Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - MISMANAGEMENT? Iowa Hawkeyes Coaching Decisions EXPOSED in Painful USC Loss & Roadmap to REBOUND

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

Follow Trent Condon on X: https://twitter.com/trentcondonLISTEN TO THE PODCAST: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-hawkeyes-daily-podcast-on-iowa-hawkeyes-football/id1441592240SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GTyz5ygevcGXdTF6QSoEoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnHawkeyesSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Iowa Hawkeyes struggle with late-game decisions and missed opportunities as USC extends their winless streak against ranked opponents. Can Mark Gronowski’s running ability offset his passing limitations, or is it time to look ahead to Jeremy Hecklinski for next season? Trent Condon reviews crucial coaching choices, key plays, and Pro Football Focus grades that reveal which Hawkeyes are primed for more playing time as the regular season winds down.Offensive line injuries and questionable clock management raise tough questions before a pivotal matchup against Michigan State. Spotlighting Kamari Moulton’s breakout potential, Brian Allen’s defensive impact, and struggles in Iowa’s passing game, this episode sets the stage for a high-stakes finish. Plus, get an early look at Iowa’s upcoming basketball slate and the women’s team’s impressive start. How will the Hawkeyes bounce back and finish strong?Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're diving back into the lost to USC. What went wrong? What needs to change and the coaching decisions that decided this one. Plus, after watching it a second time, the roadmap for Iowa, the rest of the way to salvage the sea. You are Locked-on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Man, I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked-on Hawkeyes podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network.

Glad to have you aboard with this. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio. You can hear me currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network with stations across the state, including Des Moines, Sioux City, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use coach. Lockdown College for $20 off your first purchase. We are your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast, and thanks for joining us here today into our

everydayers out there. We are going to break down what went wrong against USC a second time through the rewatch as we do each and every week. I'll look back at what happened against USC and some of the big plays that decided this one. We also grade the Hawkeyes, the grades from Pro Football Focus. A look at how Iowa graded it out in this one. Maybe who should see a little bit more playing time here in the final couple of of the regular season.

We'll look ahead to the matchup against Michigan State. Our first peak against the Spartans and a big week in basketball around the bend. Iowa with two games on the men's side. I look at the women as we get ready to start to turn our attention a little bit more to basketball. But as always, football is at the forefront of things. Let's kick things off here as we go through and look at some of the decisions after watching this game a second time. The frustration definitely was there again.

And when you know the outcome and when I go through this, exercise every single week. Yes, you know what's going to happen. You know the way it's going to play out. You know, Cain Wedgian's going to be incredibly close on that fourth down catch to getting his toe in pounds and with it potentially changing the complexion of this one and changing the conversation for Iowa football. The winless streak against ranked teams continues now 13 consecutive losses against ranked opponents and how frustrating it's been in three of those games. Well, early all four games this year as Iowa State was ranked at the time. How close that they have been of getting over the hump.

And as they go through this, what I like to do is start to think again about what could have been different, what could have been done to change it. One of the first things that came up, and apologies, don't remember everything that we talked about in the Rapid Reaction podcast after the game went final. However, one thing that definitely jumped out in this one is late in the first half, Iowa, after they kick a field goal to make a 21-10. And you get the ball, you're at your 27, but you get 10 yards on first down.

And you get 10 more on a run. And they run it again, and it's the end of the half. Now, I don't know if what happened against Penn State at the end of the first half, if that's something that is lingering in the mind of Kirk Farrants. Now, of course, against Oregon, he tried a 58-yarder that Drew Stevens knocked in, but in a game where you know you need points.

In a game that comes down to a very close game, Once again, to sit on the ball, to not take a shot, you had a holding call on that Grinowski run, and that's why they ran out the clock. But why are you running it there? I just, those are the end-of-half situations, and end-game situations, that Kirk Clack management, he just struggles with Muddly. Now, Kirk Farrants for all his great qualities, clock management is rarely going to be something that we're talked about. Hell, one of their biggest, most memorable victories in program history was the walk off in the Capitol. one bowl against LSU when they beat Sabin as he was on his way

out the door to the Miami Dolphins and when that happened remember the clock stopped starting you remember the play call from golf and you find out and nobody knows that. Gary Dolphin said that. Clock management not good and not good again in this

one where you needed points. You go through also the second half and the way that they played it didn't tell that final drive which was incredible it was a great final drive. You go through the game long and you just look at and rewatching this game again how they went through this and the plays that they ran get the ball for the first time after USC comes down and scores coming out of the half four yard run 14 yard pass first and dead run run run punt five

place four of them runs what did i would do in the first half they had them on their heels you have them backed up second time you get the ball second time in the third quarter run incomplete run interception. Now, that was, of course, the face mask penalty that wasn't called. That was the run on second and ten and six-yarder by Kamari Moulton, would have moved the ball to the USC 40-yard line. Wasn't called. Deflected ball.

Pops off of what, Gil's knee on a bad throw by Grinowski, and we know what happens. I and T. And changed it completely. They get the ball back. Run, three-yard pass. and complete pass on a deflection

and then the final drive was good and how close it was now I got this picture sent to me you're watching this on YouTube and a big thank you make sure you hit subscribe you can see this one

if you're listening this is not very good for you on the audio side so we'll move past it quickly but you see this and there is a camera there's a picture here that shows

Kane Wichin's toe actually in on that catch I thought the review was very quick you didn't get a whole lot of angles there was Boom, boom, move on. Didn't get it in. Because that first blushed and from that angle, the first angle that they showed,

it looked like Gain Weechan's, but was clearly out of bounds. Now, here's the other thing. When I first saw that image, you don't know, was that AI? And where did they come from? Was there somebody just taking a picture on the TV? Was it something on the command center? I don't know. I just thought it was interesting.

At the very least, not going to matter. They're not going to go back and change that, nor should they. I really truly believe, even with that still picture. You don't know how much of his foot was down at that time. He was out of bounds. That aside. That was a good throw by Garnowski. I mean, you put it where he had to.

Remember, Wijin was also escorted out of bounds by the defensive back on that play. And the D-back on that play did what are you supposed to do. And in the old days, you're not able to, you were not able to do that as a defensive back. Or as a defender in general. You could not shove them out of bounds. That is the case now. Made the right play. The throw was there.

Weijun was there. And just couldn't get that toe down. And alas, here we are. The late game situation was odd, too. We get a personal file for being on the field, apparently, one of the Iowa assistant coaches. Not much explanation about that. I was trying to see something, the second viewing,

second time through to see if there was anything that jumped off, nothing. Okay. Got a bid whistle. Okay. Didn't matter. Iowa had opportunities, and they didn't take advantage. Iowa had chances, and they didn't do it. And again, we go back and go,

through this and we'll look at the numbers from PFF. But Mark Grinowski leaving plays on the field. You know, we talked about that short-arm throw that on the crossing route. He also had Reese Vandersi wide open coming up to post. I mean, he was, he had two steps on the defender, lays it out there. That could have been an easy score. And the makeable misses that Mark Grinowski has in the passing game, they show up. Grinowski's been fun to watch.

The running ability that he has, has opened things up. He's been a better runner, I think, that anybody could have anticipated. but there are shortcomings him as a passer. And that could be the very little difference that we're looking for here with this guy. It's just if you had a better passer at the quarterback position, what could be. And maybe what still can be unleashed with this Iowa offense going forward with a more competent guy throwing the football. That's the hope, right?

And I think that's why you're going to see Jeremy Hecklinsky with the inside track to be the guy next season, Gunslinger, little, but a guy that can chuck it around, can make the throws, but is probably a more accurate passer. That's a hope that what he's going to turn into, going to need some experience. So it's going to be an incredibly young guy if he is the guy next season, coupled with a guy that can move around, a guy that has more wiggle to him than a Hank Brown. And that's why I think what Tim Lester is looking for at the quarterback position,

that's what they hope that they're going to be able to get next season. But before that, we got two more games. It's Michigan State. It's a road trip to Nebraska to wrap things up on Black Friday. They will wrap up the regular season. Iowa sits at 6 and 4. And boy, 8 and 4 feels a whole lot different. It'll still been woulda, shoulda, coulda with this football team.

And that's how it's going to be remembered this year. But if they limp in, they beat a bad Michigan State team this week, lose to Nebraska for what, just the second time in a dozen years. It's going to feel pretty hollow. You win these final two games, get some. positive momentum, get some good feelings going into the off season, definitely will change it. That's what's still in front of this Iowa football team. One luck back at the numbers.

The grades from pro football focus. We grade the Hawkeyes. When we come back, how bad was it? The offensive line, some eye-opening numbers. And, of course, we got to see some new guys out there on that offensive line with the injuries. We'll tackle that next as we continue, locked on Hawkeyes. Well, the NBA is back and there's no better place. to get in on the action.

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Iowa against Southeast Missouri State. That line will be up for you on Tuesday as you get ready for some basketball action, all on the Fanduel app. Right now, Fandual is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So head to Fandual.com to sign up and play your game with Fandual, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Trent, kind of back with you once again here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making lockdown.

Hawkeyes, your first listen every day as we continue and go through everything that's going on in the world of the Hawkeyes, some football, some basketball talk. We've got to talk a little wrestling too. That's coming up for you on tomorrow's show. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day on the lockdown network now, number one for sports podcasts. As we continue, let's take a look at the numbers from pro football focus and how Iowa graded out in this one. Let's start over on the office. the side of the football and start with Mark Garnowski, the quarterback. He grades out with a 69.

60.6 had that one in the fourth quarter, the big one. I put Iowa down about the 30-yard line before they eventually stopped, the three-run plays, excuse me, before they threw the ball on fourth down and six, didn't get it on the wage and play that we talked about. Kamari Moulton, very good. Once again, a 73.6 grade for Moulton. He continues to show up in a big way, have a feeling maybe this week is the one where he's going to finally be able to get over 100 yards rushing as he had 90 yards rushing against USC, averaging six yards per carry. Jazzy on Patterson, like to see him get a little bit more run in this game.

We talked about that leading into it in the preview every day. As you know, I was wondering if we're going to see a little bit more rotation, a little bit more out of these backs. And we did get to see Jazzy on Patterson. And yet even when that's happening, that's how plenty of people say, just we're in Patterson all the time. I get that too. Let's go over to the guys catching the football or blocking a lot of times too. Hayden Large, he grades out as your top guy, and it's because of his run blocking, a 72.9 for Hayden Large.

DJ Vonameh, another big performance out of him. Dude's going to be good. And it's got work to do as a run blocker, but in the passing game, you see this redshirt freshman from Carol Kemper. He is really playing at a high level. Nice great for Reese Vander Z. Of course, not just what he did in the run game as a blocker. but also, what he did to throw that touchdown?

How about that? Caden Weegean grades out with a 65 grade. 64 for Jacob Gill had the first big catch of the game and the first drive of the game and then was not heard from after that outside of the ball that bounced off his knee for an interception. Dayton Howard had the touchdown. He grades out with the 60.5. How about Thomas Meyer getting in there? Three snaps that he played in the game and he was just a blocker in those ones,

a 58.9 for him. A little play for Zach Ortworth, 51.7. and Sam Phillips, the lowest graded with a 49.1. Then we get to the offensive line and maybe the most interesting of this offensive line because of all the injuries early on. They lost both Stevens. A little bit later on, they lost Cade Piper. A little bit later after that, Jennings Dunker went out.

So you got a banged up offensive line. Lauk, who has been tremendous this year. Trevor Lauk, for all the questions that maybe you had coming into the season about Iowa at the left tackle position, you talk about solidifying something and something to get excited about in the future. That is definitely Trevor Loutk, and he's going to be a stalwart of this offense for the next couple of seasons. Kate Piper up next in this one, those are the only two guys, Lalkin Piper that graded out over a 70 run grade in run blocking in this one. Layton Jones up next to the 65.6. He's the heir apparent to both Stevens at one of the guard positions next season.

Logan Jones is 64. Same for Stevens. Malinsky, who came in at the other guard position came in for Piper. He was at a 54.7. Back grade for James. Jennings Dunker, a 54.6 as he's been hobbled through a big portion of this season. And then finally, Jack Dotsler, who came in for Dunker, he grades out pretty low with a 39.1, including a 0.0 pass blocking grade. That's not good. Let's jump over to the defensive side of the football in the grades. These are, again, from pro football focus, what they do is they go through every single play. They watch all 11 players.

They got all the all 22 film, and they break things down that way. On the defensive line, your top-rank guy was Brian Allen. He grades out with a 78.9 grade continue to say, you know, every dayers, yes, this is a Brian Allen podcast. Want to see more of him out there. Love what he can do off the edge. Very good for Max Llewellyn as well as 76. Good also for Aaron Graves, who had a sack of the game, 75.8 out of him. Hercut with the 73.

These are all very good. Remember, 60 is average. Kenneth Mary Weather above that is 63.6. Jonah Pace, 62. played quite a bit, Hawthorne with the 58, and then Pittman with the 46 and his limited snaps in the game. We got to see the return of Jaden Harrell. He is the third ranked linebacker. Jane Montgomery led the way, though, with a 75.3, really good number from him and a good tackling grade also. That was the difference between him and Carson Shire, who was the lowest graded

linebacker with a 59.6, just a 37.5 tackle grade for Carson Shire in this one. Finally, at defensive back, your top guy was Coyne Enteringer, 66.1 for Cohen. Zach Lutmer with a 64, 61 for Deshaun Lee, a 60, right at average for Xavier Wampa, T.J. Hall, a 58.6, and Jalen Watson, who had to come in for Hall because of an injury, he grades out with a 47. All those guys, look, they're playing dudes. That USC wide receiver group was really, really talented, and he definitely saw that throughout the course of that one.

One thing, like to see those guys, maybe try to find the ball a little bit more. terms of snaps in the game, running back, 29 for Moulton, 14 for Patterson, 11 for Xavier Williams, and one for Troll Washington, Jr. That, oh boy, would like to see Kamari Moulton a little bit more than half of the running back snaps. What he had? About that, yeah, he was at 29 and he had outside of that 26 snaps, so maybe like to see that number a little bit better. Did like to see Patterson out there, though. At the wide receiver spot, it was Reese Vander Z, Dayton Howard. Those were your top guys in terms of snaps. Just 20

snaps for Sam Phillips, 20 also for Weechin and Jacob Gill with 29 in the game. Votamie, he led the way at the tight end position with 42 snaps, 21 out of large Ortworth at 19, and we mentioned Meyer in there for three. The offensive line because of the injuries,

Volinsky played 14, 11 for Dotsler. Stevens left early. That mean Layton Jones played 38 snaps. And then over on the defensive side of the football leading the way, excuse me, at the defensive line position in terms of snaps as they went eight deep in this one. Aaron Graves, he had 63 snaps, defensive ends, the seniors, Ethan Hercott and Lou Ellen. Excuse me, both with 47.

Jonah Pace, he led the way of the second defensive tackle with 40 snaps. Hawthorne had 22. Brian Allen, there's with 26 for Allen. I'd like to see that number even tick up a little bit higher, 21 for Maryweather, and then eight for Pittman. We talked about linebacker, the return to Jane Harrell. He played 16 snaps in the game. Shire went the distance with 68, 52 for Montgomery, and Roxoroff in Zulah, 4.3. He played 17 snaps in that one.

And finally, a defensive back leading the way, Lutmer, 68, then 67 each for Entringer and for Wampa. Hall after that entry, he plays 54. A lot of snaps also for Deshaun Lee. He had 51, and there's Watson coming in with that injury. He played 13 snaps in the game. One final snapshot of what we saw against USC, a lot of different things, too. break down. So up next, it's Michigan State. The Spartans beat the Hawkeyes a year ago. Is it going to happen again? We'll talk about that next. We continue. Locked on Hawkeyes.

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Trent Kana back with you one final time on the lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. We are your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. If you're watching us on YouTube, hit that subscribe button. If you're listening on the podcast side, need more of these. Five star reviews over there. All that helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Wrapping things up, Michigan State this week. This is a dreadful Michigan State team, certainly than what we're used to historically.

Jonathan Smith, their head coach, he might be out the door. they've gone through a couple of different quarterbacks. Aidan Childs, who absolutely torched Iowa a year ago. He's been banged up throughout the course of the season. Sounds like maybe he's going to be coming back this week for Sparty. The backup quarterback did a really good job a couple of weeks ago against Minnesota, threw for over 300 yards in that game. Struggled though last week against Minnesota.

I think the biggest concern of this game, you go back to a season ago, which is just such a weird game. I remember when Iowa went out there playing on grass. Yes, that's been a problem. Iowa playing on grass is I was in ability to tackle in that football game. It was just absolutely wild. Nick Marsh is a stud. He's one of the best wide receivers you're going to find, and we just saw great wide receivers last week.

Nick Marsh is a really talented guy. Can he find somebody that can get him the ball? That'll be the question. Aiden Childs, if he plays, he's hot or cold. And if he's hot, he's excellent. If he's cold, he's brutal. There's not a whole lot of middle ground with him at the quarterback spot. But maybe the biggest thing is Michigan State.

When you're talking about this offense up front, they allowed 20 pressures against Penn State. Their pass blocking grade, hideous at PFF. And how about this? They've allowed 35 sacks this season. Michigan State, how about this, has allowed 81 tackles for loss this year. This has to be the get right game for that defensive line. And though they got a couple of sacks, didn't have much pressure last week against USC, didn't have a whole lot against Oregon.

the week previous. This needs to be the game where the defensive line comes back, comes of age. Let's get a little more Brian Allen out there. On the other side, they're giving up 31 points a game. Defense is not very good luck. There's a reason I was favored by 16 and a half in this football game. We're going to have Matt Shee and on later in the week and a crossover episode. Matt's one of my favorite people on the podcast network and out of the Big Ten clan that we work with.

he's a guy that just he's fun he's engaging he's entertaining i think you will enjoy that i don't think he's got a whole lot of optimism about michigan state this should be an easy one but where is iowa mentally now you wondered a week ago after that devastating loss against oregon how iowa was going to respond they responded well coming out in the first half back at kinneck there for the final time this season what's this team going to look like and how are they going to respond And then we got more going on this week. We got basketball happening starting on Tuesday evening as Iowa will take on Southeast Missouri State. On Monday, Coach McCollum was singing their praises, as coaches like to do,

a team that was right there against Missouri. I don't think Missouri is going to be that good this season. Certainly not the team, although he beat a year ago in the NCAA tournament. Don't think they're nearly as good as that. That'll be a 730 tip off tomorrow night on BTN Plus for that one. And then one more game and kind of a quick turnaround as they'll take on Chicago State then on Thursday. Chicago State historically year after year, one of the worst teams in college basketball before. The waters get much deeper next week starting on Tuesday against Ole Miss.

Then they'll either play Utah or Grand Valley, excuse me, Grand Canyon in the second round win. They'll take on the winner. Lose, they'll take on the loser. But a big one against Chris Beard and Ole Miss. We'll talk about that more as the week goes on. But some basketball on the forefront there. Also, we got the women's team. They had a big weekend as they, once again, just absolutely throttled in-state foes.

So they got the big win last week against Drake, 100 to 58. Then they go on the road to you and I win at 74-41. This team's fun to watch. And, you know, the one thing that maybe I missed coming into the season was just how good chit-chat right is. Now, there's going to be some guards, some bigger guards. She's going to have to defend. There could be some issues there. She's lightning quick.

She's aggressive. I love her aggressive, that she's. She plays with this team, going to be entertaining. We talked about kind of that upside that I think this group has. They have a ton of that. Layla Hayes, she's come in and played really well against limited competition. It's going to be exciting year on the hardwood for both the men's and the women's team. That'll do it for today, as always, thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day.

Again, we are your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. So hit subscribe on YouTube or make sure you hit that subscription button on the podcast side so you know each and every day when we're available for you. Thanks for being with us on the Lockdown Network, now number one for podcasts across all platforms. Thanks for being with us. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.