It took all 60 minutes, but the Oregon Ducks found a way to survive Kinnick Stadium, the pouring rain, and ultimately, the Iowa Hawkeyes in an 18-16 victory that came on the leg of a late field goal from Atticus Sappington.
To say the loss stings is an understatement. For the second time this year, like when Iowa hosted the Indiana Hoosiers, the Hawkeyes had a top team dead to rights only to see it slip between their fingertips at the very end. That is ultimately the story. Iowa is right there, but falling short. They are good, but can they be great?
Advertisement
Iowa now moves to 6-3 with three more games left on its slate to salvage a year that most programs would be jealous of, yet feels somewhat empty for the Hawkeyes, who know they are a better team. As Iowa picks up the pieces, here are the takeaways from the gut-wrenching loss to Oregon.
Mark Gronowski was the guy
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski celebrates after scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter against Oregon on Nov. 8, 2025.
I don’t know what more you need to see from Mark Gronowski to know that stats don’t matter, the shine doesn’t matter, and that none of that matters. The dude steps up when the lights are the brightest and the moments are the biggest. This is what Iowa brought Mark Gronowski in for, and if anyone says otherwise, they aren’t watching the games or they are blinded by preconceived notions.
Advertisement
Sure, the box score wasn’t pretty. Gronowski went 10-18 for 138 yards and a touchdown, throwing with 25 yards on the ground and another score. But what about the 12-play, 93-yard drive to take the lead?
Mark Gronowski went 4-5 for 66 yards and ran in the go-ahead score on a high-pressure 4th and goal. That is the guy I want leading my team and, today, he showed why is is that guy.
The defense faltered
Oregon Ducks kicker Atticus Sappington (36) attempts the game-winning field goal Nov. 8, 2025 during a Big Ten Football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Unfortunately, while Iowa gave up just 18 points, they came at all of the wrong times. Iowa asked its defense to stand up before halftime and at the end of the game, but saw Oregon get a field goal each time. Those six points proved rather costly.
Advertisement
I know, 18 points is a good showing, but it doesn’t paint the full picture. The Ducks ran for 261 yards at 7.3 yards per carry. They got whatever they wanted against an Iowa front seven that was previously so stout.
Many may look to the final drive of the game and point out the completions and whatnot, which is fine. The 24-yard pass from Dante Morre to Malik Benson was covered perfectly by TJ Hall. Sometimes you just get beat. That’s football. You tip your cap and move on when someone makes a perfect play.
The issue for Iowa today was that Oregon didn’t just make the perfect plays; they made the standard plays that Iowa did stop.
Tim Lester hurt Iowa in the first quarter
Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester watches warm ups Nov. 8, 2025 before a Big Ten Football game against the Oregon Ducks at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
To put it simply, Iowa gave away points early in this game, getting too cute. The Hawkeyes were getting 4-5 yards per run and getting first downs until Tim Lester seemingly got impatient and went away from what was working.
Advertisement
On the drive that led to Iowa’s bad snap, which led to a safety, the difference in the game, Iowa was facing a 3rd-and-2 and chose to throw a tough out route in the pouring rain after getting rounds of four yards, seven yards, and five yards on the drive. The next drive, Iowa had runs of eight yards, five yards, five yards, and four yards, then got sacked, and it turned into a punt.
Had Iowa stuck with the run game, one of those drives likely would have turned into at least a field goal, if not at least putting Oregon in worse field position.
Drew Stevens deserves his flowers
Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Drew Stevens (18) kicks a field goal Nov. 8, 2025 during a Big Ten Football game against the Oregon Ducks at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Drew Stevens was put in what looked like a nearly impossible spot when the Hawkeyes, who were trailing 15-7, called upon him to attempt a 58-yard field goal in the pouring rain just to stay in the game. Stevens stepped up and answered the bell, hammering the kick.
Advertisement
If he missed this kick, Kinnick Stadium doesn’t come back to life or see the Hawkyes get back into this game. This kick was massive and showed everything there is to know about Drew Stevens.
Credit where credit is due, Oregon
IOWA CITY, IA – NOVEMBER 8: Head coach Dan Lanning of the Oregon Ducks watches his team during warm-ups before the match-up against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 8, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
It’s undeniable, and although it may be tough to admit, you have to tip your cap to the Oregon Ducks and their head coach, Dan Lanning. What more can you ask for from a College Football Playoff team than what they did today?
Oregon walked into Iowa, in the pouring rain, against a full Kinnick Stadium, played four quarters of hell, and came out on the other side. Kudos to you, Oregon. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to a team that can handle everything thrown at them, and the Ducks did that.
Advertisement
Dan Lanning isn’t afraid of the big moment. He embraces it. The Ducks did that today, and you give them credit for it.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Takeaways from Iowa football’s gut-wrenching loss to Oregon
