The Iowa Hawkeyes have left no doubts about who their starting quarterback is going to be entering the 2025-26 college football season. Former South Dakota State QB and two-time FCS national champion, Mark Gronowski, has the keys to the car in Iowa City and is facing an adjustment to the Big Ten.
Viewed as one of the top transfer portal additions in college football, Mark Gronowski will make the jump from the FCS to a Power Five conference in FBS and will have to adjust quickly.
The unknown of how he can adjust with the increased speed of the game and the new looks defenses has him among ESPN’s ninth tier of college football quarterbacks in the “Welcome to the big leagues” tier.
Bill Belichick is betting big on a QB from South Alabama. Iowa’s offense could finally have some life with a QB from South Dakota State. Utah might’ve planned to keep turning to Cam Rising right up until Cam Rising Jr. was ready to take over, but instead, the Utes will turn to a QB from New Mexico. All of the Tier 9 quarterbacks are moving up from a lower level and will be expected to produce immediately at places with high hopes for a playoff run in 2025.
Iowa has only 47 touchdown passes in the past five seasons combined. In that same span, Ohio State has 173.
Iowa hasn’t averaged 1.0 passing touchdowns per game since … 2019. – David Hale, ESPN
As mentioned, the upside of the expectations for Mark Gronowski could have Iowa as a fringe College Football Playoff contender if they can take the next step offensively with a passing attack.
With the anticipation, all eyes will be on Gronowski early and how he commands offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s offense with just one summer and one training camp of preparation, as he missed spring ball while recovering from shoulder surgery.
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