The Iowa Hawkeyes finally have their guy. Head coach Kirk Ferentz has officially named Mark Gronowski as Iowa’s starting quarterback for the 2025 season. After years of offensive inconsistency, this move represents both a fresh start for the program and a bold step by one of college football’s longest-tenured coaches.
Who Is Gronowski?
Gronowski arrives in Iowa City, Iowa from South Dakota State, carrying proven championship DNA. In fall camp, he separated himself from the competition with his poise, leadership and football IQ.
What makes him different? His ability to stretch the field vertically. That’s something Iowa has lacked in recent years—a quarterback who can pressure defenses deep and open up the run game. Combine that with his experience running a pro-style offense, and the fit with the Hawkeyes looks seamless.
Gronowski’s Strengths
- Leadership and experience: A proven winner with a 49-6 record as a starter, two FCS national championships and the 2023 Walter Payton Award (the FCS Heisman). He’s thrown for more than 10,000 yards and 93 touchdowns.
- Arm talent: Can attack all levels of the field, but is especially effective on fades and slot fades.
- Mobility: A tough, physical runner who can extend plays. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he’s built to handle contact.
- Pocket awareness: Rarely takes sacks and gets the ball out quickly, keeping the offense on schedule.
That mix of skills gives Iowa a new wrinkle and raises the ceiling of an offense that’s long needed a spark.
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What’s Next for Iowa
For Iowa, improvement on offense is the missing piece to complement an always-stout defense. Gronowski sits at the center of that challenge. His first games will reveal whether the Hawkeyes can finally strike balance and keep pace with the Big Ten’s most explosive teams.
Naming Gronowski the starter is about more than one season—it’s about identity. If he plays at the level he showed in the FCS, Iowa could shed the label of being one-dimensional.
For recruits, fans and the rest of the Big Ten, the message is clear: Iowa is serious about elevating quarterback play and competing with the conference’s elite.
Bottom Line
Gronowski brings toughness, experience and a winning pedigree to Iowa football. If he adapts quickly, he could be the steady, dynamic presence the Hawkeyes have been missing. For the first time in years, Iowa’s offense feels ready to match its defense—and that has fans excited about what’s ahead.
