Iowa
Iowa football: 5 numbers that stood out in Hawkeyes’ 20-17 loss at UCLA
Kirk Ferentz: Iowa got what it deserved in ‘team’ loss against UCLA
The Iowa head coach addressed reporters at the Rose Bowl after Friday’s 20-17 loss to the Bruins.
If Kirk Ferentz would’ve drawn up a worst-case scenario for Friday’s West Coast showdown, it would have looked exactly like what unfolded under the Rose Bowl lights.
Jay Higgins got hurt. Brendan Sullivan got hurt. Jackson Stratton actually took meaningful snaps. And most significantly, Iowa’s defense offered little resistance to a UCLA offense that’s suddenly humming along after several dormant weeks. All of it together equaled Iowa’s demoralizing 20-17 loss, which came in front of countless Hawkeyes fans hopeful for a rare Rose Bowl win.
Per usual, there were noteworthy numbers all across the final box score. Here are five figures that told the story of the Hawkeyes’ Friday stumble.
21…as in Kaleb Johnson set a new single-season program record with his 21st touchdown.
It happened somewhat unceremoniously given what unfolded afterward. But Johnson’s 2-yard score early in the first quarter officially etched his name further into the Iowa record book.
Johnson’s 21st TD of the season surpassed Shonn Greene’s 2008 record for most single-season scores in program history. With two games, at minimum remaining, Johnson figures to add to that total.
It was a rough night overall for Johnson, who found little room to run en route to just 49 rushing yards on 18 carries. Johnson certainly would’ve wanted the win, but this accolade will gain appreciation over time.
17…as in Iowa yielded 17-plus points in a quarter for the second time this season.
The Hawkeyes’ second quarter was nothing short of disastrous. Sullivan threw an interception, then was stripped while running for a first down. That ignited UCLA’s 17-point second quarter after Iowa built a 10-0 advantage, completely changing the game.
From 2017-23, the Iowa defense had just one quarter in which it yielded 17-plus points. That was a 21-point fourth allowed to Michigan to cap off a 42-3 blowout loss in the 2021 Big Ten title game. Now, it’s happened twice just this season.
Ohio State burned Iowa with a 21-point third quarter to take a commanding advantage. But that’s Ohio State. Allowing that to happen to UCLA is a different level of concerning.
714…as in Friday was the first time in 714 days that Jackson Stratton threw a collegiate pass.
Considering the circumstances, Stratton actually played pretty well. He finished 3-for-6 passing for 28 yards, twice converting on third down with solid completions to Jacob Gill. Stratton also added a 14-yard run that gave Drew Stevens a long field-goal chance, which ultimately turned into a first down after a leverage penalty.
Stratton’s last official action came Nov. 25, 2022, while playing for Colorado State. He threw just one pass that day, an incompletion. Overall, Friday was Stratton’s first significant action since Nov. 5, 2022, when he went 3-for-10 for 72 yards, one touchdown and an interception in a 28-16 loss to San Jose State.
138…as in Jacob Gill’s 138 receiving yards gave Iowa its first 100-yard pass-catcher in more than two calendar years.
A solid performance that’ll get lost in the shuffle. Gill delivered the best wide receiver showing Iowa has seen in some time. His six-catch, 138-yard game made him Iowa’s first 100-yard pass-catcher since Sam LaPorta’s 101 receiving yards in Iowa’s 9-6 loss to Illinois on Oct. 8, 2022.
Gill got the night started with a 32-yard screen, then a 59-yard reception on a Sullivan bomb that had the Iowa vibes strong. He later hauled in two nice grabs from Stratton to set up Kamari Moulton’s game-tying touchdown.
It’ll simply be a footnote, though, after Iowa couldn’t finish the job.
2…as in Brendan Sullivan threw two interceptions in a game for just the second time in his collegiate career.
It often seemed on Friday that Sullivan was trying to do too much.
He also appeared skittish in the pocket and paid for that with a pair of costly interceptions.
Carson Schwesinger grabbed the first one and rumbled 13 yards, setting up a UCLA touchdown that knotted the score at 10-10 early in the second quarter. Schwesinger snagged the second one, too, early in the third quarter.
Pair those interceptions with his fumble, and it was a night Sullivan will want to forget.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
Iowa
Tennessee basketball vs Iowa State Sweet 16 tipoff time changed for later start
CHICAGO − Tennessee basketball’s Men’s NCAA Tournament game against Iowa State will start a little later than planned.
The Sweet 16 game between the No. 6 Vols (24-11) and No. 2 Cyclones (29-7) will now tipoff at 10:25 p.m. ET at the United Center on TBS.
The game was originally scheduled for 10:10 p.m. before the 15-minute delay. There is also the standard 30-minute break in between tournament games. Tennessee and Iowa State won’t begin until 30 minutes after the end of No. 1 Michigan (33-3) and No. 4 Alabama (29-5).
Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson status
Iowa State’s star forward Joshua Jefferson is questionable against Tennessee basketball according to the NCAA player availability report released at 6:32 p.m.
Jefferson sprained his ankle in the opening minutes of Iowa State’s first-round game against Tennessee State. He sat for the remainder of the game and missed the Cyclones’ win over Kentucky on March 22. Iowa State didn’t need the All-Big 12 forward as it generated 20 Wildcat turnovers in its 19-point victory.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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Iowa
Two Iowans sentenced to prison for creating child pornography
Child abuse: What signs to watch for if you suspect it
Child abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional and medical abuse, as well as neglect. Learn about signs, risk factors, how to get help.
Wochit, Wochit
Two Iowans will spend decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to separate child exploitation offenses.
Martin Menjivar, 59, of Iowa City, was sentenced Thursday, March 26, to 42 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography possession. It comes days after Pry’Shayn Mosley, 21, of Fort Dodge was sentenced to 25 years for exploitation and receipt of child pornography.
Iowa City man picked up children from school, abused them
Menjivar, a citizen of Honduras, was charged in May 2025. In court filings, prosecutors say Menjivar was entrusted to pick up children, some as young as 5, from their elementary school and bring them to his wife’s home for after-school babysitting. In at least two cases, Mejivar used that access to get children alone and touch them inappropriately, recording the interaction on video.
Investigators reportedly found dozens of illicit images and videos on Menjivar’s electronic devices. Menjivar also previously worked as a school photographer in Honduras, and investigators found he had hundreds of photos from his former employment that focused on children’s clothed genitals.
“Defendant’s horrific actions of creating and collecting child pornography show violence against young, vulnerable children and a severe danger to the community,” prosecutors wrote in presentence filings.
Menjivar also has been charged in Johnson County with second-degree sexual abuse against two different children, apparently in relation to the same conduct. That case remains pending, with a plea hearing scheduled in May.
Fort Dodge man gets 25 years for enticing children
Mosley, who was sentenced March 23, was charged in January 2025. Prosecutors alleged that in 2022, he enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photographed or recorded it, and distributed the resulting pornography to others, including additional children.
In addition, during a warrant search that located drugs, guns and electronic devices containing child pornography, Mosley tried to get a juvenile at the scene to conceal drugs from the investigators.
Mosley pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation and receiving child pornography. Additional drug, pornography and exploitation charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Menjivar was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, while Mosley’s case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Attorneys for Menjivar and Mosley did not immediately return messages Thursday seeking comment.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
Iowa
Jada Williams among eight Iowa State players headed to transfer portal
Audi Crooks, Jada Williams reflect on loss to Syracuse
Iowa State’s Audi Crooks and Jada Williams discuss what went wrong in the second half for the Cyclones’ to fall to Syracuse.
Iowa State’s first-round exit from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament has triggered a mass exodus, with a reported eight players leaving the team to enter the transfer portal.
Junior forward Addy Brown announced her decision to “move on” from Iowa State and enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Tuesday, March 24.
“This decision comes after a lot of thought about my future and goals,” Brown wrote in a post shared to social media. “While it’s never easy to move on, I believe this is the right step for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue to grow and chase my dreams.”
By Thursday, March. 26, several other players followed suit. Junior guard Jada Williams confirmed she’ll be “pursuing my dreams elsewhere” for her senior season. She added in a social media post, “Iowa State will always have a place in my heart and I’ll never forget the Iowa State way.”
Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2025-26 season after playing for Arizona for the first two years of her career. William averaged career-highs in points (15.3), assists (7.7) and field goal percentage (41.7) in her lone season at Iowa State.
Iowa State freshman guard Reese Beaty, freshman guard Freya Jensen, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, sophomore guard Aili Tanke, junior forward Alisa Williams and junior center Lilly Taulelei all intend to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.
The transfer portal opens on Monday, April 6, following the NCAA Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Could Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks be next? Crooks declined to answer whether she would return next season following Iowa State’s 72-63 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, March 21. She instead said, “We’re all still processing everything and just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everybody is mentally OK through this tough time.”
Crooks had 37 points (17-of-25 FG) and five rebounds in the losing effort against Syracuse.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.
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