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Turns out Diego Pavia wasn’t the only dynamic NFL hopeful playing quarterback in the ReliaQuest Bowl, which made for a fun game Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., and a 34-27 Iowa upset win over Vanderbilt.
The No. 23 Hawkeyes (9-4) exceeded 30 points for the seventh time this season, and the fifth against Power 4 competition, thanks to 212 yards and two touchdowns through the air, plus 54 yards and a touchdown rushing, from senior quarterback Mark Gronowski. Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, got rolling in the second half for the No. 14 Commodores (10-3), but it was not enough to turn the first 10-win season in Vanderbilt history into the first 11-win season.
Pavia finished 25 for 38 for 347 yards and two touchdowns, running for 36 yards and another score — which, for comparison’s sake, was more productive than Heisman winner and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s output in a 20-15 win at Iowa (13 for 23, 233 yards, one touchdown, one interception, 26 rushing yards).
But head coach Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes sacked Pavia four times in a dominant first half and didn’t allow a touchdown until the third quarter was nearly half over. The win broke Iowa’s 14-game losing streak against ranked opponents, dating to 2021.
Clark Lea’s Commodores were hoping to demonstrate that they were unfairly snubbed by the College Football Playoff selection committee. Instead, Iowa showed how close it was to being a CFP team in a season that saw Ferentz become the winningest coach in Big Ten history. The Hawkeyes’ agonizing loss to the Hoosiers joined losses to Oregon (18-16), at USC (26-21) and at Iowa State (16-13) in a “what could have been” season.
Iowa would have been in the field with a couple of those results going their way. Still, it was an encouraging second season for offensive coordinator Tim Lester, with Gronowski at the controls after transferring from South Dakota State.
Gronowski’s rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter gave him 16 for the season, tying him with Michigan’s Denard Robinson for the single-season Big Ten record for rushing scores by a quarterback. The last time Iowa had five 30-point outings against Power 4 competition was in 2018.
Is Mark Gronowski an NFL prospect?
Although the last two seasons did not go exactly to plan, Gronowski ended his college career with a promising final performance, forcing Vanderbilt to defend both his arm and his legs and doing some of his best work as a scrambler or on designed movement. When in doubt, Gronowski found big tight end DJ Vonnahme, who was getting open at will with his route quickness and finished with 146 receiving yards. Only a redshirt freshman, Vonnahme is a name NFL scouts will remember for the future.
Gronowski has backup potential at the next level, and his physicality in short-yardage could separate him from other quarterbacks on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. — Dane Brugler
Diego Pavia’s final college game
To the surprise of no one, Pavia went down swinging. It ultimately wasn’t enough, but the fight and determination that scouts expect kept Vanderbilt in the game.
One of the main knocks on Pavia by NFL scouts is his average arm, especially as a downfield passer. He missed a few deep shots in this game, but he also connected on several downfield throws, including a 75-yard touchdown on a deep post in the second half. Pavia’s ability to throw on the move and willingness to hold the ball until the final micro-second was frustrating for the Iowa defense, but the Hawkeyes made enough plays. While most scouts have Pavia graded as a priority free agent, it won’t be surprising if a team drafts him in the later rounds, making a bet on his competitive intangibles. — Brugler
The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman contributed to this story.
