Week 8 delivers a Big Ten matchup between two storied programs on Saturday night when the sun starts to set and the lights come on at Kinnick Stadium.
The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) welcome the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) for a matchup of two teams bringing very different feelings into this game. With a win, Iowa is suddenly within shouting distance of the Big Ten and still has everything in front of them. Penn State, which just fired its head coach, is entering with a backup QB and interim head coach, which could result in a downtrodden team or a group looking to punch back and make a statement.
Advertisement
Kickoff is 6 p.m. CT from Kinnick Stadium and will be streaming on Peacock. Pete Fiutak of College Football News dug into the matchup and offered a prediction on how each could win:
Why Penn State beats Iowa
Sep 6, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Enai White (45) reacts after sacking Florida International Panthers quarterback Keyone Jenkins (1) during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
James Franklin is gone. The pressure of postseason expectations is gone. Penn State could just be free now. They are also a very talented roster full of players who can flip a game at any moment. Just because Penn State has had a whirlwind of a week doesn’t mean they won’t rally and turn into a dangerous opponent.
Okay, deep breath here … breathe in … breathe out … breathe … okay, now panic.
The only possible positive out of everything that happened over the last few weeks is that now everyone can just play.
What’s that Fight Club line? Only when we’ve lost everything are we free to do anything, or some other loser-speak? Penn State is supposed to be playing for the national title, and now it’ll have to battle just to go bowling.
But the guys who are out there and do want to play should just let it rip.
The Drew Allar injury is awful, but in a lemons-into-lemonade sort of way, now the program gets to see what it has in Ethan Grunkmeyer.
There’s still plenty of talent around – the run defense should be just fine in time – and maybe, just maybe, there’s UCLA-like energy burst after the coaching change. – Fiutak, CFN
Why Iowa beats Penn State
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday October 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin.
This is the old school Iowa way. After flexing some muscles on offense this year, Iowa can turn back the clock and play its favorite type of game by winning the field position battle and playing strong defense.
Iowa can go full on Iowa – like it did against Wisconsin – and probably be fine.
Mark Gronowski connected on seemingly every short-range throw, the running game pounded out close to six yards per carry, the team controlled the clock and the tempo throughout, and the team shouldn’t have to go anywhere out of its comfort zone.
Iowa doesn’t dominate the time of possession battle like it usually does, but it still operates with a deliberate pace that dictates the tempo.
Penn State is shockingly bad on third downs, worse at controlling the clock, and if it seems like it never has the ball, that’s because it won’t. – Fiutak, CFN
Advertisement
Who will win?
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker watches during a spring NCAA football practice, Thursday, March 30, 2023, at the University of Iowa Indoor Practice Facility in Iowa City, Iowa. 230330 Iowa Spring Fb 035 Jpg
If Iowa can avoid any massive momentum shifts early in this game, keep the crowd in it, and drag this thing along, it starts to lean in Iowa’s favor. The Hawkeyes can’t give Penn State short fields and will look to keep this clock churning.
Somehow, under Terry Smith, Penn State has to score right away and get the offense moving. ANY sort of positive momentum in the first quarter would work wonders. Make Iowa press, get a few big defensive plays, and change the narrative.
Penn State took the ball away seven times in the three wins. In the three losses? Once.
Iowa has turned it over three times in the last two weeks, but it’ll grind this game down to a nub in the second half to get out with a good, tough win. – Fiutak, CFN
Iowa vs. Penn State prediction
An Iowa Hawkeyes helmet lays on the field before a football game against the Indiana Hoosiers Sept. 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Prediction: Iowa 23, Penn State 16
Like many, Fiutak thinks this is a low-scoring game that plays into the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes as they collect a vintage Kirk Ferentz-esque win that isn’t pretty, but shows a mature, veteran team that handles its business against a tough opponent.
Iowa vs. Penn State takeaways
A Tigerhawk logo on an entrance gate is pictured as the sun sets, Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 190630 Kinnick 003 Jpg
This game could turn back the clock for the Hawkeyes a bit. Kirk Ferentz and his staff know that if they can jump out to a lead, the pressure turns up even more on Penn State and their backup quarterback to try and score against an Iowa defense that has flipped a switch lately.
Advertisement
Iowa should look to play a field position game and take its shots when it is most timely. It could feel like a slog at times, but that may be just what the Hawkeyes are looking for in this game as they keep the Kinnick crowd in 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: College Football News predicts Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State
