Iowa
Previewing Arizona State-Iowa State – Keys, Game Prediction, and More
TEMPE — The Arizona State Sun Devils (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) are seeking to keep their slim Big 12 title hopes alive as they take on the Iowa State Cyclones (5-3, 2-3) in a rematch of the conference championship game from a year ago.
Iowa State’s defense has faced significant injuries in recent weeks, while Jeff Sims is set to start at quarterback the remainder of the season following Friday’s news that Sam Leavitt will undergo season-ending foot surgery.
Arizona State on SI covers all of the vitals for the game below – information surrounding the battle, major storylines to watch, a game prediction, and more.
WHO: Arizona State at Iowa State
WHERE: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa
WHEN: 10:00 A.M. AZT
TV NETWORK: TNT
The Skinny: Iowa State has dropped three consecutive games following a 5-0 start to the year – a 38-30 loss to Cincinnati, a 24-17 defeat at the hands of Colorado, and a 41-27 loss to Brigham Young in a game in which they controlled at one point.
Junior QB Rocco Becht had one of the roughest performances of his career against BYU, throwing three interceptions in the game – he still remains a player to watch after a very successful career in Ames.
Iowa State also has a potent backfield duo, as Abu Sama III and Carson Hansen have combined for over 1,000 yards to this season.
Becht’s three-interception showing in week nine currently puts him on pace to throw more interceptions in 2025 compared to the previous two years as the starting QB.
ASU DC Brian Ward’s calling card is drawing up opportune blitzes and disguised coverages that are designed to force the opposing quarterback into untimely mistakes – will this be a situation that presents itself on Saturday with all things considered?
One of the major determining factors might be DL Prince Dorbah’s status, as the star is currently questionable with an undisclosed injury after exiting the games against both Texas Tech and Houston. Myles “Ghost” Rowser will also miss the first half of the game due to a targeting call late in last week’s game.
Sims will receive his third start with the program after Leavitt was ruled out earlier in the week. The senior has requisite mobility, arm strength, and experience to navigate the last several weeks of the season – especially with a more favorable schedule in mind.
However, freshman QB Cameron Dyer has the potential to receive reps in the game as well according to local insider John Gambadoro.
It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff approaches this conundrum, as Sims’ experience has potential to be very valuable for a program that is still seeking to win as many games as possible, but there is an upside to playing Dyer – as the future of the program is just as vital as the present.
Sims should have a strong connection with close friend Malik McClain in this game after the latter broke out for 159 yards against Houston – could this tidbit factor into the approach as well?
This is a game that truly has the potential to go either way – Jeff Sims being pitted against a banged up Iowa State defense is the major factor in play when determining the outcome.
Ultimately, this is surely a game in which Raleek Brown and kicker Jesus Gomez have the ability to be difference makers in a toss-up battle.
The Sun Devils keep their slim conference title hopes alive behind a late Gomez field goal in what has the potential to be Sims’ first win as the starting quarterback for the program.
Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the 2025 football team is at a crossroads following a loss to Houston here.
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Iowa
Minnesota Wild Recalls Tyler Pitlick From Iowa | Minnesota Wild
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled forward Tyler Pitlick from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Pitlick, 34 (11/1/91), has tallied two goals, 24 penalty minutes (PIM) and 26 shots in 31 games with Minnesota this season and ranks fourth on the team with 76 hits. He has also collected 11 points (8-3=11) and 31 shots in 12 games with Iowa. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound native of Minneapolis, Minn., owns 111 points (58-53=111) and 565 shots on goal in 451 career NHL games over 11 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers (2013-17), Dallas Stars (2017-19), Philadelphia Flyers (2019-20), Arizona Coyotes (2020-21), Calgary Flames (2021-22), Montreal Canadiens (2021-22), St. Louis Blues (2022-23), New York Rangers (2023-24) and Minnesota (2025-26). He has tallied three points (2-1=3) in 22 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. Pitlick has also recorded 140 points (60-89=149) in 289 career AHL games in parts of eight seasons with the Oklahoma City Barons (2011-15), Bakersfield Condors (2015-16), Hartford Wolf Pack (2023-24), Providence Bruins (2024-25) and Iowa (2025). He was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (31st overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. Pitlick was signed by Minnesota as a free agent on July 2, 2025, and wears sweater No. 19 with the Wild.
Minnesota hosts the St. Louis Blues tomorrow at 4 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3.
Iowa
Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A
The fourth and final bunch of Iowa high school boys basketball substate championship games are now set after the second round of Class 4A games were completed on Friday, February 27.
Substate championships in Iowa’s largest classification will take place on Tuesday, March 3, with the higher seed serving as host in all eight games. Winners advance to Des Moines, Iowa and the Casey’s Center to compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament beginning March 9.
Three-time defending 4A state champion Valley was eliminated by Ankeny, 72-36. The Tigers, who lost all five starters from a year ago, won just one game prior to earning a victory in the opening round of postseason play.
Cedar Falls, who has held the No. 1 spot in 4A throughout the season, scored a dominating 78-45 decision vs. Iowa City High to move on.
Colin Rice, a Nebraska commit for Fred Hoiberg, scored a single-game school-record 50 points as Waukee Northwest topped Iowa City Liberty, 101-58.
Council Bluffs Lincoln, Ames, North Scott, Dowling Catholic, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Norwalk, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Des Moines Roosevelt, Urbandale and Waukee all joined them in the next round after winning games at home.
The 1A and 2A substate finals will take place on Saturday, February 28 while the 3A games go down on Monday, March 2.
Here are the Iowa boys high school basketball Class 4A substate finals for Wednesday, March 3.
Wednesday, March 3
Class 4A
Iowa
The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season
When it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes 2026 football season, it doesn’t get much bigger than Ohio State coming to Kinnick Stadium.
No one knows at this stage where the Buckeyes will be come Oct. 3, but Iowa has a chance to make an early impression against a team that is no stranger to winning the big one.
Iowa’s B1G schedule couldn’t get off to a worse start as they head to Michigan and then welcome the Buckeyes to Kinnick.
Hopefully for Iowa’s sake, their first three games against Northern Illinois, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa are enough to get them prepared. If not, things could get ugly.
ESPN Believes Ohio State is Iowa’s Biggest Opponent in 2026
The Michigan game will certainly be a test, but hosting the Buckeyes is a different animal. That gives the Hawkeyes an advantage like no other, and if there was ever a time to give OSU a run for their money, it’s in Iowa City on Oct. 3.
“The Hawkeyes haven’t faced Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium since 2017, when Nate Stanley threw five touchdowns as they stunned the Buckeyes 55-24. An early October win over Ohio State could propel Iowa into the Big Ten title and playoff conversations,” Jake Trotter wrote.
To put things into perspective, Indiana and Oregon were the other two teams that had the Buckeyes listed as their defining game in the 2026 season. Shockingly, Iowa was actually selected against a team, that being Minnesota. Seeing as that’s for the Floyd of Rosedale, it makes complete sense.
Iowa Can’t Let Regular Season Opportunities Go To Waste
Last year was seemingly the Hawkeyes’ first time to actually make the College Football Playoffs. They came up short as their losses to No. 16 Iowa State, No. 11 Indiana, No. 9 Oregon and No. 17 USC all added up. Sure, those were by a combined 15 points, but that doesn’t matter, as it’s bad enough that a three-loss team made the playoffs.
Iowa ended with a bang as they took down No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, 34-27. Now, all eyes are on either Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown. One of those men will have a chance to make their first B1G start at the Big House in Michigan.
It doesn’t get any tougher than that, as Iowa is immediately putting their new QB into deep water. They’ll have three games prior to that to get up to speed, but other than that, it’s go time as OSU awaits after their trip to Michigan.
Don’t forget to bookmark Iowa Hawkeyes on SI for the latest news. exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!
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