Two weeks ago, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns against Penn State in one of the Nittany Lions’ most embarrassing losses in program history. The Bruins combined for 269 rushing yards on the day, unveiling one of Penn State’s glaring defensive issues for other teams to tap into. It’s safe to say that it’s been a slippery slope since that fateful day in Pasadena.

The Northwestern Wildcats registered a productive day of their own on the ground against Penn State in week seven. Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II combined for 137 rushing yards on 32 attempts.

With all of that tape built up exposing Penn State’s run defense over the last two weeks of disastrous football, the Hawkeyes had no problem blowing the tarp off the Nittany Lions.

Iowa rushed for a staggering 245 yards on 33 carries, good for 7.4 yards per carry. Quarterback Mark Gronowski led the way with 130 rushing yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. He had a 67-yard burst in the fourth quarter and iced the game with a 14-yard carry on 3rd-and-6 in the final minute of the contest.

“Just everyone, everyone has to do their job when it comes down to it. At the end of the day, if you’re not going to be able to do your job, we got to fix that,” Dom DeLuca said postgame. “We got to figure out where we can improve and if that’s part of the situation, than that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the game for the Nittany Lions was the fact that they were producing quality stops in the first half. Zakee Wheatley picked off Gronowski on the game’s opening drive, and Iowa didn’t find its way into the end zone until the end of the first half.

Penn State’s pass defense really had its way with Gronowski. The Nittany Lions held him to 68 yards on 10-for-16 passing and that interception. Yet, what Gronowski lacked in passing, he easily made up for on the ground.

While he led the way in Iowa’s rushing attack through the night, sophomore Kamari Moulton tabbed 99 yards and set the tone for the Hawkeyes’ offensive game plan in the first quarter. He already had 41 rushing yards by the end of the opening 15 minutes. Iowa had no problem feeding him continuously throughout the game. Moulton ended his night with 17 carries, leading the Hawkeyes.

However, Penn State knew exactly what it was heading into. Iowa has one of the strongest rushing attacks in the Big Ten, and its stats only went up with its performance against the Nittany Lions.

Zane Durant said after practice on Wednesday that the team took account of the Hawkeyes’ rushing capabilities, specifically Gronowski’s, but that they were prepared for the looks Iowa would provide.

Xavier Gilliam even said postgame that the Nittany Lions knew Iowa would pound the ball repeatedly and force Penn State’s defensive line to be the one to get the stops.

If that’s true, then why did Gronowski walk all over Penn State just like Iamaleava did? This is no longer an issue that can be overlooked or chalked up to stellar quarterback play or Tony Rojas’ absence. Penn State’s horrid run defense is now a recurring theme that will continue to haunt the Nittany Lions if they don’t shape up immediately.

Sure, the season might be lost already, but that means Penn State’s focus has to solely set on improving. So far, improvement in the run defense area has been completely absent.

“The thing is, when you’re out there and the bullets are flying, the worst thing you could possibly do is try to point fingers,” Gilliam said. “It’s really more of like a, ‘okay, this happened, let’s get to the next play,'”.

Despite the loss, Gilliam really was one of the only Penn Staters to show up on the defensive line. The line as a whole didn’t even register a sack and only got one quarterback hurry. Iowa does possess one of, if not the best, offensive lines in the country, but this showing from Penn State’s guys up front really didn’t make the Nittany Lions’ job any easier.

Gilliam did block Drew Stevens’ 66-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, which led to Elliot Washington II taking it to the house and handing Penn State a 14-10 lead.

That play shows that Penn State has the ability to put pressure in the backfield and make those big, game-changing plays. Yet, the Nittany Lions can’t crack the code when it comes to the opposing team’s rushing attack. Time is ticking, and the schedule only gets tougher from here.