Kansas coach Lance Leipold says he is proud of his team despite a 2-6 record that has made the Jayhawks one of the most disappointing teams in the country. Kansas entered the season nationally ranked but will need to win out just to become bowl eligible. They take on 17th ranked Iowa State in Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

Leipold expects the Cyclones to be motivated after a loss to Texas Tech.

Kansas has won the last two games against the Cyclones, including a 28-21 win in Ames last season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following his dominant performance in the Hawkeyes’ 42-10 triumph over Wisconsin on Saturday night, it was announced Monday by the league office.

The weekly honor is the second for Johnson this season and third of his career. Johnson was tabbed co-offensive player of the week on Sept. 23, 2024, and offensive and freshman of the week on Nov. 7, 2020.

Johnson (6-foot-0, 212-pounds) recorded his seventh 100-yard game in 2024, finishing with 135 yards on 24 attempts with three touchdowns (16, 9 and 2 yards) against the Badgers. It is his seventh 100-yard game this season and the 11th of his career. He has three games with three rushing touchdowns and four total games with three total TDs.

The 32-point win marked Iowa’s largest margin of victory over Wisconsin in 56 years (1968).

The native of Hamilton, Ohio, has scored at least one touchdown in nine straight games — the longest stretch in school history. He has seven games this season with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Johnson has rushing 19 touchdowns this season — the second most in a single season in program history — which is one shy of tying Shonn Greene’s school record (20). His three scores on Saturday boosted his season scoring total to 120 points — tying Greene (2008) and Nate Kaeding’s (2002) single season program scoring record. Johnson now has 1,279 yards this season – the second-most in the country and seventh-most in the Iowa record books.

Three Hawkeyes have earned Big Ten weekly honors four total times this year. Johnson was recognized after Iowa’s win at Minnesota, Aaron Graves was honored following the victory over Washington, while Kaden Wetjen earned the distinction following Iowa’s triumph over Northwestern.

Iowa (6-3, 4-2) returns to action Friday at UCLA (3-5, 2-4). Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (CT) in Pasadena, California. The game will be televised on FOX and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

KALEB JOHNSON | 2024 HONORS
AP, CBS Sports, Sporting News, The Athletic Midseason All-America
Maxwell Award Midseason Watch List
Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week (Sept. 24)
Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
Senior Bowl Co-Offensive National Player of the Week (Oct. 14)
UI September Male Athlete of the Month

Fifth ranked Iowa State jumped out to a 23-point halftime lead and beat Mississippi Valley State 83-44. ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger says there is a lot to work on.

Keshon Gilbert had 17 points and the Cyclones were 22 of 29 from the line.

Iowa took control with a 13-0 run early in the second half and rolled to an 89-67 victory over Texas A@M Commerce. Payton Sandfort led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Iowa’s pressure defense in the second half helped them take control.

Daniel Abreu scored 30 points and Bennett Stirtz added 18 as Drake beat York College of Nebraska 93-41 Ben McCollum posted a victory in his debut as Bulldog coach.

The Bulldogs took control early and led 50-23 at halftime.

Drake made 13 three pointers and shot better than 52 percent for the game.

The 38-3 Riverside Bulldogs are back at the State Volleyball tournament for the first time since the 2022 season. This year’s Riverside team has seen a tremendous success with a strong rotation of upperclassmen and a sharp offensive attack with over 1200 kills.

One unique feature for the 2024 Bulldogs are the pair of Kelley sisters. Junior Madison Kelley and freshman Ashley Kelley have been major contributors for their squad. Madison Kelley has created 121 kills and 70 block assists. Ashley Kelley has boosted Riverside with her 443 assists and 33 service aces.

Madison Kelley credits her team’s focus as one of the reasons why they’ve been able to make it to state.

Ashley Kelley noted that a large part of Riverside’s success has been the positive culture of their program.

When asked about playing with her sibling, Ashley Kelley commented that it’s been a constructive adventure.

Madison Kelley also explained that playing for head coach Brooke Flathers has been a tremendous experience, and she makes each and every athlete better.

Looking back on their childhood, Ashley explained that Madison did a great job of pushing her to be better.

Riverside begins the state tournament Tuesday night against the fifth seeded North Tama Redhawks. Madison Kelley is focused on bringing energy and intensity for her team.

KJAN has the coverage for Tuesday’s match with the pregame show beginning at 7:45 p.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Jay Higgins has been named a 2024 Dick Butkus Award semifinalist, it was announced Monday by the Butkus Foundation. It marks the second straight season Higgins is a semifinalist for the prestigious award.

Higgins is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2024 Butkus Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker. He is also a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Higgins was named a midseason All-American last month by the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBS and The Athletic.

Higgins is leading the Big Ten in tackles (sixth nationally), making 94 tackles (10.4 per game). He has led the team in tackles in all nine games, including a season-high 14 tackles against Ohio State, Washington and Michigan State. He also has three interceptions (18th nationally and tied for the most by a Power 4 linebacker) and forced two fumbles. Higgins, who has 311 career tackles in 54 games, has five double-digit tackle games this season and 16 in his career.

The Indianapolis native has 69 tackles in six Big Ten games, averaging 11.4 tackles per contest. Higgins is six tackles shy of reaching 100 for the season. The last Hawkeye to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons was Jack Campbell in 2021 and 2022.

Campbell won the award in 2022 and was a semifinalist in 2021, while Josey Jewell was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 2016 and a semifinalist in 2017.

Iowa (6-3, 4-2) returns to action Friday at UCLA (3-5, 2-4). Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (CT) in Pasadena, California. The game will be televised on FOX and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Jay Higgins | 2024 Honors
Dick Butkus Award Semifinalist
Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist
AP, CBS Sports, Sporting News, The Athletic Midseason All-America
Chuck Bednarik Award midseason Watch List
Preseason National Defensive Player of the Year by Phil Steele
Preseason first-team Walter Camp All-American
Preseason first-team All-America by AP, ESPN, CBS Sports
Preseason first-team All-America by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports
Preseason first-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports
Preseason Big Ten Honors List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason Watch List
Lombardi Award midseason Watch List
Wuerffel Trophy preseason Watch List
Senior Bowl preseason Watch List

The UNI women open the basketball season at home on Tuesday night against Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Panther coach Tanya Warren wants to see better defense than last week’s exhibition game win over Quincy University.

Warren on the aspects of defense they have worked on.

The Panthers have an experienced starting lineup but Warren will be experimenting with the rotation.

The eighth ranked Iowa State women raced out to a 29-0 lead and cruised to a 96-56 win over Chicago State this (Monday) afternoon in Ames.Sophomore forward Addy Brown led the Cyclones with 20 points and nine rebounds.

The game was played in front of several thousand elementary school kids.

After falling at top ranked North Dakota State the Northern Iowa football team will bid for its first Missouri Valley Conference victory at home this week against 17th ranked Illinois State. The Redbirds sit fifth in the Valley standings and the Panthers have already played the top four teams in the league race in an 0-5 start.

That’s UNI coach Mark Farley.Illinois State is 3-2 in the Valley and 6-3 overall.

Farley on some of the keys to getting things turned around.

Because of injuries on the defensive line the Panthers switched to a three man front prior to Saturday’s 42-19 loss at North Dakota State.

Farley continues to be impressed with the play of sophomore quarterback Matthew Schecklman. He has passed for 540 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games.