LOS ANGELES (Via HawkeyeSports.com) – The 21st-ranked University of Iowa football team fell to No. 17 USC, 26-21, on a rainy Saturday afternoon at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans outgained the Hawkeyes, 360-320, in total offense. Graduate Mark Gronowski completed 12-of-19 passes for 132 yards while throwing, rushing, and catching a touchdown. He added 32 rushing yards. Sophomore Kamari Moulton led Iowa’s rushing attack with 90 yards on 15 attempts. Zach Lutmer and Xavier Nwankpa led Iowa on defense with eight tackles a piece. Karson Sharar added seven tackles, and Koen Entringer broke up a pair of passes.

Hawkeye Coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game, “Obviously, a tough loss for our football team. I thought our guys were focused and prepared coming in here. Certainly, we played complete team football in that first half. It went about as well as we could’ve hoped and got off to a really good start there.

Certainly in the second half, just a flip on that. It wasn’t a matter of effort or any of that stuff; USC did a good job coming back and maximizing its opportunities in the second half. The halves were both pretty different. I told our team I was proud of their effort, and obviously we’re all disappointed. It’s a tough loss, certainly want to give credit to our opponent.

They did the things they needed to do to take control of the game in the second half. Even then, it went right down to the wire. We had a chance there on the last play to catch the ball and advance it down there and just keep playing it out. Tough loss, but we’ll try to get back on our feet early tomorrow and go from there and finish this out.”

Up Next: The Hawkeyes return to action Nov. 22, hosting Michigan State in the home finale inside Kinnick Stadium.