Iowa State Edges Iowa 16-13 in Defensive Struggle
Iowa State defeated Iowa 16-13 in a low-scoring defensive battle in Week 2. The Cyclones built an early lead, scoring 6 points in the first quarter and 7 in the second to take a 13-3 halftime advantage. Iowa answered with 10 second-quarter points to keep pace, but Iowa State's defense tightened in the second half, allowing only 3 third-quarter points before Iowa managed a fourth-quarter field goal.
The game featured four lead changes and remained competitive throughout, with Iowa State's defense making critical plays in the second and fourth quarters. Mark Gronowski led Iowa's passing attack with 83 yards, while Terrell Washington Jr. rushed for 8 yards. For Iowa State, Dominic Overby led receivers with 9 receptions.
Iowa State's defense dominated the statistical battle, with the top two defensive plays coming from Iowa's defense against Iowa State's offense. The final score of 16-13 came in under the 43-point over-under line, while the game pushed the 3-point spread.
AI-generated recap · Aug 21, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Iowa | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
 Iowa State | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Iowa | Iowa State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 13-24 | 18-27 |
| Pass Yards | 83 | 134 |
| Rush Yards | 131 | 104 |
| Total Yards | 214 | 238 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 5-14 | 8-15 |
| Penalties | 4-38 | 5-42 |
| Possession | 31:08 | 28:52 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Terrell Washington Jr. run for 1 yd to the IOWA 14
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Kaden Wetjen for 4 yds to the IOWA 18
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jacob Gill for 4 yds to the IOWA 22
Rhys Dakin punt for 33 yds
Carson Hansen run for 11 yds to the IOWA 44 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 5 yds to the IOWA 39
Carson Hansen run for 3 yds to the IOWA 36
Carson Hansen run for 5 yds to the IOWA 31 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Brett Eskildsen
(10:28) No Huddle-Shotgun Becht,Rocco rush right for 8 yards gain to the IOWA23 (Sharar,Karson) PENALTY ISU Holding (Barrett,Dylan) 10 yards from IOWA31 to IOWA41. NO PLAY.
Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 6 yds to the IOWA 35
Carson Hansen run for 9 yds to the IOWA 26
Kyle Konrardy 44 yd FG GOOD
Terrell Washington Jr. run for 1 yd to the IOWA 26
Terrell Washington Jr. run for 1 yd to the IOWA 27
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Addison Ostrenga
PENALTY IOWA False Start (Rexroth,Jaxon) 5 yards from IOWA27 to IOWA22. NO PLAY.
Rhys Dakin punt for 54 yds
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 6 yds to the ISU 30
Abu Sama III run for 11 yds to the ISU 41 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the ISU 42
Abu Sama III run for 6 yds to the ISU 48
Carson Hansen run for 5 yds to the IOWA 47 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Brett Eskildsen for 35 yds to the IOWA 12 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Dominic Overby
Abu Sama III run for 3 yds to the IOWA 9
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Benjamin Brahmer
Kyle Konrardy 27 yd FG GOOD
Xavier Williams run for 5 yds to the IOWA 30
Xavier Williams run for 1 yd to the IOWA 31
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jacob Gill for 5 yds to the IOWA 36 for a 1ST down
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Jacob Gill
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Terrell Washington Jr. for 6 yds to the IOWA 30
Mark Gronowski sacked by Marcus Neal Jr. for a loss of 6 yards to the IOWA 24
Rhys Dakin punt for 44 yds , Xavier Townsend returns for 1 yd to the ISU 33 Xavier Townsend fumbled, recovered by IOWA Koen Entringer
Mark Gronowski run for 13 yds to the ISU 20 for a 1ST down
Xavier Williams run for a loss of 1 yard to the ISU 21
Xavier Williams run for 4 yds to the ISU 17
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jacob Gill for 5 yds to the ISU 12
Drew Stevens 31 yd FG GOOD
Rocco Becht pass complete to Abu Sama III for 4 yds to the ISU 29
Abu Sama III run for a loss of 1 yard to the ISU 28
Rocco Becht pass complete to Abu Sama III for 2 yds to the ISU 30
Tyler Perkins punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Kaden Wetjen at the IOWA 30
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Zach Ortwerth
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Seth Anderson for 5 yds to the IOWA 35
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
Rhys Dakin punt for 65 yds for a touchback
Rhys Dakin punt for 65 yds for a touchback
Carson Hansen run for 2 yds to the ISU 12 Carson Hansen fumbled, recovered by ISU Jim Bonifas
Rocco Becht pass complete to Carson Hansen for 6 yds to the ISU 18
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Dominic Overby
Tyler Perkins punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Kaden Wetjen at the IOWA 35
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Xavier Williams for 2 yds to the IOWA 33
Mark Gronowski pass intercepted Jeremiah Cooper return for 24 yds to the IOWA 18
Rocco Becht run for 6 yds to the IOWA 12
Abu Sama III run for 5 yds to the IOWA 7 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht run for 2 yds to the IOWA 5
Abu Sama III run for 3 yds to the IOWA 2
Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 2 yds for a TD (Kyle Konrardy KICK)
Kyle Konrardy kickoff for 65 yds , Kaden Wetjen return for 15 yds to the IOWA 15
Jaziun Patterson run for 4 yds to the IOWA 19
Jaziun Patterson run for 10 yds to the IOWA 29 for a 1ST down
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Seth Anderson
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Sam Phillips for 15 yds to the IOWA 44 for a 1ST down
Jaziun Patterson run for 4 yds to the IOWA 48
Mark Gronowski run for 5 yds to the ISU 47
Mark Gronowski run for 1 yd to the ISU 46 for a 1ST down
Jaziun Patterson run for 7 yds to the ISU 39
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Jaziun Patterson
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jacob Gill for 16 yds to the ISU 23 for a 1ST down
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete
Xavier Williams run for 9 yds to the ISU 14
Mark Gronowski run for 3 yds to the ISU 11 for a 1ST down
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jaziun Patterson for 2 yds to the ISU 9
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Jacob Gill
(00:38) Shotgun Gronowski,Mark sacked for loss of 7 yards to the ISU16 (Bacon,Caleb, Neal,Marcus) PENALTY ISU Holding (James,Ta'Shawn) 5 yards from ISU09 to ISU04, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
PENALTY ISU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Hawk,Zaimir) 2 yards from ISU04 to ISU02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Mark Gronowski run for 2 yds for a TD (Drew Stevens KICK)
(00:25) No Huddle-Shotgun Becht,Rocco pass incomplete deep right to Eskildsen,Brett thrown to ISU47 PENALTY IOWA Pass Interference (Hall,TJ) 15 yards from ISU25 to ISU40, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Rocco Becht pass complete to Carson Hansen for 5 yds to the ISU 35
End of 2nd Quarter
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Dominic Overby
Rocco Becht run for a loss of 2 yards to the ISU 23
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Chase Sowell
Tyler Perkins punt for 65 yds , Kaden Wetjen returns for no gain to the IOWA 5
Terrell Washington Jr. run for 3 yds to the IOWA 8
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Jacob Gill for 22 yds to the IOWA 30 for a 1ST down
Mark Gronowski run for 11 yds to the IOWA 41 for a 1ST down
Mark Gronowski run for 3 yds to the IOWA 44
Mark Gronowski pass complete to Hayden Large for 7 yds to the ISU 49 for a 1ST down
Jaziun Patterson run for 6 yds to the ISU 43
Terrell Washington Jr. run for 2 yds to the ISU 41
Mark Gronowski run for 1 yd to the ISU 40
Mark Gronowski run for 3 yds to the ISU 37 for a 1ST down
Xavier Williams run for 4 yds to the ISU 33
Xavier Williams run for 4 yds to the ISU 29
Mark Gronowski run for 3 yds to the ISU 26 for a 1ST down
Jaziun Patterson run for 3 yds to the ISU 23
Jaziun Patterson run for 4 yds to the ISU 19
Mark Gronowski run for 1 yd to the ISU 18
Drew Stevens 36 yd FG GOOD
Rocco Becht pass complete to Chase Sowell for 10 yds to the ISU 13 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for no gain to the ISU 13
Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 5 yds to the ISU 18
Rocco Becht pass complete to Xavier Townsend for 6 yds to the ISU 24 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 9 yds to the ISU 33
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Xavier Townsend
Abu Sama III run for 4 yds to the ISU 37 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Dominic Overby for 9 yds to the ISU 46
Abu Sama III run for 5 yds to the IOWA 49 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the IOWA 48
Rocco Becht pass complete to Brett Eskildsen for 4 yds to the IOWA 44
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Dominic Overby
Tyler Perkins punt for 33 yds, fair catch by Kaden Wetjen at the IOWA 11
Jaziun Patterson run for 6 yds to the IOWA 17
PENALTY IOWA False Start (Ortwerth,Zach) 5 yards from IOWA17 to IOWA12. NO PLAY.
Mark Gronowski run for 7 yds to the IOWA 19
(11:28) No Huddle Gronowski,Mark pass incomplete deep middle to Anderson,Seth thrown to ISU40 PENALTY ISU Pass Interference (Goodwin,Beau) 15 yards from IOWA19 to IOWA34, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jaziun Patterson run for 5 yds to the IOWA 39
Jaziun Patterson run for 9 yds to the IOWA 48 for a 1ST down
Jaziun Patterson run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
Mark Gronowski run for 1 yd to the ISU 49
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Jacob Gill
Rhys Dakin punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Xavier Townsend at the ISU 10
Rocco Becht pass complete to Carson Hansen for 5 yds to the ISU 15
Carson Hansen run for 3 yds to the ISU 18
Rocco Becht run for 3 yds to the ISU 21 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 6 yds to the ISU 27
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Brett Eskildsen
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 17 yds to the ISU 44 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 1 yd to the ISU 45
Rocco Becht pass complete to Chase Sowell for 7 yds to the IOWA 48
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 10 yds to the IOWA 38 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 1 yd to the IOWA 37
Carson Hansen run for no gain to the IOWA 37
Rocco Becht run for 2 yds to the IOWA 35
Kyle Konrardy 54 yd FG GOOD
Kyle Konrardy kickoff for 58 yds , Kaden Wetjen return for 17 yds to the IOWA 24
Mark Gronowski pass complete to DJ Vonnahme for 6 yds to the IOWA 30
Mark Gronowski sacked by Tamatoa McDonough for a loss of 7 yards to the IOWA 23
Mark Gronowski sacked by Tamatoa McDonough for a loss of 4 yards to the IOWA 19
Mark Gronowski pass incomplete to Hayden Large
R. Becht takes a knee
R. Becht takes a knee