Iowa

Iowa football among Phil Steele's top 10 surprise teams entering 2024

Published

2 years ago

July 8, 2024

Iowa football among Phil Steele's top 10 surprise teams entering 2024

College football delivers surprises every year. Those surprises can be good or bad.

It can come in the form of an upset that no one saw coming, or in the form of a team that either positively surprises or outright disappoints.

As the 2024 season approaches, the general consensus surrounding the Iowa Hawkeyes seems to be fringe top-25 team. Most aren’t expecting Iowa to challenge Ohio State or Oregon for the Big Ten championship, but analysts expect the Hawkeyes to be one of the Big Ten’s better teams.

One national pundit that appears higher on Iowa than some others is Phil Steele. In his annual college football preview magazine, Phil Steele tabbed Iowa as one of his top surprise teams. Iowa came in at No. 7 on Phil Steele’s surprise teams list.

Here’s what Phil Steele had to say about why Iowa was his No. 7 surprise team:

Kirk Ferentz always gets the most out of his teams. Last year with no passing threat after QB McNamara went down, he once again did it with special teams and a dominating defense. This year while the offense will not be overwhelming, QB McNamara is back and they have a capable backup in Brendan Sullivan who led Northwestern to an improbable season and bowl win over Utah.
The offensive line is the best in years. The special teams remains solid. Phil Parker almost always has a top 10 defense, but this year his top four players turned down the NFL and he has eight starters back with my No. 1 LBs and No. 5 Des in the country.
They do face Ohio State on the road but could be favored in their other 11 games. They say defense wins championships and that will make them dangerous if they make the playoffs, especially with a now capable offense. – Phil Steele.

Iowa does bring back plenty of talent defensively. Linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson combine to form what is Phil Steele’s top linebackers unit in America.

Behind those two, Iowa features a secondary that includes Sebastian Castro, Quinn Schulte, Xavier Nwankpa, Jermari Harris and Deshaun Lee. The Hawkeyes have Deontae Craig and Yahya Black returning along their defensive line, too.

Offensively, new offensive coordinator Tim Lester can provide a breath of fresh air for the Hawkeyes. Plus, it’s important to remember what Phil Steele touched on.

Iowa was without starting quarterback Cade McNamara for the bulk of last season and McNamara probably wasn’t fully healthy when he did appear in five games either.

McNamara will have star tight end Luke Lachey, junior wide receivers Kaleb Brown and Seth Anderson and running backs Leshon Williams, Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson back in the fold as key offensive skill weapons.

If the Iowa offensive line turns a corner, then Phil Steele could be right on the money with a Big Ten and national sleeper. Phil Steele also included Iowa as his No. 7 surprise team entering the 2023 season.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF

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Iowa

Blocked Iowa HHS director resigns but is appointed deputy director

Published

10 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

Blocked Iowa HHS director resigns but is appointed deputy director

Iowa’s director of Health and Human Services has resigned after the Iowa Senate blocked his confirmation in April, but he will stay in leadership as deputy director.

Larry Johnson was appointed to succeed Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia in September 2025. Johnson took over the department in October.

Johnson’s confirmation in April, however, was blocked by Iowa Senate Democrats. Johnson received the support of 28 senators, six votes short of the 34 needed.

“Hundreds of thousands of Iowans rely on the Department of Health & Human Services, but under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, those Iowans have been met with diminished care and services and a disrespectful lack of transparency and communication,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement at the time of Johnson’s confirmation block. “Senate Democrats believe Iowans deserve more responsible leadership for such an important executive department.”

Under state law, 60 days after the Iowa Senate disapproves a person’s appointment, the nominee must step down. Johnson’s resignation came June 19, 58 days after his confirmation was blocked.

In a news release Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Kraig Paulsen, the director of the Iowa Department of Management, to also serve as the director of Iowa Health and Human Services.

“This is not the first time I’ve called upon Director Paulsen to help lead executive branch departments during times of transition,” Reynolds said in a statement. “His experience across state government is unmatched, and I have full confidence in his ability to ensure our state’s largest agency has the leadership team required, not only to serve Iowans most in need of assistance, but also to advance strategic initiatives such as rural health transformation, cancer research, and child welfare technology improvements.”

Paulsen named Johnson as principal deputy director of the department to “ensure efficient and effective operations,” according to the release.

“Iowa HHS requires strong and experienced leadership at every level to ensure continuity of critical services such as Medicaid, SNAP, and child protection, and Larry Johnson is exactly that leader,” Paulsen said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with Principal Deputy Director Johnson to ensure Iowa’s strong commitment to our most vulnerable citizens continues as usual.”

Weiner, in a statement issued June 19, said Reynolds “has decided to blatantly disregard and circumvent the Senate in re-establishing Larry Johnson as the de facto head” of Health and Human Services.“This is partisan politics of the worst kind,” Weiner said in the statement. “Under Larry Johnson, the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who rely on HHS for critical services have received a diminished standard of care, a disrespectful lack of responsiveness, and a department more concerned with fealty to the governor than transparency to the public. And yet, this governor simply cannot handle a world in which she doesn’t get her way, so she has invented a title that allows Johnson to resume his work.”

Weiner said the decision to not confirm John was “not made lightly,” and “We did what was right for Iowans.”

“Our goal has been and remains to work within the bounds of the Senate for the benefit of all Iowans,” Weiner said. “Unfortunately, Gov. Reynolds would rather play politics than give Iowans the respect of a more diligent search for a qualified candidate.”

Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

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Iowa

Iowa Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Midday results for June 19, 2026

Published

20 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.

Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Friday, June 19, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 19 drawing

13-16-21-26-50, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-3 numbers from June 19 drawing

Midday: 3-2-2

Evening: 7-1-4

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from June 19 drawing

Midday: 4-2-1-0

Evening: 9-9-0-7

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 19 drawing

02-20-28-51-54, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Iowa

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

DES Moines, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of state Sen. Julian Garrett, who died June 8 at the age of 85.

Flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset June 20, the day of Garrett’s funeral, on the Iowa Capitol Building and across the Capitol Complex. The order also applies to all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Garrett served 16 years in the Iowa Legislature, first representing House District 55 from 2011 to 2013 before serving in the Iowa Senate through the 2026 legislative session.

In addition to his legislative service, Garrett was a farmer, attorney and former employee of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

“Sen. Garrett was a friend who served our state with integrity — whether as a cattle producer, a Little League coach, an attorney in the executive branch, or a legislator,” Reynolds said in a statement. “For 15 years, we worked together to unleash opportunities for the Iowans we served, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”

Reynolds is encouraging individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government entities to lower their flags to half-staff during the same time period as a sign of respect.

Garrett represented southwest Iowa in the Legislature and was known for his work on judiciary and agriculture-related issues during his tenure at the Statehouse.

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