Iowa

The preview: No. 20 Iowa State vs. Arkansas State

Published

1 year ago

September 19, 2024

The preview: No. 20 Iowa State vs. Arkansas State

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell watches warmups ahead of the Cy-Hawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Game Day Info

No. 20 Iowa State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Arkansas State (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ (Richard Cross, Taylor McHargue, Tori Petry)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State – 21.5 (As of 9/19)
Over/Under: 51.5

Series Results

This is the first ever meeting between Arkansas State and Iowa State.

Players to watch

Jaylon Jackson (RB, Iowa State)
Iowa State will look to exploit an already weak Arkansas State rushing defense in this game. Two weeks ago, in the Cy-Hawk win, Jackson showed prowess in his ability to make the most out of the five handoffs he got, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Expect him to collect a few more carries this Saturday.

The offensive line
There’s not truly one position to watch here – with both Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert returning from injury, there’s no telling what Iowa State might send out as it tries to find its ideal lineup. There will be some rotations that are tried, especially if the score ends up lopsided, but the diehards will want to check out this group early.

Corey Rucker (WR, Arkansas State)
The junior wide receiver is averaging 15.6 yards per reception and leads Arkansas State with 265 yards so far this year. If that’s not enough to jump off the page, he averaged 19.6 yards per catch last season and is emerging into a star for the Red Wolves. If Arkansas State finds the end zone Saturday, it may be by way of Rucker.

Trevian Thomas (S, Arkansas State)
Thomas leads the Red Wolves with two interceptions this season – and that’s a defense that forced Michigan into throwing three picks in its game at the Big House last week. Thomas is fourth on the team in tackles and will be tasked with trying to stop Rocco Becht and the Cyclone receivers this week.

Keys to the game

Run the Iowa State way
This is a slogan that women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly has often echoed during his tenure at Iowa State – ‘playing the Iowa State way.’ For this game to be a success and not just a win over a lesser team for the Cyclones, it must execute at its strengths well. Arkansas State allows 233 rushing yards per game – that’s ranked at No. 127 in the country. If Iowa State’s run game is where the staff wants it, it should have no trouble in the ground game this week.

Win the turnover battle
Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Naylor has thrown three interceptions to his three touchdowns this season, despite lighting up the passing yards with 712 through the season so far. The dual threat quarterback will be a good test to Iowa State’s young linebackers – and the Red Wolves’ quarterback has been sacked five times this season already. If the defense can disrupt Naylor and force some turnovers, the comfortable blowout that fans want should follow right behind it.

Avoid the injury and tie the record
Iowa State fans saw linebacker Caleb Bacon get hurt during the team’s season opener against North Dakota. There’s no way to truly eliminate the possibility of injury, but with the Big 12 opener looming next week, it’s imperative that the depth pieces get as much run time as possible here. Grab an early lead, get the starters out early and celebrate coach Matt Campbell tying Dan McCarney for the Iowa State career wins record.

Big 12 Standings
Team	OVR	Big 12
UCF	3-0	1-0
No. 12 Utah	3-0	0-0
No. 13 Kansas State	3-0	0-0
No. 14 Oklahoma State	3-0	0-0
No. 20 Iowa State	2-0	0-0
Arizona State	3-0	0-0
BYU	3-0	0-0
Arizona	0-0	2-1
Baylor	0-0	2-1
Cincinnati	0-0	2-1
Colorado	0-0	2-1
Texas Tech	0-0	2-1
Houston	0-0	1-2
Kansas	0-0	1-2
West Virginia	1-2	1-2
TCU	2-1	2-1

Source link

Iowa

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

Published

8 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

The fourth and final bunch of Iowa high school boys basketball substate championship games are now set after the second round of Class 4A games were completed on Friday, February 27.

Substate championships in Iowa’s largest classification will take place on Tuesday, March 3, with the higher seed serving as host in all eight games. Winners advance to Des Moines, Iowa and the Casey’s Center to compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament beginning March 9.

Three-time defending 4A state champion Valley was eliminated by Ankeny, 72-36. The Tigers, who lost all five starters from a year ago, won just one game prior to earning a victory in the opening round of postseason play.

Cedar Falls, who has held the No. 1 spot in 4A throughout the season, scored a dominating 78-45 decision vs. Iowa City High to move on.

Colin Rice, a Nebraska commit for Fred Hoiberg, scored a single-game school-record 50 points as Waukee Northwest topped Iowa City Liberty, 101-58.

Council Bluffs Lincoln, Ames, North Scott, Dowling Catholic, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Norwalk, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Des Moines Roosevelt, Urbandale and Waukee all joined them in the next round after winning games at home.

The 1A and 2A substate finals will take place on Saturday, February 28 while the 3A games go down on Monday, March 2.

Here are the Iowa boys high school basketball Class 4A substate finals for Wednesday, March 3.

Wednesday, March 3

Class 4A

Source link

Iowa

The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season

Published

20 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season

When it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes 2026 football season, it doesn’t get much bigger than Ohio State coming to Kinnick Stadium.

No one knows at this stage where the Buckeyes will be come Oct. 3, but Iowa has a chance to make an early impression against a team that is no stranger to winning the big one.

Iowa’s B1G schedule couldn’t get off to a worse start as they head to Michigan and then welcome the Buckeyes to Kinnick.

Hopefully for Iowa’s sake, their first three games against Northern Illinois, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa are enough to get them prepared. If not, things could get ugly.

ESPN Believes Ohio State is Iowa’s Biggest Opponent in 2026

The helmet of Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith sits on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Michigan game will certainly be a test, but hosting the Buckeyes is a different animal. That gives the Hawkeyes an advantage like no other, and if there was ever a time to give OSU a run for their money, it’s in Iowa City on Oct. 3.

“The Hawkeyes haven’t faced Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium since 2017, when Nate Stanley threw five touchdowns as they stunned the Buckeyes 55-24. An early October win over Ohio State could propel Iowa into the Big Ten title and playoff conversations,” Jake Trotter wrote.

To put things into perspective, Indiana and Oregon were the other two teams that had the Buckeyes listed as their defining game in the 2026 season. Shockingly, Iowa was actually selected against a team, that being Minnesota. Seeing as that’s for the Floyd of Rosedale, it makes complete sense.

Iowa Can’t Let Regular Season Opportunities Go To Waste

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) throws a pass during warmups before a college football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions Oct. 18, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last year was seemingly the Hawkeyes’ first time to actually make the College Football Playoffs. They came up short as their losses to No. 16 Iowa State, No. 11 Indiana, No. 9 Oregon and No. 17 USC all added up. Sure, those were by a combined 15 points, but that doesn’t matter, as it’s bad enough that a three-loss team made the playoffs.

Iowa ended with a bang as they took down No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, 34-27. Now, all eyes are on either Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown. One of those men will have a chance to make their first B1G start at the Big House in Michigan.

It doesn’t get any tougher than that, as Iowa is immediately putting their new QB into deep water. They’ll have three games prior to that to get up to speed, but other than that, it’s go time as OSU awaits after their trip to Michigan.

Don’t forget to bookmark Iowa Hawkeyes on SI for the latest news. exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!

Source link

Iowa

Kee High School remembers legendary coach Gene Schultz

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Kee High School remembers legendary coach Gene Schultz

MANCHESTER, Iowa — The state of Iowa lost a titan of the prep coaching world this week. Former Kee High School baseball coach Gene Schultz died on Monday at the age of 80.

Schultz spent 45 seasons as the baseball coach at Kee, helping turn the program into an Iowa dynasty. He won 9 State championships (not counting 2 fall titles, which the IHSAA doesn’t recognize in the record books), and took the Hawks to 19 State tournaments, which is also the most in Iowa history.

His 1,754 wins are not only the most in Iowa history, but the most of any high school baseball coach in the country.

Source link