Iowa

The Morning After: Disconnected

Published

1 year ago

September 3, 2023

Press Room

We’ll always have the first quarter. Let’s recap it so we can all bask in those 15 minutes one more time.

A bolt of lightning kick return to open the game by Kaleb Johnson. 54 yards.

Two plays in – Cade McNamara’s first attempt as an Iowa quarterback and it’s a 36-yard touchdown to Seth Anderson. Transfer to transfer. Longer than any passing touchdown last year. First passing TD to open the scoring for the season since 1991 against Hawaii (I was at that game and it was also super hot that day too!) First time Iowa’s had a passing TD on the first completion of the season since 1983. Chuck Long. You get a cool stat! You get a cool stat!

A quick 3-and-out for Utah State, followed by another touchdown, this time to Erick All. Transfer to transfer again. At this point, texts are hitting my phone about winning the West in a walk, Hawks by a million, and on and on. I am allowing myself to smile watching Iowa’s offense.

Unfortunately, we moved out of the scripted portion of the proceedings – something Brian Ferentz is good at – at the end of the first quarter and into the, “can you call plays in the flow of the game and not telegraph it?” portion of the program and Iowa just, well, lost the script. It all seemingly turned on Iowa’s ill-fated 4th and 1 attempt that was stuffed for no gain. Utah State largely outplayed Iowa after that single moment and now all of Hawkeye Nation is wondering just what the hell that was.

We have to start in the trenches for the offense because – being honest – I can’t handle another season with such putrid output. At some point, we have to accept the fact that Iowa’s pedigree on the offensive line is overrated. Yes, they get a Tristan Wirfs or a Tyler Linderbaum and everything is grand on individual talent, but the line as a whole has struggled for years now and it’s unacceptable.

Yes, I thought they were decent in pass protection yesterday. It’s a development that surprised me. The run game though? 2.4 yards per carry against a Mountain West side? I thought the run game would come together nicely but Iowa would struggle in pass protection. Oops. From Rob Howe:

Heard on Utah State sideline:
“They’re a B1G team and they can’t run the ball.”
— Rob Howe (@RobHoweHN) September 2, 2023
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How ominous is that? When Kirk Ferentz said Iowa was rotating on the offensive line late in camp due to competition at certain positions, it should have given everyone pause. The comment didn’t land well in BHGP HQ. This system requires reps together. Chemistry. Continuity. The top group needs the reps together to accomplish that. If there is a rotation occurring, they don’t know the top group and how can the chemistry be built? None of it computes for me.

At least it appears Iowa has a quarterback in Cade McNamara. He was excellent most of the day. He alluded pressure that would have been an immediate sack a year ago. Some of his throws were things we haven’t seen since C.J. Beathard. That lofted pass into the end zone, late first half, to Nico Ragaini? That was a gorgeous throw and it’s a shame Ragaini couldn’t haul that in.

But he also seemed to aggravate his quad in the third quarter – a disaster class of a quarter from the offense – after dodging a sack. That will be something we watch and hold our breath on all year. Deacon Hill is a damn unit – 258 pounds!! – and he got reps in fall camp and that’s great, but McNamara is Iowa’s ticket. Just hope we don’t get a double whammy of McNamara banged up plus awful line play again. Those two things together? Hold the hell on. This could go sideways quickly.

Other thoughts:

Xavier Nwankpa – his pick in the 2nd quarter was such an awesome play. My God. That was incredible. Baited the quarterback into that throw and then covered some serious ground to get there.
Seriously, McNamara looked great. To all of the Football Gods, wherever you are, please – keep this dude healthy.
After a play is over, maybe don’t go with The People’s Elbow off the top rope, #9 for Utah State? Some of their penalties were just outrageous. They were bad in that department last year, and they’ll be bad in that department again this year. A few of those dumb penalties extended Iowa drives.
It looked hot and the Hawks lost guys in the heat.
Drive for 325 – bad start!

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Iowa

What channel is Iowa State vs. West Virginia game tonight (10/12/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, Time, TV, Channel for college football, Week 7

Published

8 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Press Room

What channel is Iowa State vs. West Virginia game tonight (10/12/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, Time, TV, Channel for college football, Week 7

The No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones, led by quarterback Rocco Becht, face the West Virginia Mountaineers, led by quarterback Garrett Greene on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 (10/12/24) at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W. Va.

How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV. You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NCAA Football, Week 7

Who: Iowa State vs. West Virginia

When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024

Where: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Live stream: fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial)

***

Here are the best streaming options for college football this season:

Fubo TV (free trial): fuboTV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS.

DirecTV Stream (free trial): DirecTV Stream carries ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS.

Sling TV ($25 off the first month)– Sling TV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC and NBC.

ESPN+($9.99 a month): ESPN+ carries college football games each weekend for only $9.99 a month. These games are exclusive to the platform.

Peacock TV ($5.99 a month): Peacock will simulstream all of NBC Sports’ college football games airing on the NBC broadcast network this season, including Big Ten Saturday Night. Peacock will also stream Notre Dame home games. Certain games will be streamed exclusively on Peacock this year as well.

Paramount+ (free trial): Paramount Plus will live stream college football games airing on CBS this year.

***

Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press:

No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Fox)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Iowa State by 3.

Series record: West Virginia leads 6-5.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Iowa State is off to its best start since 1980, and a win would make them 6-0 for the first time since 1938. The Cyclones are looking to extend their road winning streak to seven games. West Virginia is going after its third straight win after a 1-2 start. Iowa State and West Virginia are 2-0 in conference play. One of them will forge a first-place tie with idle Texas Tech.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State’s defense vs. West Virginia QB Garrett Greene. Of the dual-threat quarterbacks the Cyclones have faced so far, Greene could be the best. He had runs of 39, 15 and 10 yards against Oklahoma State last week and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 59 yards per game. Run defense hasn’t been a strength for the Cyclones, who hope to force Greene to try to beat them through the air. Iowa State has the Big 12’s top defense, allowing just 10 points and 272 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: LB Kooper Ebel has led or co-led the team in tackles in three straight games. He made just three tackles in eight games as a freshman last year. He added 15 pounds to get up to 240 on his 6-foot-4 frame and has made at least six stops in all five games. Last week he had eight tackles and a quarterback hurry against Baylor.

West Virginia: RB Jahiem White. The sophomore ran for a season-high 158 yards in the lopsided win at Oklahoma State and the Mountaineers compiled 389 on the ground. White hopes to be back on track after being limited to 94 yards combined against No. 4 Penn State, No. 22 Pittsburgh and Kansas.

FACTS & FIGURES

Anthony Becht, a tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996 to 1999, will be honored during the game for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. His son, Rocco, is Iowa State’s quarterback. … The Cyclones have won 12 straight when scoring at least 30 points. They’ve scored at least 30 in the last five meetings with WVU. … ISU had nine plays of 20 or more yards against Baylor last week, tied for the most by a Power Four team against a conference opponent this season. … The Cyclones’ defense gets better as the game progresses. They’re allowing an average of 4.0 points and 112 yards in the second halves. … West Virginia will wear all-black uniforms in honor of the state’s coal mining industry.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

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Iowa

Rosemount H.S. Marching Band wins at Iowa competition

Published

16 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Press Room

Rosemount H.S. Marching Band wins at Iowa competition

The Rosemount High School Marching Band is celebrating a big victory from a competition earlier this fall. In late September they took home the Class AAA Championship trophy at the Bands of America regional competition in Waukee, Iowa. Members of the band joined the FOX 9 Morning News to talk about the win and share how they are getting ready for another big competition this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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