IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski rushed for a career-high 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Kaden Wetjen scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run with 3:54 to play, as the Hawkeyes defeated Penn State 25-24 on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) trailed 24-19 with 4:56 to play, but Gronowski ran 67 yards on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, setting up Wetjen’s run a play later. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4), playing their first game for interim coach Terry Smith six days after the firing of James Franklin. (Photo: AP)
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — James Franklin says he was shocked when Penn State fired him hours after a loss in which the Nittany Lions also lost quarterback Drew Allar to a season-ending injury but that he cannot wait to coach again elsewhere. Franklin said Saturday on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft visited him ahead of a practice last Sunday and told him the university was making a change. Franklin said he was surprised because Penn State was fighting to play for a national title six games ago and was a two-minute drive away from beating Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl last season. He said decisions were made that didn’t involve him.