Iowa
Matt Campbell on Iowa State’s rivalry matchup with Kansas State, Kirk Ferentz’s success

Hear from Matt Campbell ahead of Iowa State’s matchup with Kansas State
Four minutes with Matt Campbell on Iowa State football’s rivalry with Kansas State, takeaways from the season, and feelings on conference realignment.
AMES — Following a loss at home to No. 7 Texas on Saturday, Iowa State football will go on the road to finish the regular season.
The Cyclones (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) will face No. 20 Kansas State (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) in their last game of the 2023 season, and it won’t be an easy matchup to end on.
Iowa State fell out of a multi-team tie for second place in the conference title race with the loss to Texas. The Wildcats, on the other hand, remain tied for second with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Cyclones hold a 52-50 all-time advantage — with four ties — but Kansas State beat ISU, 10-9, at Jack Trice Stadium in 2022.
But, win or lose, this season is a win for a young, rebuilding Iowa State program.
“The growth of this football team has been transformational,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell on Tuesday. “It’ll all be defined by how we finish. There’s still eight incredible quarters for this football team to finish what it started.
“The one thing this group has done, literally every single game it’s played, is it’s grown and it’s gotten better.”
And even ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 rivalry matchup, Campbell — while discussing the pros and cons of hiring young head coaches and young offensive coordinators — took time to praise a different rival, one a bit closer to home.
“Sometimes experience is a great thing,” Campbell said. “You look at (Iowa State defensive coordinator) Jon Heacock, and he’s one of the best coaches in the country. We’re in a state where you’ve got Kirk Ferentz, one of the best coaches in the country.
“You can talk about age on both ends of the spectrum. Can you lead people, and can you do a great job of caring about people? I still think that matters.”
Big 12 expansion could mark the ‘end’ of some rivalry games
Campbell expects a close, physical game Saturday, on both sides of the ball. Statistically, the Wildcats are one of the stronger teams in the conference. But there is an added element with the storied rivalry between these two programs.
“It’s been right down to the end,” Campbell said. “It’s a physical football game. Usually, the team that plays with the most detail in the game wins the football game. For me, and for us, it’s another great challenge. Can you be that team for four quarters? You’re gonna have to be, especially on the road in this game.”
This game could mean a bit more as conference realignment changes the typical conference schedule for programs like Iowa State. The Cyclones won’t face Kansas State in 2027, disrupting a series that has been played every season since 1917.
“You’re talking to a guy that loves tradition,” Campbell said. “You love to play in these environments and these games and the respect that you have for the opponent because you know what they are and what they stand for. I love being able to have rivalries.”
Kansas State puts all the pieces together on offense and defense
The Wildcats’ offense averages 38.1 points per game, which is second-best in the Big 12.
Kansas State’s defense allows an average of 19.3 points per game, also second-best in the conference.
Running back DJ Giddens has recorded 961 yards and eight touchdowns on 164 carries. Treshaun Ward is a second reliable option on the ground, with 595 yards and four touchdowns this season. In terms of statistics, Will Howard is one of the league’s middle-of-the-pack quarterbacks, with 2,355 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The Wildcats’ stars on defense are numerous: Austin Moore, Khalid Duke, Nate Matlack, Jacob Parrish, Kobe Savage, Will Lee III, Desmon Purnell, and Brendan Mott, to name a few.
Injury updates on Jeremiah Cooper, Malik Verdon
Campbell provided injury updates on two members of the Cyclones’ defense: Jeremiah Cooper and Malik Verdon.
“Certainly huge for use to get Coop back (against Texas),” Campbell said. “I just feel like…the one area we’ve been kind of bit is in the secondary. With Coop back and Jamo, the experience he got, it gave us a great one-two punch.”
As for Verdon, who was hurt in the loss to Texas, Campbell said that it would come down to how he felt on game day but sounded positive that Verdon could be ready to go come Saturday.
“Malik’s situation…we’ll see where he’s at,” Campbell said. “It’s not a strain; it’s kind of a forearm deal.”
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

Iowa
Iowa high school state track and field results: Quentin Nauman makes history

Saturday at the Iowa high school state track and field championships belonged to Quentin Nauman.
The Western Dubuque junior and future Oregon Duck made history, becoming the first high school in the country to run sub 1:50 in the 800 and sub 4:00 in the 1,600 in the same meet.
Nauman went 1:49.41 to secure gold in the 800 in Class 3A and posted a 3:59.60 in the 1,600 to also place first. He ran the anchor on the distance medley relay and also won the 3,200 earlier this week.
That was part of a final day that saw team champions crowned in all classes and more winners announced in Des Moines from Drake Stadium.
Scoring girls team gold were Council Bluffs St. Albert (1A), Pella Christian (2A), Adel ADM (3A) and Waukee Northwest (4A). Boys titles went to Lisbon (1A), Spirit Lake and Okoboji (2A), Newton (3A) and Ankeny (4A).
Noelle Steines of Tipton concluded her legendary career with two more titles, winning the 800 and 1,500 in 2A. Steines broke the state record in the 800.
Kadence Huck of Nashua-Plainfield won her second title of the meet, recording the fastest 400 time by claiming the 1A 800 in 2:10.22.
Rachel Kacmarynski from Pella Christian broke the state meet record in the 2A 100, as did Kelly Grobstich of Davenport Assumption in 3A. Grobstich doubled up, winning the 200 with a state meet record time.
Valley’s Emma Havighurst reset her own state mark from the prelims in the 100 hurdles, going 13.68 to capture first in 4A. Tay Seal of Clear Creek-Amana broke the state meet record in 3A for the 110 hurdles and set a new Iowa best at 13.58 while Quinton Alexander of Cedar Rapids Prairie broke the 4A mark.
Lili Denton of Council Bluffs St. Albert scored her third state title of the meet, winning the 1A 1,500 with a state meet record time of 4:30.63, which placed her first in Iowa this year. Until freshman Charlee Gall of Cedar Falls won in 4A in 4:29.87.
The shuttle hurdle relay saw records fall, as the Ankeny boys set a new all-time state meet mark at 56.06 in winning gold in 4A. The Treynor boys (2A) and Clear Creek-Amana boys (3A) also broke state records, as did the Stanton girls (1A) and Adel ADM girls (3A).
In the sprint medley relay, the Clear Lake girls ran the fastest time in Iowa in claiming gold in 3A. The Pella Christian girls broke the 4×100 record while Waukee Northwest set a new all-time Iowa best in the sprint relay at 47.37.
The Treynor boys broke the 2A 4×100 mark while Ankeny Centennial set a new Iowa best in the event.
In the final girls race of the state meet, Waukee Northwest set a state and all-time Iowa record at 3:47.46 while the Iowa Valley boys (1A) and Center Point-Urbana boys (3A) broke state marks.
Wheelchair champions were Payton Maas of West Liberty, Ally Darter of Dubuque Hempstead and Titus Steng of Shenandoah while ambulatory champions were Hannah Longmire of Iowa City West and John Reynolds of Siouxland Christian.
Iowa
Iowa State Standout Named Top Trade Candidate After Frustrating NFL Season

A couple of years ago, former Iowa State Cyclones star Breece Hall appeared to be one of the top up and coming running backs in the NFL, and entering his third professional season with the New York Jets in 2024, many had him pegged as a potential breakout candidate.
However, Hall ended up having a very disappointing campaign, rushing for 876 yards and five touchdowns while averaging a pedestrian 4.2 yards per carry. Yes, he added 57 catches for 483 yards and three scores, but to put it plainly, more was expected from Hall last year.
Now, with the Jets having a new coaching staff in place, Hall is at the center of trade speculation, and Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine has listed him as one of New York’s top trade candidates with training camp approaching.
“The vaunted draft class of 2022 looms large moving forward, though. Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson II and Breece Hall will all be up for contract extensions soon and paying all of them could get pricey,” Ballentine wrote.
Let’s be honest: the Jets will certainly be extending Gardner and Wilson before Hall, and Johnson may even have the edge, too. New York has a couple of young halfbacks in Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis that will probably get more playing time in 2025, as well.
Hall spent three seasons at Iowa State, leading the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns back-to-back campaigns in 2020 and 2021. He also led the country with 1,572 yards on the ground in the former year.
Overall, the 23-year-old racked up 3,933 yards and 50 rushing scores during his time with the Cyclones while also catching 82 passes for 734 yards and six touchdowns. The Jets took him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
MORE: Former Iowa State Star Tyrese Haliburton Joins Kobe Bryant in Elite Statistic
MORE: Stephen A. Smith Reveals Strong Take on Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton vs. Jalen Brunson
MORE: Iowa State Legend Brock Purdy Receives Eye-Opening NFL Ranking
MORE: ESPN Reveals Where Iowa State QB Room Sits Among Nation’s Best
MORE: Iowa State Cyclones Fans Won’t Love ESPN’s New Football Prediction
Iowa
Joann liquidation sales near their end. When will Iowa stores close for good?

Joann plans to close 500 stores, including 2 in Jacksonville
Joann, the popular fabric and crafts retailer, has announced plans to shutter 500 stores amid a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, including two in the Jacksonville area.
Say goodbye to Joann stores because the craft retailer is permanently closing its remaining Iowa stores by the end of May.
Joann shuttered 255 locations in April, including two in Iowa, months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time within a year. Since filing for bankruptcy, the company has held going-out-of-business sales at the locations.
At those sales, prices are marked down 70% to 90%, according to Joann.com. (Note: sales on the online site have ended.) Stores are also selling the furniture, shelves and equipment, according to the site.
When is Joann closing its stores?
The more than 440 stores that remain will be closed by May 31, said Jo Anne McCusker, a spokesperson for GA Group, the retail liquidator that won all of Joann’s chain’s assets through auction in February. The chain’s website says many stores will close by May 30.
When are Joann stores in Iowa closing?
There are seven Joann stores that will close in Iowa by May 31, according to USA TODAY. The Ames location was not included in a list the company provided to USA TODAY, but the location is listed as a liquidation store on Joann’s website.
- Ankeny: 1205 SE 16th Court, Suite 200
- Cedar Rapids: 255 Collins Road NE
- Clive: 9999 University Ave.
- Davenport: 902 W. Kimberly Road, Suite 41
- Dubuque: 2600 Dodge St., Suite A-4
- Iowa City: 1676 Sycamore St.
- Waterloo: 1407 Flammang Dr.
Have any Iowa stores already closed?
USA TODAY reported that two Joann stores in Iowa were included in an earlier round of store closures.
JoAnn stores in Mason City and Muscatine closed on April 28.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta asks judge to throw out antitrust case mid-trial
-
World1 week ago
Commissioner Hansen presents plan to cut farming bureaucracy in EU
-
News1 week ago
Video: Doctors Heal Infant Using First Customized-Gene Editing Treatment
-
News1 week ago
New Orleans jailbreak: 10 inmates dug a hole, wrote ‘to easy’ before fleeing; escape plan found
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Devil’s Double Next Level Movie Review: Trapped in a punchline purgatory
-
Business1 week ago
Video: How Staffing Shortages Have Plagued Newark Airport
-
Business1 week ago
Consumers Show Signs of Strain Amid Trump's Tariff Rollout
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
‘Nouvelle Vague’ Review: Richard Linklater’s Movie About the Making of Godard’s ‘Breathless’ Is an Enchanting Ode to the Rapture of Cinema