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Iowa football lands commitment from 2025 5-star specialist Scott Starzyk

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Iowa football lands commitment from 2025 5-star specialist Scott Starzyk


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IOWA CITY — The future of Iowa football special teams just got a boost.

Class of 2025 specialist Scott Starzyk announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on Thursday. Starzyk is the No. 1 ranked kicker and No. 4 ranked punter in the class, according to Kohl’s Kicking. He is regarded as a five-star prospect in both categories.

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Starzyk, a product of The Woodlands High School in Texas, picked the Hawkeyes over other offers from Mississippi State, Syracuse, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, among others. Iowa offered Starzyk a full-ride scholarship, which is something it doesn’t always do for high school specialist prospects. He took a visit to Iowa in June.

Iowa kicker Drew Stevens has two seasons of eligibility remaining. So barring something unforeseen, Starzyk will be in his first season in the Hawkeye program while Stevens is in his last. The Hawkeyes also have placekicker Tripp Woody on the roster. Iowa just brought in a freshman punter, Rhys Dakin, to fill the departure of Hawkeye legend Tory Taylor.

Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods continues to do good work for the Hawkeyes. That facet of the game has been a strength for the program. Landing Starzyk is another step in continuing that standard.

Starzyk joins LeVar Woods’ son among the commitments in Iowa’s 2025 class. Iowa City West’s Mason Woods made his public pledge to Iowa in June.

The Hawkeyes continue to make progress in its 2025 recruiting class.

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Over the last few weeks, the Hawkeyes have landed verbal commitments from Mason Woods, 3-star offensive lineman Cameron Herron and Lucas Allgeyer, 3-star cornerback CJ Bell and 3-star defensive lineman Brad Fitzgibbon.

Iowa is still trying to fill out the class. Highly touted Hawkeye legacy recruit Iose Epenesa, brother of former Iowa star A.J. Epenesa, has yet to announce his college choice. If Epenensa were to commit to the Hawkeyes, it would be a headliner to Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class. The Hawkeyes are also still in the mix for receiver Terrence Smith.

Starzyk is now the 14th player to commit to Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz’s 2025 recruiting class.

He joins the following verbal commitments in the class:

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  • Defensive lineman Brad Fitzgibbon (Marist, Ill.)
  • Cornerback CJ Bell (St. Thomas More School, CT)
  • Offensive lineman Lucas Allgeyer (Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day, MO)
  • Offensive lineman Cameron Herron (Warren Central, Ind.)
  • Athlete Mason Woods (Iowa City West)
  • Defensive back Drew MacPherson (Loyola Academy, Ill.)
  • Quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald (Loyola Academy, Ill.)
  • Tight end Thomas Meyer (Clear Lake)
  • Linebacker Burke Gautcher (Sycamore, Ill.)
  • Linebacker Carson Cooney (Oswego, Ill.),
  • Tight end Eli Johnson (River Falls, Wis.),
  • Quarterback Jimmy Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
  • Defensive lineman Joey VanWetzinga (Pleasant Valley)

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com





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Iowa

Iowa women’s wrestling adds Isabella Marie Gonzalez, No. 1 overall recruit in 2025 class

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Iowa women’s wrestling adds Isabella Marie Gonzalez, No. 1 overall recruit in 2025 class


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The rich continue to get richer.

The Iowa women’s wrestling program added to an already loaded roster late Friday night with the commitment of Isabella Marie Gonzalez. She is the No. 3 pound-for-pound recruit in girls high school wrestling regardless of age and the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025.

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Gonzalez, who is ranked No. 1 nationally at 120 pounds at the high school level by USAWrestling, has the makings of a star. She was the U17 World Team representative (finishing fifth) for the United States at 53 kilograms this summer. She was also a U17 Pan-American Games champion in 2023, fitting the mold of what coach Clarissa Chun looks for in international success.

From the state of California, she is a two-time state champion, a multi-time Fargo medalist and a Super 32 champion.

“I am excited to announce my official commitment to the University of Iowa,” Gonzalez wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you to everyone who has continued to support me through my journey. Go Hawkeyes!”

This is the first commit of the 2025 class for the Hawkeyes, who brought in seven freshmen and 11 total new faces in 2024. Given the proposed roster limits of 30 coming next season, the number of newcomers isn’t likely to match or exceed the 2024 number.

Regardless, this is a high-profile addition for the Hawkeyes in a weight that needed some additional talent. The lone question is whether that will be at 117 or 124 pounds for the Hawkeyes. Her addition to depth behind Brianna Gonzalez at 117 or potentially competing for a spot right away at 124 pounds will be a welcome addition either way.

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Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland football on today? Time, TV for Hawkeyes’ Week 13 game

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What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland football on today? Time, TV for Hawkeyes’ Week 13 game


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Hoping to end a chaotic buildup with a strong performance, Iowa football plays its final road game of the regular season Saturday at Maryland. Big Ten Network will televise the 11 a.m. CT contest.

The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten Conference) have had all kinds of drama at quarterback this week despite coming off a bye week. Brendan Sullivan is out this week with an ankle injury, while Cade McNamara (concussion) has been medically cleared but isn’t ready to start. That means walk-on Jackson Stratton, who made a second-half cameo last time out at UCLA, will likely be Iowa’s starting quarterback Saturday. Who will be his backup remains undetermined.

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On the other side, Maryland (4-6, 1-6) is trying to claw its way to a bowl game after dropping five of its last six. Its most recent stumble came last week in a 31-17 home loss to Rutgers.

Here’s how to watch the Iowa vs. Maryland game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Watch Iowa vs. Maryland football live on FUBO (free trial)

What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland on today?

TV channel: BTN

Livestream: Fubo (free trial) and Fox Sports Live

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Iowa vs. Maryland will broadcast nationally on BTN in Week 13 of the 2024 college football season. Guy Haberman and Yogi Roth will call the game from the booth at SECU Stadium, with Rhett Lewis reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Iowa vs. Maryland time today

Date: Saturday, November 23

Start time: 11 a.m. (CT)

The Iowa vs. Maryland game starts at 11 a.m. CT from SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.

Iowa vs. Maryland predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 22

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Moneyline: Iowa -200, Maryland +165

Spread: Iowa -4.5

O/U: 44.5

Iowa football schedule 2024

  • Aug. 31: vs. Illinois State, (W, 40-0)
  • Sept. 7: vs. Iowa State, (L, 20-19)
  • Sept. 14: vs. Troy, (W, 38-21)
  • Sept. 21: at Minnesota, (W, 31-14)
  • Oct. 5: at Ohio State (L, 35-7)
  • Oct. 12: vs. Washington (W, 40-16)
  • Oct. 19: at Michigan State, (L, 32-20)
  • Oct. 26: vs. Northwestern, (W, 40-14)
  • Nov. 2: vs. Wisconsin, (W, 42-10)
  • Nov. 8: at UCLA, (L, 20-17)
  • Nov. 23: at Maryland, 11 a.m.
  • Nov. 29: vs. Nebraska, 6:30 p.m.
  • Record: 6-4

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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.



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Iowa QB McNamara clarifies rumors about status

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Iowa QB McNamara clarifies rumors about status


Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara said he didn’t travel to Saturday’s game at Maryland after not being fully cleared from a concussion sustained last month.

McNamara on Friday went to X to respond to what he called “ridiculous accusations” about his status with the team. The senior said he remains “a proud member of this football team.”

McNamara last played Oct. 26 against Northwestern, when he sustained the concussion. Brendan Sullivan stepped in and started Iowa’s next few games, but an ankle injury has sidelined him for the Maryland matchup. Sources told ESPN that Sullivan likely will not return until Iowa’s bowl game. Jackson Stratton, a walk-on who transferred to Iowa from Colorado State, will start against Maryland.

Iowa listed McNamara as the starter on its Monday depth chart, and he said he had been cleared to practice Sunday but “had an adverse reaction, which is common for someone coming out of [concussion] protocol.” He said he did not participate in practice Monday and for the rest of the week, and continues to work with team doctors and a concussion specialist.

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Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday that McNamara’s status was “cloudy,” but that the quarterback had been cleared to play.

“Whether or not he can play effectively or not, we’ll see,” Ferentz said.

Ferentz said on his radio show Wednesday that Stratton was in line to make his first start.

“He’ll get the start,” Ferentz said. “Confident that he’ll do a great job. He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame, and he’s got a good ability to throw the football, and he’s learning every day.”

Stratton completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards in Iowa’s loss against UCLA on Nov. 8. He appeared in four games for Colorado State in 2022 and none last season.

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McNamara, a transfer from Michigan who helped the Wolverines to the 2021 Big Ten title, has opened the past two seasons as Iowa’s starter. He sustained an ACL tear in September 2023 that cost him the rest of the season. McNamara has 1,022 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions at Iowa.

He wrote on X that he intends to play in Iowa’s regular-season finale Nov. 29 at home against Nebraska.



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