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Hawkeyes open 2015 with dangerous Illinois State

Sports

September 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — C.J. Beathard has been waiting for his chance to be Iowa’s starting quarterback for years. He’s getting his wish this season. Beathard will make just his second career start — and his first at Kinnick Stadium — when the Hawkeyes host FCS school Illinois State on Saturday.

Beathard, a redshirt junior who spent the last two years backing up now-Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock, was anointed the starter in January. Iowa is hoping that Beathard’s strong arms, quick feet and increased knowledge of the playbook can help lift its offense out of the doldrums in 2015.