The Iowa Hawkeyes don’t know if Mark Gronowski will be healthy enough to play at Wisconsin on October 11. The senior quarterback hurt his left knee against Indiana, and his status is up in the air.
What Happened to Mark Gronowski?
According to On3 analyst Pete Nakos on X, Gronowski remains questionable for Iowa’s October 11 matchup at Wisconsin. The senior quarterback left Iowa’s 20-15 loss to No.8 Indiana late in the fourth quarter after injuring his left knee on a scramble.
Iowa starting QB Mark Gronowski remains questionable for next week at Wisconsin.
Still no full update on his injury as testing was ongoing as of Monday. Exited the Indiana loss with a left knee injury. https://t.co/n3PIuIrbCp https://t.co/FXpdjmTYjv pic.twitter.com/jBZuxVKgHb
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) September 30, 2025
Gronowski went to the medical tent and got fitted with a brace. He warmed up on the sideline but didn’t go back in. Before leaving the game, he completed 19 of 25 passes for 144 yards with one interception and added a rushing touchdown.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lester described the situation as “cloudy” when speaking to reporters after the game. Testing was ongoing as of Monday, so Iowa’s coaches don’t have a timeline yet. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is expected to provide an update during the bye week.
Through five games this season, Gronowski has completed 68 of 106 passes for 636 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s rushed for 150 yards and seven touchdowns, giving Iowa a quarterback who can make plays with his legs. Gronowski ranks 110th nationally in PFSN’s QB Impact metric with a C- grade.
Gronowski transferred to Iowa after a legendary career at South Dakota State, where he won two FCS national championships and the Walter Payton Award.
He posted a 49-6 record as a starter in the FCS ranks and broke the NCAA Division I record for career wins with 51 against UMass earlier this season. Gronowski previously overcame a serious ACL injury in 2021 before leading the Jackrabbits to back-to-back titles.
Who Steps In If Gronowski Can’t Go?
Sophomore Hank Brown takes over if Gronowski can’t play at Camp Randall Stadium. The Auburn transfer got some work against Indiana after Gronowski left, going 5 of 13 for 48 yards with one interception.
Brown has taken scout-team reps throughout fall camp and sits second on the depth chart. He looked rough against the Hoosiers, but the bye week gives him time to prepare for his first career start.
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Losing Gronowski would be a significant blow for Iowa. His experience winning games at South Dakota State and his dual-threat ability have been vital to the offense. Brown hasn’t shown he’s ready to replicate that production, especially on the road against a physical Big Ten opponent.
The bye week gives Iowa time to figure out Gronowski’s recovery and adjust their plans. Ferentz will announce his starter closer to game day, but Brown needs to treat this week like he’s playing.
Iowa’s offense ranks 35th nationally with an 80.8 grade (B-) in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, while the defense has been stronger, ranking 27th with an 83.3 grade (B). Losing their most experienced quarterback would make things harder against Wisconsin’s defense.
