Tag: Iowa

Dec 30, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) throws a pass against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Report: Michigan contacts Iowa transfer QB Brendan Sullivan

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan recently entered the transfer portal, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be there for too long.

In fact, early indications are that Sullivan, 22, could wind up playing elsewhere in the Big Ten.

That’s because Michigan reportedly has reached out to Sullivan, according to On3.com. Sullivan entered the portal after the arrival of quarterback Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State. Gronowski was highly decorated at the FCS level, including being named the 2023 player of the year.

Last season as a backup, Sullivan completed 38 of 53 passes for 475 yards for the Hawkeyes. He threw three touchdown passes and three interceptions.

He spent one season at Iowa following two seasons at another Big Ten program, Northwestern.

Coming out of high school in Davison, Mich., Sullivan was a three-star recruit ranked No. 49 among quarterbacks in the Class of 2021, according to the 247Sports composite.

Michigan already has brought in quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports composite. From Belleville, Mich., Underwood was a January enrollee.

-Field Level Media

South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) searches for an opening to pass the ball on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.

FCS star QB Mark Gronowski transferring to Iowa

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former South Dakota State star quarterback Mark Gronowski is going from the FCS to the Big Ten after committing to Iowa on Tuesday afternoon.

Gronowski was the FCS Player of the Year in 2023 and won two national titles with the Jackrabbits. He had a 49-6 record as a starter.

Gronowski announced his decision on social media, writing, “COMMITTED!! #GoHawkeyes.” The school announced he was “Signed. Sealed. Delivered” a short time later.

Speaking to ESPN, Gronowski said he felt comfortable while visiting the school last week.

“The culture at Iowa reminds me a lot of the classic Midwest culture I grew up in,” Gronowski said. “It’s a family atmosphere, and all the coaches are welcoming. It’s a similar situation to where I’ve been. It’s a big part of why I ended up going there.”

Iowa badly needed an upgrade at quarterback after the transfer of Cade McNamara and the passing struggles of run-heavy signal-caller Brendan Sullivan.

Gronowski passed for 2,719 yards and 23 touchdowns against seven interceptions this season. Overall, he passed for 10,309 yards, 93 touchdowns and 20 interceptions and rushed for 1,767 yards and 37 scores.

When he entered the transfer portal late last month, Gronowski said he was going to consider entering the NFL draft. He previously accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

“My goal throughout the process of transferring was getting in a situation to become the best player and be the best potential prospect for the NFL,” Gronowski said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Marquis Johnson (2) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

No. 19 Missouri beats Iowa in Music City Bowl to notch 10-win season

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Brady Cook threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns as No. 19 Missouri rallied past Iowa 27-24 Monday afternoon in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.

The Tigers (10-3) erased a 24-14 third-quarter deficit. Blake Craig completed the comeback with decisive field goals of 51 and 56 yards in the fourth.

That gave Missouri a double-digit victory total in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013-14.

Marquis Johnson caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Theo Wease Jr. caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the first half before exiting the game with an upper-body injury.

Cook, who completed 18 of 32 passes, was Missouri’s leading rusher with 54 yards as the Hawkeyes (8-5) contained the Tigers’ running backs.

Kamari Moulton rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown for Iowa and Jaziun Patterson added 74 yards on the ground. Brendan Sullivan completed 14 of 18 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Iowa took a 7-0 lead on its first possession. Sullivan capped the 70-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown flip to Terrell Washington Jr.

The Tigers responded with an 85-yard drive and Cook’s 8-yard scoring pass to Wease.

Kaden Wetjen answered with a 100-yard touchdown kickoff return touchdown to put the Hawkeyes up 14-7.

Missouri tied the game with a 75-yard drive that culminated with Cook’s 7-yard TD pass to Johnson.

Moulton’s 38-yard run set up his 1-yard touchdown dive with 49 seconds left in the first half. That put Iowa up 21-14 at halftime.

The Hawkeyes increased their lead to 24-14 with Drew Stevens’ 38-yard field goal with 5:19 left in the third quarter.

Cook’s 44-yard pass to Johnson set up Joshua Manning’s 4-yard touchdown run as Missouri cut its deficit to 24-21.

After Toriano Pride intercepted Sullivan, Craig’s 51-yard field goal tied the game. Craig’s 56-yard kick with 4:36 left put Missouri ahead.

Iowa’s final possession ended with 1:03 left to play when Missouri stopped Sullivan on its 46-yard line on a fourth-and-inches run.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) throws a pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Star players sit out as Iowa battles No. 19 Missouri in Music City Bowl

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Like every team in postseason play, Iowa suffered defections to the transfer portal or NFL draft preparations, like star running back Kaleb Johnson deciding to turn pro.

But the Hawkeyes (8-4) got quarterback Brendan Sullivan back from injury for their Music City Bowl matchup with No. 19 Missouri (9-3) on Monday in Nashville, Tenn.

Sullivan hasn’t played since he suffered a sprained ankle on Nov. 8 in a 20-17 loss to UCLA.

“He feels fully confident,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “The injury is in the history now, it’s passed. Just getting caught up because he missed a couple weeks there. This has been a good period where he’s getting some work.”

Sullivan, who became starter after Cade McNamara suffered a concussion against Northwestern, has completed 24 of 35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns.

He will be backed up by Jackson Stratton, who led the Hawkeyes to victories over Maryland and Nebraska while both McNamara and Sullivan were injured. McNamara subsequently entered the transfer portal.

Running backs Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson figure to step up in Johnson’s absence. Moulton ran for 377 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries this season while Patterson rushed for 235 yards on 54 carries.

The Hawkeyes of the Big Ten earned this bowl invitation by winning four of their last five games. “Midseason we were teetering a little bit,” Ferentz said. “The guys came back, really rallied.”

Missouri’s offense will be missing several contributors. Wide receiver Luther Burden III opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft while tight end Brett Norfleet and receiver Mookie Cooper underwent season-ending surgeries.

But quarterback Brady Cook will be healthier after suffering a high ankle sprain and a hand injury this season. The latter injury happened against Southeastern Conference foe Alabama and caused him to sit out against Oklahoma. He has completed 183 of 289 passes for 2,248 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions.

Cook also ran for 169 yards and five TDs. With Burden gone, receiver Theo Wease Jr. (55 catches, 809 yards, three touchdowns) will be even more important for the passing attack.

“They have some veteran players where it really counts,” Ferentz said. “The quarterback is an outstanding player.”

Running backs Nate Noel (804 yards, three touchdowns on 157 carries), Marcus Carroll (578 yards, 12 touchdowns on 134 carries) and Jamal Roberts (214 yards, three touchdowns on 52 rushes) lead a ground game that is back to full strength.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz expects Iowa to present a stiff defensive challenge under coordinator Phil Parker.

“Their defensive coordinator, we were joking, he’s been there since 1998, that’s older than most of our team, most of our players,” Drinkwitz said. “(Parker) runs the same system, very disciplined, very, very detailed on the defensive side of the ball.”

In the chaotic college football landscape, Iowa has maintained an enduring identity. Since 2001, the Hawkeyes have failed to earn a bowl game invitation just twice.

“Coach Ferentz, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and what he’s done with the Hawkeye program,” Drinkwitz said. “I think he’s done 26 years as the head coach. Model of consistency and development. Does an excellent job with player identification and development.”

This game gained a bit more spice when Missouri beat out Iowa for transfer quarterback Beau Pribula from Penn State during the leadup to this bowl game.

–Field Level Media

Nov 8, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) chases down Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Iowa QB Brendan Sullivan (ankle) to start Music City Bowl

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Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan has recovered from a sprained ankle and will start the Music City Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 30, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Friday.

Sullivan missed the final two games of the regular season due to the ailment.

“He feels fully confident,” Ferentz said of Sullivan. “The injury is history now. It’s passed. Just getting caught up because he missed a couple weeks there. This has been a good period where he’s getting some work.”

Walk-on Jackson Stratton started victories over Maryland and Nebraska while Sullivan was out. Cade McNamara, the starter at the outset of the season, recently entered the transfer portal.

Sullivan has passed for 344 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 144 yards and four scores this season. He was injured during a loss to UCLA on Nov. 8.

Sullivan spent three seasons at Northwestern — redshirting his first campaign on campus — before transferring to Iowa following last season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara (12) throws a pass against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Report: Iowa QB Cade McNamara to transfer, seek seventh season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara will re-enter the NCAA transfer portal and petition the NCAA for a seventh season of eligibility, ESPN reported Wednesday.

McNamara transferred to Iowa before the 2023 season but tore his left ACL in the fifth game. He started eight games in 2024 before a concussion in the Oct. 26 game against Northwestern caused him to miss the rest of the regular season.

Over his 13 games with the Hawkeyes, McNamara completed 57.3 percent of his pass attempts for 1,522 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Before Iowa, McNamara spent four seasons at Michigan. He appeared in only three games for the Wolverines in 2022 because of a knee injury and could seek to have a season reinstated for a medical redshirt.

The NCAA would need to grant a waiver for McNamara to play in 2025.

McNamara, a Nevada native, will turn 25 before the start of the next football season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa comes back for last-second victory over Nebraska

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Drew Stevens kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired and Iowa rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Nebraska 13-10 on Friday night in a Big Ten game in Iowa City.

It was the second consecutive year the Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) won the annual rivalry game on a last-second kick, both by the same score. The latest victory ensured Iowa a ninth consecutive eight-win season, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola was strip-sacked by Iowa’s Max Llewellyn at the Cornhuskers 36-yard line with 20 seconds remaining. Three plays later, Stevens tucked the kick just inside the upright.

The second-coldest game in Kinnick Stadium history — it was 20 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff — saw less than 500 yards of offense, with Iowa managing just 164. The Hawkeyes made up for it with a pair of takeaways which led to six points.

Iowa trailed 10-0 at halftime, punting on all six full drives and managing only 20 yards on 20 plays with one first down. The Hawkeyes got 29 yards on their first drive of the second half, a march that included another punt but also a recovery of a muff at the Nebraska 4-yard line. Stevens made a 20-yard field goal with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

Kaleb Johnson scored on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Stratton on the first play of the fourth quarter, his 23rd score of the season, to tie it at 10. Iowa had only 65 yards prior to that play.

Nebraska (6-6, 3-6) scored on its opening possession, getting a 31-yard field goal from John Hohl. That was the only scoring in the game until the Cornhuskers’ Dante Dowdell scored on a 1-yard run with 38 seconds left before halftime.

Both schools will learn which bowl game they are in and their opponent on Dec. 8. Nebraska will make its first bowl appearance since 2016, while Iowa is bowl-eligible for the 12th straight season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) rushes as Maryland Terrapins defensive back Dante Trader Jr. (12) defends during the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Kaleb Johnson, Kamari Moulton help Iowa run over Maryland

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Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson gashed Maryland for 164 yards, leading the Hawkeyes to a 29-13 win Saturday afternoon in College Park, Md.

On a windy afternoon, Drew Stevens tied a program record with five field goals and Kamari Moulton scored on a 68-yard sprint as Iowa (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) bounced back from a loss two weeks ago at UCLA.

In his first college start, Jackson Stratton completed 10 of 14 passes for 76 yards as Iowa stuck with its traditional run-heavy attack. Stratton is the third quarterback to start a game this season for the Hawkeyes.

Johnson, who carried a career-high 35 times, scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter, which gave him a program-record 21 touchdown rushes this year. Shonn Greene was the Hawkeyes’ previous record-holder with 20 touchdown runs in 2008.

In its final home game this season, Maryland (4-7, 1-7) lost for the sixth time in its last seven games. The defeat ends the Terrapins’ streak of three straight seasons reaching a bowl game.

MJ Morris came off the bench to replace injured quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and rallied Maryland with two touchdown passes in the second half.

But after the Terrapins whittled a 16-point deficit to six points, at 19-13, Morris threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.

Just before the picks, Moulton scored untouched on his 68-yard burst through the middle of the Maryland defense. The run put Iowa up 26-13 with 9:19 left. Moulton finished with 114 rushing yards on 12 carries.

Later in the quarter, Stevens booted a 26-yard field goal to make it 29-13. Stevens’ other 3-pointers came from 27, 54, 50 and 49 yards. He is the first Iowa kicker to hit from 50 or more yards twice in a game.

Morris finished 12-of-23 passing for Maryland for 103 yards. Tai Felton, who leads the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yards, had six catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns.

Iowa went up 3-0 on Stevens’ field goal with 22 seconds left in the first quarter. After Johnson’s touchdown, Stevens added his second field goal to give Iowa a 13-0 lead at the break.

–Field Level Media

Iowa defensive back Jermari Harris (27) applauds after a play against Wisconsin Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Report: Iowa CB Jermari Harris opts out of rest of season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris has opted out of the remainder of the 2024 season in order to prepare for the NFL draft, according to a report by 247Sports.com.

The 6-foot-1 sixth-year senior from Chicago has recorded 27 tackles, three interceptions and a team-high seven pass breakups in 10 games for the Hawkeyes this season. That includes a pick-6 in a 38-21 win over Troy earlier this season.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) plays at Maryland on Saturday before closing out its regular season at home against Nebraska on Nov. 29. The Hawkeyes are already bowl eligible, so Harris is likely opting out of three games in total.

After missing the entire 2022 season due to an ankle injury, Harris was suspended for two games of the following season for his involvement in the gambling investigation into Iowa athletics. He later emerged as the Hawkeyes’ top cornerback, earning the team’s comeback player of the year award after compiling 42 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups.

Harris will finish his college career with 105 tackles and eight interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Quarterbacks Brendan Sullivan (1) Cade McNamara (12) and Marco Lainez (11) stand for a photo during Iowa football media day in Iowa City, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.

Iowa QB Brendan Sullivan out, Cade McNamara back from injury

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Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan will miss the final two regular-season games and Cade McNamara will return from a two-game absence to replace him when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland on Saturday, according to multiple reports on Monday.

McNamara sustained a concussion against Northwestern on Oct. 26 and has missed the past two games.

Sullivan sustained a sprained ankle in the second half of a 20-17 loss to UCLA on Nov. 8. Walk-on Jackson Stratton finished up that contest with McNamara and Marco Lainez III (broken thumb) sidelined.

Sullivan passed for 344 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in parts of eight games this season. The Northwestern transfer has rushed for four touchdowns.

McNamara has thrown for 1,017 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games. He is in second season at Iowa after transferring Michigan.

–Field Level Media