IOWA CITY, Iowa -- A heart-wrenching week for Penn State's football team turned into an emotional release at a sold-out and striped-out Kinnick Stadium, but the Nittany Lions let an 11-point third-quarter lead slip away in a 25-24 loss to Iowa in interim coach Terry Smith's debut.

In the Nittany Lions' first game without longtime coach James Franklin, who was fired on Sunday, Penn State (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) took its fourth consecutive loss to open conference play -- all by one score. The Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1) battered the Penn State defense for 245 rushing yards, including a career-high 130 by quarterback Mark Gronowski. Iowa's fourth-quarter comeback dampened Penn State's spirited performance, highlighted by running back Kaytron Allen's 145 rushing yards.

With longtime Penn State starting quarterback Drew Allar out for the season with an injury suffered late in last week's loss to Northwestern, redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer directed a 16-play, fourth-quarter field goal drive that chewed up 8 minutes and 21 seconds and pushed Penn State's advantage to five points. Iowa needed just two plays to retake the lead, highlighted by a 67-yard run by quarterback Mark Gronowski.

Trailing by one with 3:54 left, Grunkemeyer then guided Penn State from its 22 to near midfield. Facing fourth-and-4 at its 49-yard line, Iowa sent an all-out blitz, and Grunkemeyer's desperation pass fell incomplete. Iowa ran out the clock for the victory.

The first half perfectly encapsulated the unpredictability that accompanies the Penn State-Iowa series. In each quarter, the teams turned interceptions into short rushing touchdowns. Then with the Hawkeyes leading 10-7 and six seconds left until halftime, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz sent kicker Drew Stevens to attempt a 66-yard field goal.

Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam blocked Stevens' line-drive kick and the ball caromed to the 35-yard line. Penn State defensive back Elliot Washington Jr. picked up the ball and raced untouched into the end zone as time expired.

Penn State, in first game after James Franklin's firing, falls at Iowa to extend losing streak to 4