And the world keeps spinning, folks.

Penn State football continues its disappointing 2025 campaign as the Nittany Lions travel to the Hawkeye state to take on Iowa in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night.

Penn State has had a busy week. On the heels of losing to Northwestern, quarterback Drew Allar was diagnosed with a season-ending injury, and the program parted ways with tenured head coach James Franklin.

Interim head coach Terry Smith will aim to get the Nittany Lions back in the fight, but after a second consecutive loss to a 20+ point underdog, it’s hard to believe that a redshirt freshman making his first start at quarterback could go into hostile territory and bring home a win.

Our staff has its doubts, but some are hopeful for a turnaround as Penn State enters the back half of a tough schedule.

Cadyn Gill (4-2): Iowa 24, Penn State 13

Everything I thought I knew about this team has been thrown out of the window, so I truthfully don’t have any stats to crunch or matchups to highlight. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a new result. So, I have no choice but to believe the new era of Penn State football will start off how the old one ended. A total train wreck. My decision to pick the Hawkeyes simply boils down to this being Ethan Grunkemeyer’s first career start, along with the fact that he has to do it in Kinnick Stadium at night. I anticipate another awful performance across the board for the Nittany Lion offense that is now dealing with an inexperienced QB at the helm in a hostile environment against a solid Iowa defensive unit.

Fernando Martinez Ruiz De Esparza (3-3): Iowa 21, Penn State 13

It’s been a week full of drama with Penn State football, folks.

After losing its third consecutive game against Northwestern last week, Penn State is going to look significantly different after the firing of James Franklin and the season-ending injury of Drew Allar. It will play its first game under interim head coach Terry Smith and quarterback Ethan Grunkmeyer. Even though teams usually play better in their first game under an interim head coach, I just don’t think that will be the case with the Nittany Lions, who are facing a lot of drama heading into this game. While I expect the defense to play well, I can’t say the same for the offense, which has been struggling this season, especially with a new quarterback now.

As for Iowa, it has played well this season and has one of the most hostile environments in college football. It only lost to No. 3 Indiana by five and previously ranked Iowa State by three earlier in the season. It is coming off a shutout win over Wisconsin last week, so it has a lot of momentum heading into this game, unlike Penn State. Their defense has only let an average of 13 points, so I expect the Hawkeyes to make life difficult for Penn State’s offense.

Last time both teams faced each other in Iowa, it ended horribly for the Nittany Lions, as they lost the game and had to play most of the game with a backup quarterback in 2021. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happened on Saturday night. Grunkmeyer is not a bad quarterback. I just think the hostile environment of Kinnick Stadium will be too much for him to overcome, and I expect the Hawkeyes to win a low-scoring affair over the Nittany Lions.

Michael Zeno (3-3): Iowa 24, Penn State 17

I cannot believe it’s gotten to this point. Three weeks ago, we talked about this team as contending for a national championship, and now they might struggle to make a bowl game. All of a sudden, there’s a new quarterback and a new head coach, both making their debuts on Saturday at Penn State for the first time in decades.

I’m very afraid of a Ta’Quan Roberson situation where the inexperienced QB gets hammered in a miserable game at Kinnick, but I also think that a week of preparation as the starter will help him. The burden of expectations should be completely lifted, and these players should play more loosely than they ever have.

All told, it’s a hard ask for a team that’s rapidly spiraling to win a road game in a tough environment. This is the wrong stretch to be picking up the pieces.

CJ Gill (3-3): Iowa 24, Penn State 13

The season is over.

Jamie Lynch (3-3): Penn State 17, Iowa 13

I’ve never picked against Penn State before, and I certainly won’t start now.

This team has nothing to lose and everything to prove. That’s a dangerous combination. I know the boys in the Lasch Building are hurting right now and will come out looking for blood on Saturday night.
I believe Coach Terry will have the Nittany Lions ready to lay it all out there for the team and for this program.

Michael Siroty (1-2): Iowa 17, Penn State 13

Kinnick Stadium is a difficult place to play, and Iowa announced a sold-out crowd will be in attendance. With an interim head coach and a team that is not bought into the program right now, this game feels like a loss waiting to happen. I hate to say it, but I’ve got the Hawkeyes in this one. Ethan Grunkemeyer, prove me wrong.

Brian Kriley (0-1): Iowa 27, Penn State 10

I have very little hope for this team to improve in any way after the last few weeks and the firing of head coach James Franklin. Kinnick is a tough place to play for any team, let alone one a team that has yet to beat a Power Four school. I don’t see Penn State making a better effort than the lackluster performances we’ve seen from them over the past month.

Melanie Thalhimer (0-1): Penn State 24, Iowa 21

With a new head coach and quarterback to lead the offense, I’m optimistic about seeing some explosive plays. The team should channel the Iowa win in 2017 for this week… let’s see a thrilling last-second victory over the Hawkeyes again.

Jason Perry (0-3): Iowa 28, Penn State 17

I still have some confidence in this Penn State team, but after coach Franklin’s departure and Drew Allar’s injury, I can’t see us bouncing back on the road at Iowa at night…an atmosphere that rivals any other in college football. Not the best place for the Terry Smith and Ethan Grunkemeyer duo to make its debut.

Sammy Layman (0-0): Penn State 24, Iowa 13

There are no strings attached for Penn State, and its talented roster could show out at any moment.

Brandon Collica (0-0): Iowa 27, Penn State 20

Penn State looks to get back in the win column after an ugly last week for the Nittany Lions. Penn State will travel to Iowa City to face off against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa opens as a 3.5-point favorite, which I believe they will cover. With Drew Allar out for the season with an ankle injury, Ethan Grunkemeyer is thrown into the starting role with his first career start coming on Saturday. Kinnick Stadium is known for being a tough environment to play in, which I think gets to Grunkemeyer, heavily limiting the passing game. Kaytron and Nick will get heavy usage in this game as Terry Smith takes over in his first game as Head Coach. As for Iowa, they have been unlike normal Iowa football, averaging over 30 points a game while still having a top-tier defense. I think while Penn State manages to keep it close, they fall to Iowa 27-20, and fall to 3-4 on the season.

Oscar Orellana (3-3): Penn State 20, Iowa 16

The guys will be ready to play. I have trust in Terry Smith and Ethan Grunkemeyer to help steady the boat and fight out a tough, ugly, gritty win at Kinnick Stadium. Emotions are high, but that doesn’t need to be a weakness. Penn State guts it out and gets semi-back on track.

Cooper Cazares (3-3): Penn State 21, Iowa 17

Call me crazy, but Penn State can win this game. There’s nothing to lose at this point, sitting at 3-3 with a 0-3 conference record. The season that was destined to be the best anyone has seen in recent memory is gone. The national championship and conference championships are gone. However, what we have found out before, a team with nothing to lose is the most dangerous team you can play. I think the Nittany Lions come out slow to start, but eventually rally around their new quarterback and interim head coach. Ethan Grunkemeyer: future Penn State legend. #LetsGetGrunky