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Fifty-Two and Rising: Gronowski - SDSU to IOWA (2020–2025)
Episode Description:
From the chaos of a pandemic spring to the roar of Kinnick Stadium under the lights, Mark Gronowski has done something no quarterback in college football history has ever achieved: fifty-two wins, and counting. This episode of Record Breakers: College Football Legends takes you on a deep, cinematic journey through one of the most remarkable careers the sport has ever seen, exploring how Gronowski rose from the fields of South Dakota State to the heart of the Big Ten at Iowa, and how his name now stands alone in the record books.
We begin in 2020, when college football felt broken and fragile. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped schedules, postponed seasons, and forced young quarterbacks like Gronowski into uncharted territory. As a true freshman in the spring of 2021, he led South Dakota State all the way to the FCS title game — only to see his night, and his knee, collapse on the first drive. That crushing injury might have ended most careers. For Gronowski, it became the crucible that forged a champion.
By 2022, he returned with resilience and fire, guiding the Jackrabbits to their first-ever national championship, toppling powerhouse North Dakota State on the biggest stage. He won the game’s MVP honors, proving he was more than just a comeback story — he was the new face of FCS football. The following year, he went even further, capturing the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the division and leading SDSU to a second straight national title, again walking away with MVP honors. Two championships. Two MVPs. A national player of the year award. And a growing stack of wins that demanded respect.
But the story didn’t end in Brookings. In January 2025, Gronowski transferred to Iowa. Some wondered if his success at the FCS level would translate to the Big Ten. It didn’t take long for him to answer. On opening day, he matched Kellen Moore’s FBS record of 50 wins. A week later, he tied Cullen Finnerty’s all-division record of 51. And then came win number 52, the victory that put him alone at the top — the winningest quarterback in Division I history.
To understand Gronowski’s achievement, we place him in context with the legends who came before. Cullen Finnerty at Grand Valley State, who went 51–4 and won three national championships in Division II. Kellen Moore at Boise State, whose 50–3 record and flawless precision turned the blue turf into a national stage. Colt McCoy at Texas, who carried the weight of an empire with 45 wins under the brightest spotlight in the sport. Each one defined an era. Each one set what felt like an impossible ceiling. Until Gronowski climbed higher.
Along the way, we explore the shifting landscape of college football from 2020 to 2025: the rise of the transfer portal, the explosion of NIL deals, the seismic shifts of conference realignment, and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams. Through it all, one thing remained constant — Mark Gronowski just kept winning.
This is not just a record. It’s a story of resilience, adaptation, and quiet excellence. Gronowski’s career proves that winning travels. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing under the frosty skies of Brookings or in front of 70,000 fans in Iowa City — the habits of a champion translate anywhere. His leadership, precision, and poise under pressure have made him the quarterback of an era defined by change.
Join us for this unforgettable ride across two programs, two divisions, and one unshakable truth: in college football, legends aren’t built on statistics alone. They’re built on Saturdays. And nobody has ever stacked more of them than Mark Gronowski.
Record Breakers: College Football Legends brings you closer to the greatest records, the greatest players, and the unforgettable stories that define the history of the game.
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By Nathan WestEpisode Description:
From the chaos of a pandemic spring to the roar of Kinnick Stadium under the lights, Mark Gronowski has done something no quarterback in college football history has ever achieved: fifty-two wins, and counting. This episode of Record Breakers: College Football Legends takes you on a deep, cinematic journey through one of the most remarkable careers the sport has ever seen, exploring how Gronowski rose from the fields of South Dakota State to the heart of the Big Ten at Iowa, and how his name now stands alone in the record books.
We begin in 2020, when college football felt broken and fragile. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped schedules, postponed seasons, and forced young quarterbacks like Gronowski into uncharted territory. As a true freshman in the spring of 2021, he led South Dakota State all the way to the FCS title game — only to see his night, and his knee, collapse on the first drive. That crushing injury might have ended most careers. For Gronowski, it became the crucible that forged a champion.
By 2022, he returned with resilience and fire, guiding the Jackrabbits to their first-ever national championship, toppling powerhouse North Dakota State on the biggest stage. He won the game’s MVP honors, proving he was more than just a comeback story — he was the new face of FCS football. The following year, he went even further, capturing the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the division and leading SDSU to a second straight national title, again walking away with MVP honors. Two championships. Two MVPs. A national player of the year award. And a growing stack of wins that demanded respect.
But the story didn’t end in Brookings. In January 2025, Gronowski transferred to Iowa. Some wondered if his success at the FCS level would translate to the Big Ten. It didn’t take long for him to answer. On opening day, he matched Kellen Moore’s FBS record of 50 wins. A week later, he tied Cullen Finnerty’s all-division record of 51. And then came win number 52, the victory that put him alone at the top — the winningest quarterback in Division I history.
To understand Gronowski’s achievement, we place him in context with the legends who came before. Cullen Finnerty at Grand Valley State, who went 51–4 and won three national championships in Division II. Kellen Moore at Boise State, whose 50–3 record and flawless precision turned the blue turf into a national stage. Colt McCoy at Texas, who carried the weight of an empire with 45 wins under the brightest spotlight in the sport. Each one defined an era. Each one set what felt like an impossible ceiling. Until Gronowski climbed higher.
Along the way, we explore the shifting landscape of college football from 2020 to 2025: the rise of the transfer portal, the explosion of NIL deals, the seismic shifts of conference realignment, and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams. Through it all, one thing remained constant — Mark Gronowski just kept winning.
This is not just a record. It’s a story of resilience, adaptation, and quiet excellence. Gronowski’s career proves that winning travels. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing under the frosty skies of Brookings or in front of 70,000 fans in Iowa City — the habits of a champion translate anywhere. His leadership, precision, and poise under pressure have made him the quarterback of an era defined by change.
Join us for this unforgettable ride across two programs, two divisions, and one unshakable truth: in college football, legends aren’t built on statistics alone. They’re built on Saturdays. And nobody has ever stacked more of them than Mark Gronowski.
Record Breakers: College Football Legends brings you closer to the greatest records, the greatest players, and the unforgettable stories that define the history of the game.