IOWA CITY, Iowa — It was a night of milestones and momentum for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who opened their 2025 season with a 34–7 victory over Albany at Kinnick Stadium. While the scoreboard told a story of control and consistency, the real headline came off the field: Head coach Kirk Ferentz tied the legendary Woody Hayes for the most wins in Big Ten history with his 205th career victory at Iowa.
Still, Ferentz downplayed the moment.
“It was just good to get the win,” Ferentz said simply. “That’s what we came for.”
Freshman Running Back Steals the Spotlight
With starting running back Kamari Moulton sidelined early due to injury, true freshman Xavier Williams stepped into the spotlight—and never looked back. He ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on a night when Iowa’s offense leaned heavily on the ground game.
Williams made an immediate impact, tallying 41 yards on his first two carries and later breaking off a 43-yard run that ignited the Hawkeyes’ offense.
“He told me, ‘Go out there and go crazy,’” Williams said of Moulton’s advice. “So I did.”
Williams became the first freshman at Iowa to rush for 100+ yards in a debut since Shonn Greene in 2005.
Gronowski’s Gritty Debut
Quarterback Mark Gronowski, the much-anticipated transfer from South Dakota State, had an uneven first outing in the black and gold. Making his debut after offseason shoulder surgery, Gronowski threw for just 44 yards, but added a touchdown pass, a rushing score, and guided Iowa’s offense efficiently until cramps forced him to leave in the third quarter.
“This was a good first step for him,” Ferentz said. “He battled through some early nerves and got better as the game went on.”
Gronowski finished 8-of-15 passing with 11 carries for 39 yards.
Dominant on the Ground
Iowa leaned heavily on its run game, outgaining Albany 310–43 on the ground, thanks to a dominant performance by the offensive line and a relentless backfield.
“Three hundred rushing yards? You can’t ask for anything better than that,” Gronowski said. “The O-line was lights out.”
Backup quarterbacks also contributed late in the game. Hank Brown added a 1-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter, while kicker Drew Stevens drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal to put the game out of reach.
Defensive Statement
The Iowa defense delivered a typically stifling performance, allowing just 123 total yards and eight first downs. The unit tallied four sacks and forced two turnovers, nearly pitching a shutout.
Albany’s lone highlight came in the second quarter when quarterback Jack Shields connected with Lasalle Rose Jr. for a 9-yard touchdown, capitalizing on a short field following an Iowa fumble. But that was all the Great Danes could muster.
Ferentz Makes History
Now in his 27th season, Kirk Ferentz continues to rewrite the record books. With Saturday’s win, he tied Woody Hayes atop the Big Ten’s all-time coaching wins list and secured his 23rd season-opening victory at Iowa.
“He’s the most humble guy I know,” Gronowski said. “I mentioned the record to him and he just shrugged it off.”
Ferentz now holds a 205-124 record at Iowa, and 217 career wins overall.
What’s Next:
Albany will travel to Delaware State next Saturday.
Iowa heads to Ames for a showdown with No. 22 Iowa State, a key early-season test in the Cy-Hawk rivalry, with kickoff set for next Saturday.
