ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Drake University women’s basketball has been picked to finish fourth in the race for the 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference crown, the league announced today. The preseason poll, as voted on by Valley head coaches, communications directors, and a panel of various media personnel, was unveiled this morning.

Drake was slotted fourth with a total of 371 points including four first-place votes.

Belmont, who enters the season as the league favorite, received 25 of 44 possible votes for the top spot for a total of 446 points. Defending MVC regular-season and tournament champions Murray State was selected second with 13 first-place votes and 436 points. Illinois State rounded out the top four with two first-place votes and 387 points.

The Bulldogs will be on the hardwood next week for an Oct. 28 exhibition game against Dakota Wesleyan in Des Moines. Drake’s regular season slate will begin Nov. 3 with a trip to Eastern Illinois.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski says decision making on third down will be critical when the Hawkeyes host Minnesota on Saturday. The Gopher defense registered nine sacks in a 24-6 win over Nebraska.

Gronowski says an effective run game will help avoid third and long.

Gronowski suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of a September 27th loss to Indiana and says it continues to improve each week.

Iowa State junior corner Tre Bell says he is gaining more confidence with each game. Bell was thrust into the starting lineup after season ending knee injuries to Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams. The Cyclones take a 5-2 record into Saturday’s home game against 11th ranked BYU.

Bell says tackling will be a key for the secondary against BYU. The Cougars average nearly 233 yards of rushing per game.*

Bell says coming off two straight losses the Cyclones need to get back to the way they started the season.

Sophomore safety Marcus Neal says the Cyclones are coming off their bye week and ready for the stretch run.

Neal says the BYU offensive will offer a physical challenge

A veteran Iowa offensive line faces a big challenge on Saturday against the Minnesota defensive front. The Gophers like to vary their looks and it helped lead to nine sacks in a 24-6 win over Nebraska. Hawkeye center Logan Jones.

Jones says the Gophers will offer a unique challenge.

Jones says Minnesota is especially effective on third and long.

Sophomore left tackle Trevor Lauck on the challenge the Gopher defense provides.

Lauck says the Gophers try to create confusion up front.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht feels the bye week came at the right time for the Cyclones. ISU will be out to snap a two-game losing skid on Saturday by hosting 11th ranked BYU.

Last season the Cyclones dropped back-to-back games before rallying to make the Big 12 title game.

Becht says he used the bye week to focus on what he did to help the Cyclones jump out to a 5-0 start.

Becht says a key will be how the Cyclones handle an outstanding BYU defensive line.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior defensive tackle Aaron Graves has been named a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, the nation’s premier scholar-athlete award.

As a finalist, he is also a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class and will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. Graves is one of 16 finalists for the award from a pool of 180 candidates nationwide. The winner of the Campbell Trophy will be announced Dec. 9, at the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Graves (6-foot-5, 295) has started all seven games at defensive tackle this season. He has 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three hurries and two sacks. In the Week 7 road win at Wisconsin, Graves recorded his first career interception with a 35-yard return to the 1-yard line to set up an Iowa touchdown in the 37-0 shutout victory.

The Dayton, Iowa, native earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science with the highest distinction in May, graduating with an unblemished grade point average. He is currently enrolled in the sport and recreation management master’s program.

IGraves was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media in 2024 after finishing with 33 tackles, six sacks, eight TFL, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two hurries. The three forced fumbles were tops in the Big Ten Conference. He also was a second-team CSC Academic All-American in 2024 and has twice been named a CSC Academic All-District selection.

Graves is the eighth Iowa football student-athlete to be named a NFF National Scholar-Athlete. Former honorees include linebacker Jack Campbell (2022), linebacker James Morris (2013), linebacker Mike Klinkenborg (2007), offensive lineman Derek Rose (1998), tight end Mike Flagg (1987), defensive back Bob Elliott (1975) and defensive lineman John Charles Hendricks (1968).  Campbell was the first Hawkeye to win the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2022.

Iowa (5-2, 3-1) is set to host Minnesota (5-2, 3-1) in the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry game on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium. The game, which is sold out, will be televised on CBS and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

West Point, Miss. – The University of Iowa women’s golf team sits 12th out of 15 teams after two rounds at The Ally, hosted at Old Waverly Golf Club. The Hawkeyes posted scores of 299 and 305 for a 36-hole total of 604.

Junior Maura Peters leads the Hawkeyes, tied for 11th place after two rounds with a total score of 142 (−2). Coming off a career-best performance in the opening round. Peters recorded four birdies and eight pars during the second round.

Freshman Sunny Wang opened with a 77 before improving to a 75 in round two, bringing her 36-hole total to 152 (+8). Wang is currently tied for 54th place.

Junior Ximena Benites is tied for 61st at 10-over-par after shooting a 79 in round one and a 75 in round two.

Florida leads the team standings with a 36-hole total of 559. Elizabeth Rudisill tops the individual leaderboard with a 6-under-par 138 (74-64).

IOWA LEADERBOARD

Up Next

Iowa continues play at The Ally on Wednesday, Oct. 22, with tee times beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT.

3A Region  4 

Atlantic – 3 vs Shenandoah – 1

Clarinda – 3 vs Chariton – 0

Creston – 3 vs Centerville 0

Red Oak – 3 vs Clarke – 0

3A Region  6 

Kuemper Catholic – 3 vs Saydel – 0

Des Moines Christian – 3 vs Greene County – 1

3A Region  3

Van Meter – 3 vs Albia – 0

4A Region 7 

Lewis Central – 3 Denison-Schleswig – 0

Storm Lake – 3 vs Le Mars – 0

4A Region 2

Glenwood – 3 vs Harlan – 0

The Atlantic Trojans advanced in the 3A region 4 tournament with a solid 3-1 win over the Shanandoah Fillies Tuesday night. Taking set one 25-18, the defense was excellent, especially at the net. Although Atlantic dropped set two, they responded tremendously in set three, owning the longest two runs of the game. Despite Shenandoah competing to the very end, the Trojans pulled away late in set four to secure a 3-1 win and a spot in the regional semi-final.

Set one largely featured Atlantic defense. Although the defense at the net was good all night, it was particularly prevalent in this set. Jillian Saathoff and Brynn Lamp were particularly active at the net throughout the match. The defining moment in the set came late. After going on a 5-0 run, the Fillies answered back with a 4-0 run of their own. However, Atlantic pulled away again, putting up the next four points to increase the lead to five. Although Shenandoah would pick up a few more points, that deficit was too much to overcome.

Atlantic struggled in set two. Not necessarily because they played poorly, but more because of what they left on the table. In addition to a handful of service errors, the Trojans struggled to hit down on the ball as it seemed to sail on them. All things considered, the Trojans led for a large portion of the set, but the mistakes came back to bite them. Lyndie Green and the Fillies were able to grab momentum late with a 5-0 run (their largest of the match) and carry it to a set two win.

Set three saw the Trojans respond. The offense hit its stride again with Reese Harlan and Jayci Reed both playing a big role. Zoey Kirchoff was great at the servicing line and setting in what was Atlantic’s most dominant win of the night. After extending their lead to six with a 6-0 run, they immediately followed it up with the largest run of the game. The 10-0 run solidified what turned into a 25-10 win and a 2-1 advantage.

Set four saw Atlantic do much of what they did in set one and set three. The defense was able to keep balls alive, while the offense took advantage of its opportunities. However, with their season on the line, Shenandoah put up a good fight. The early part of the set was back and forth. However, a 4-0 run quickly followed by a 5-0 run gave the Trojans the separation they needed to close it out and move on to the semi-final. Head coach Alyssa Boltz was happy with her team’s performance especially when it came to their intensity.

In addition to their veteran leadership, the Trojans also have a solid group of young talent. In addition to Harlan, Madison McLaren and Emerie Jones played well and Boltz says their efforts and abilities round out the team.

The Trojans will have a tough test on Thursday as they travel to take on 36-2 Red Oak in the semi-final on the road. There only losses came to Pella back in August and Sioux Center in September. The Tigers are coming off a 3-0 win over Clark Community in their quarterfinal matchup and although Boltz says there are some things to cleanup, it all starts with belief.

The match is scheduled to start at 7 pm.

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz says P.J. Fleck has built a consistent winner at Minnesota. A pair of 5-2 teams collide in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday in the 119th meeting in the series.

Fleck is in his ninth season at Minnesota and Ferentz says the Gophers have succeeded with a physical, fundamentally sound style of football.

Ferentz says the Iowa defense will be challenged by a Minnesota offense led by redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski has been a big part of Iowa’s run game. The South Dakota State transfer rushed for 130 yard in last weeks win over Penn State and his power running style has given the Hawkeye offense an added dimension.

Ferentz says with an understated level of confidence, Gronowski has become the leader of the team.

Gronowski’s 67-yard run set up Iowa’s game winning touchdown against the Nittany Lions.