this week against the Cyclones, a largely unproven receivers room led by top returner Jacob Gill remains weakened. Iowa also lost offensive line depth when backup tackle Bryce George suffered an arm injury in warm-ups last Saturday, and Moulton’s aforementioned injury that forced him to wear a sling after exiting the game may or may not be healed by Saturday. Depth should be the key to a win for either team, so this is something to keep an eye on.

5. Special teams showdown?

Iowa kicker Drew Stevens drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal against Albany — a few hours after Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy nailed a program-record 63-yard field goal against South Dakota. Could the game come down to a single kick, like last season?

Konrardy’s 54-yard field goal in the closing seconds cemented ISU’s 20-19 win last September at Kinnick. Stevens is fully capable of returning the favor in Ames, and both teams feature potent punt returners who could change the game.

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com