Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht says the Cyclones have a lot to play for as they practice for the Pop Tarts Bowl. The 18th ranked Cyclones are 10-3 after falling to Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship game and will play 13th ranked Miami in the December 28th game in Orlando.

Becht says a victory would provide the program momentum heading into the off-season.

Cyclone safety Beau Freyler says the Cyclones are excited to have this opportunity.

Both teams just missed a spot in the college football playoffs. Miami is 10-2.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious George Munger Award, which recognizes the College Football Coach of the Year.

Campbell has led Iowa State to its first 10-win season in the program’s 133-year history, finishing the regular season 10-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play while earning a berth in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game.

The Cyclones matched the best start in school history, opening the season 7-0 and climbing to as high as No. 9 in The Associated Press Top-25 poll.

Campbell, who recently agreed to a contract extension through the 2032 season, became Iowa State’s winningest coach earlier this season when he surpassed Dan McCarney’s previous mark. In his ninth season leading the program, Campbell owns a 63-51 record at the school, including 62-43 since starting 1-8 in his initial campaign.

He’s also 45-36 in conference play, which is 18 more league victories than any other coach in the school’s history. Campbell owns 45 of ISU’s 89 all-time wins against Big 12 teams.

Campbell and the No. 18 Cyclones return to action Dec. 28 at the Pop-Tarts Bowl against No. 15 Miami.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa football players — senior linebacker Jay Higgins, junior running back Kaleb Johnson and senior punt returner Kaden Wetjen — were recognized on Wednesday as first-team All-Americans by Sporting News.

As a result, Higgins is a unanimous consensus All-American, while Johnson is a consensus All-American. Johnson was a first team All-America honoree by Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News, and second team by the Associated Press (AP) and American Football Coaches Association of America (AFCA).

Iowa now has 33 consensus All-Americans in program history, including 18 in the Kirk Ferentz era. The Hawkeyes have had multiple consensus All-Americans seven times in program history (1981, 1984, 2002, 2003, 2017, 2023 and 2024).

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) was also honored as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. He is the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles and four interceptions. His four picks are tied for the most amongst linebackers from a Power 4 conference. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Lott IMPACT and Butkus awards, has racked up 118 tackles — second most in the Big Ten, 13th-most nationally. The Indianapolis native has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is ninth nationally, allowing 17.1 points per game.

Johnson was also voted Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds) rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games — the longest stretch in school history. Johnson had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history. He declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month.

Wetjen was also tabbed a first-team All-American punt returner by FWAA yesterday, and was previously awarded the 2024 Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and is a finalist for the Jet Award. He leads the nation with 888 combined kick return yards (next most is 674 yards). Wetjen (5-foot-10, 196 pounds) is second in the FBS in punt return yards (312) and sixth in kickoff return yards (576). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had an 85-yard punt return for a score against Northwestern, the seventh-longest in school history.

The Hawkeyes will play No. 19 Missouri on Dec. 30, 2024, in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville. The game will start at 1:30 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on ESPN.

2024 IOWA POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICA NATIONAL HONORS
LUKE ELKIN: AFCA (first team)
JAY HIGGINS (Consensus): Walter Camp, AFCA, AP, FWAA, Sporting News, CBS, The Athletic (first team)
KALEB JOHNSON (Consensus): FWAA, Sporting News, Walter Camp (first team); AFCA, AP, CBS, The Athletic (second team), Pro Football Focus
KADEN WETJEN: FWAA, Sporting News (first team)

 Bedford Quad 

SWAT – 60 vs Mount Ayr – 6

SWAT – 42 vs Southwest Valley – 18

SWAT – 57 vs West Central Valley – 12

Southwest Iowa – 48 vs Mount Ayr – 12

Southwest Iowa – 36 vs Southwest Valley – 15

Southwest Iowa – 42 vs West Central Valley – 30

West Central Valley – 36 vs Mount Ayr – 18

SWAT Winners: Stella Beattie (2), Ellen Gerlock (2), Megan Gerlock(2), Jazz Christensen (2), Nadia South (2), Lilliana Tafoya (2), Bailey Lillard (2), Karissa Groves, Addi Glade, Lilly Barber

GLENWOOD MEET

Creston – 39 vs Glenwood – 30

Creston – 46 vs Treynor – 30

Treynor – 38 vs Glenwood – 21

Creston Winners: Evy Marlin (2), Grace Keeler (2), Christina Stand (2), Karter Clayton (2), Sydney Hoffman (2), Alainah Galanakis (2),  Danikka Barber,  Nevaeh Chestnut, Lydia Williams

Treynor Winners: Andyn White (2), Liz Young (2), Genevieve Deitchler (2), Emma Miller (2), Keira Ragland, Hannah Hekter, Amelia Grashorn

Glenwood Winners: Lilly Lee (2), Lydia Logan (2), Kasadie Pratt (2), Audrina Johansen, Maya Rivas

LEWIS CENTRAL MEET

Lewis Central – 66 vs Abraham Lincoln – 12

Lewis Central – 54 vs Papillion-LaVista – 21

Papillion-LaVista – 64 vs Abraham Lincoln – 12

Tri-Center Quad

Riverside – 49 vs Logan-Magnolia – 29

Riverside – 88 vs St, Albert – 3

Riverside – 59 vs Tri-Center- 29.0

Tri-Center – 52 vs St. Albert – 30

Logan-Magnolia – 58 vs Tri-Center – 19

Logan-Magnolia – 70 vs St. Albert – 9

Riverside Winners: Taven Moore (3), Jett Rose (3), A.C Roller (3), Caden Forristall (2), Kingston Carrigan (3), Drew Anderson (3), Jaxon Gordon (3), Davis Bramman (3), Kellen Oliver (2),  Rex Shanng, Keegan Taylor, Jack Branan(2), Gavin Hackett

Tri-Center Winners: Athan Chessmore (3), Tucker Olsen (3), Brant Freeberg (3), Carter Gittins (2), Titus Humbert, Braiden Pace (2), Charlie Morse, Noah Goodwin

AHSTW Quad

Audubon – 42 vs AHSTW – 30

Missouri Valley – 42 vs Audubon – 35

Nodaway Valley – 54 vs Audubon – 25

Nodaway Valley – 62 vs AHSTW – 18

Nodaway Valley – 62 vs Missouri Valley – 18

Missouri Valley – 57 vs AHSTW – 42

Audubon Winners: Leyton Elmquist (3), Mason Kasperbauer (3) Keaton Reis (2), Jack Stanerson (2), Alex Henke (2), Braxton Witt (2), Lane Elmquist, Ethan Haubrich,  Joe Rasmussen, Jack Hansen

AHSTW Winners: Tucker Osbahr (2), Braden Fineran (3), Kayden Baxter (2), Roman Scheffler (2), Henry Lund

Nodaway Valley Winners: Couper Mitchell (3), Ahston Honnold (3), Trenton Warner (3),  Josh Nelson (3), Ty Strode (2), Caleb Christensen (3), Bram Dahl (3), Kevin Steele (2), Kasen Hansen (2), Eli Harris (2), Matthew Nelson (2),  Jett Christensen, Treyvn Colton

Pleasantville Quad

ACGC – 36 vs Earlham – 27

Pleasantville – 37 vs ACGC – 33

Pleasantville – 39 vs Central Decatur – 37

Central Decatur – 37 vs Earlham – 37

ACGC Winners: Gavin Sloss (2), Ty Ganzer (2), Ryder Cline (2),  Michael Fuller (2), Lane Stringer, Carter Richter, Angel Martinez, Jackson Pfrang

Glenwood Meet

Creston – 39 vs Glenwood – 33

Creston – 62 vs Treynor – 18

Glenwood – 59 vs Treynor – 13 

Creston Winners: Brodrick Phelps (2), Joshua Bunz (2), Colby Brammer (2), Weston Trapp (2), Colt Keyy (2), Kylen Parsons (2), Lane Travis (2),  Jackson Pettegrew, Gunnar Martwick, Ben James, Landen Lillie

Glenwood Winners: Reese Fauble (2), Treyton Williamson (2), Mason Koehler (2), Drake Buthe (2), Brody Black (2), Benn Christensen (2), Christian Lopez, Mark Reed, Connor Wear, Pauley Simonetti

Treynor Winners: Zach Robbins (2), Austin Moss, (2), Maverrick Kalb, Griffen Gregg

Bedford Quad

Southwest Valley – 42 vs Bedford – 40 

Southwest Valley – 35 vs Mount Ayr – 34 

Southwest Valley – 51 vs West Central Valley – 12 

Mount Ayr – 54 vs Bedford – 21 

Mount Ayr – 60 vs West Central Valley – 9

Bedford – 46  vs West Central Valley – 21

The Iowa State women were steamrolled early by fourth ranked UConn. The Huskies were 10-of-11 from three point range in the opening quarter to build a 36-10 lead and raced away to a 101-68 win in the Women’s Hall of Fame Showcase. ISU coach Bill Fennelly.

UConn finished the game 20-of-34 from three point range.

The Cyclones are 9-4 and open Big 12 play Saturday at Oklahoma State.

Drake is 10-0 after a thrilling victory in Kansas City. Bennett Stirtz hit a three pointer with three-point-four-seconds remaining in overtime to stun Kansas State 73-70. The winning basket came seconds after K-State’s Coleman Hawkins tied the game with a three. Stirtz is a native of Kansas City who grew up a Wildcat fan.

That’s Drake coach Ben McCollum. Drake raced out to a 20-point lead in the opening half but K-State rallied and grabbed its first lead with just over nine minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs limited K-State to one field goal in the final nine and-a-half minutes of action.

Stirtz finished with 22 points. Mitch Mascari led the Bulldogs with 25 points, including eight of 10 from three point range.

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Kuemper Catholic – 94 vs Atlantic – 63

Glenwood – 74 vs Harlan – 67

Western Iowa Conference 

Riverside – 71 vs AHSTW – 62

Tri-Center – 81 vs Logan-Magnolia – 78

Underwood – 73 vs IKM-Manning – 43

Treynor – 72 vs Missouri Valley – 43

Rolling Valley Conference 

CAM – 52 vs Boyer Valley – 46

Coon Rapids-Bayard – 68 vs Exira-EHK – 32

Woodbine – 73 vs Glidden-Ralston – 29

Paton-Churdan – 64 vs West Harrison – 41

Corner Conference 

Sidney – 75 vs Griswold – 44

Bedford – 57 vs East Mills – 36

Fremont-Mills – 67 vs Essex – 60

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Southeast Warren – 80 vs Nodaway Valley – 24

Martensdale-St. Marys – 55 vs Lenox – 48

Mount Ayr – 60 vs Wayne – 37

Central Decatur – 81 vs East Union – 40

Non-Conference 

Norwalk – 62 vs Lewis Central – 46

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Atlantic – 65 vs Kuemper Catholic – 44

Harlan – 82 vs Glenwood – 32

Shenandoah – 75 vs Creston – 56

Western Iowa Conference 

Riverside – 49 vs AHSTW – 28

Logan-Magnolia – 38 vs Tri-Center – 28

Underwood – 72 vs IKM-Manning – 68

Treynor – 49 vs Missouri Valley – 23

Rolling Valley Conference 

CAM – 51 vs Boyer Valley – 49

Coon Rapids-Bayard – 59 vs Exira-EHK – 36

Woodbine – 65 vs Glidden-Ralston – 32

Corner Conference 

Sidney – 54 vs Griswold – 38

East Mills – 38 vs Bedford – 30

Fremont-Mills – 56 vs Essex – 7

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Nodaway Valley -62 vs Southeast Warren – 36

Martensdale-St. Marys – 48 vs Lenox – 39

Mount Ayr – 60 vs Wayne – 32

Central Decatur – 58 vs East Union – 26

Non-Conference 

Norwalk – 60 vs Lewis Central – 28