So, you’re looking for the score of Iowa football game to see how the Hawkeyes wrapped up their season. It’s been a wild ride. Honestly, if you blinked during the final month of the 2025 season, you might have missed one of the most surprising offensive surges in the Kirk Ferentz era.
The Hawkeyes finished their 2025 campaign with a statement win in Tampa. On December 31, 2025, Iowa took down the No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores with a final score of 34-27 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
It wasn't just a win. It was a 9-4 finish that felt a lot different than the stagnant offenses of years past.
The ReliaQuest Bowl: Breaking Down the Score of Iowa Football Game
That 34-27 scoreline against Vanderbilt at Raymond James Stadium told a specific story. For years, Iowa fans have joked about "Punting is Winning," but this game was about Mark Gronowski and a balanced attack. Gronowski, the veteran transfer quarterback, ended his college career with an NCAA-record 58 wins as a starter.
He didn't just manage the game; he moved the sticks.
Iowa went into the half trailing but exploded in the third quarter. The defense, led by Phil Parker’s usual wizardry, stifled a Vanderbilt offense that had been a darling of the SEC all year. While the 34-27 final looks close, Iowa controlled the tempo for most of the second half. Kaden Wetjen was a nightmare for the Commodores' special teams, consistently giving the Hawkeyes a short field.
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A Season of "What Ifs"
Looking back at the score of Iowa football game results throughout the year, the Hawkeyes were agonizingly close to a 10 or 11-win season. They lost four games by a combined total of only 15 points. All four of those losses came against teams ranked in the Top 20.
Take the Oregon game on November 8, for example. A brutal 18-16 loss at Kinnick Stadium. One botched punt snap and a failed two-point conversion were the only things standing between Iowa and a massive upset.
Then there was the USC trip. A 26-21 loss in Los Angeles where the Hawkeyes had the ball with a chance to win late.
It’s the classic Iowa paradox. The defense is elite—allowing only 16.1 points per game—but the margin for error remains razor-thin because the offense, while improved, isn't a juggernaut.
The Stats That Defined the 2025 Hawkeyes
Numbers don't lie. Or maybe they just tell half the truth. Iowa’s season stats under offensive coordinator Tim Lester showed a clear shift toward a "West Coast" influenced scheme.
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They averaged 29.3 points per game. That’s a huge jump from the offensive struggles of 2023 and 2024.
The ground game was the engine. Even after Kaleb Johnson left for the NFL (drafted by the Steelers in the 3rd round), the committee approach worked. Logan Jones, the Rimington Trophy winner, anchored an offensive line that finally looked like the "Old Iowa" lines—physical, mean, and technically sound.
- Total Points For: 381
- Total Points Against: 209
- Rushing TDs: 28 (Gronowski tied a Big Ten record for rushing scores by a QB with 16)
- Turnover Margin: +8
The defense remained the gold standard. They forced 17 fumbles and picked off 11 passes. It's just what Phil Parker does.
That Weird Game in Madison
If you want to talk about a satisfying score of Iowa football game, look no further than October 11. Iowa went into Camp Randall and embarrassed Wisconsin 37-0. A shutout in Madison is rare. It was a defensive masterclass that saw the Badgers struggle to even cross midfield for the first three quarters.
What’s Next for Iowa Football?
With the 2025 season in the books and the ReliaQuest Bowl trophy in Iowa City, the focus shifts to 2026. Gronowski is gone. Logan Jones is gone.
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The "portal era" means the roster is never truly set, but the culture under Ferentz is the one constant. You know the defense will be top-ten. You know the punter will be an All-American candidate.
The real question is whether the offensive progress under Tim Lester was a one-year fluke or a permanent evolution.
If you are tracking the current Hawkeye landscape, keep an eye on the basketball team, too. They just beat Indiana 74-57 behind a massive game from Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks. It seems like the winning vibes are contagious in Iowa City right now.
To stay ahead of the next season, you should look into the 2026 recruiting class rankings, which currently feature a heavy emphasis on offensive line depth and a four-star dual-threat quarterback recruit from the Midwest. Checking the spring game schedule in April is the best way to get a first look at the new starters.