IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa redshirt sophomore Luke Knepp was named the Big Ten Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday.

At the Roy Griak Invite in Minneapolis on Sept. 19, Knepp led the men’s team to a 26:06.7 finish in the 8,000 meters. The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, finished 28th overall. As a team, the Hawkeyes placed sixth.

Knepp is Iowa’s first conference athlete of the week in cross country since Nathan Mylenek took home the honor in 2019. It is the second time this season that the Hawkeyes have earned weekly conference recognition. Ella Magallan and Elena Torres won the Big Ten Women’s Freshman and Athlete of the Week awards, respectively, on Sept. 10.

The Hawkeyes return to action on Oct. 3 at the Joe Piane Invite in South Bend, Indiana. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. (CT).

Iowa sophomore corner Jaylen Watson says the Hawkeye defense will need to do its part to get the Kinnick Stadium crowd into the game. The defense has a massive challenge against 11th ranked Indiana on Saturday. The Hoosier offense is averaging nearly 55 points in a 4-0 start.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza leads the explosive Hoosier offense.

Watson enjoys getting ready for the challenge.

Junior corner Deshaun Lee says the Hoosiers have a lot of weapons.

Tackling in space will be crucial in this game and senior linebacker Jaxon Rexroth says it is an area that needs to improve.

Eight of Iowa’s 10 sacks have occurred in the last two games. Getting to Mendoza won’t be easy with his quick release.

Iowa State linebacker Kooper Ebel says the 14th ranked Cyclones expect a challenge as they get ready for Saturday night’s game at home against Arizona. The Wildcats enter the game with a record of 3-0.

Ebel says the play of Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita is a concern. He has 712 yards of passing and six touchdowns in three games.

With rivalry wins over Kansas State and Iowa Ebvel says the Cyclones are coming off of their bye week as a confident team.

Ebel is looking forward to a white out game under the lights.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski says the Hawkeyes know they face a big challenge on Saturday. The Hawkeyes host an 11th ranked Indiana team that is coming off a 63-10 demolition of Illinois.

Indiana’s explosive offense gets much of the attention but the Hoosier defense has given up less than nine points per game and an averaged of 87 yards of rushing.

Gronowski says he was able to watch the Indiana-Illinois game.

Gronowski says the offense is making progress and that will need to continue this week.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says the ability to win close games has been a key in their 4-0 start and will continue in the future. The 14th ranked Cyclones return to action Saturday night by hosting unbeaten Arizona.

Campbell says the margin for error is always small.

Kicker Kyle Konrardy is expected to miss Saturday’s game due to injury. He was hurt in ISU’s 24-16 win at Arkansas State.

With Konrardy injured freshman Chase Smith will handle the place kicking duties.

Campbell was asked about the firing of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, who was in his 21st season as the Cowboy’s head coach.

Campbell feels the bye week allowed the Cyclones get some needed rest as they get ready for Arizona.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the turnaround Curt Cignetti has orchestrated at Indiana is impressive. Cignetti took over a program that only enjoyed three winning seasons in the previous 29 seasons and proceeded to lead the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the college football playoff. They are 4-0 and 11th ranked as they get set to visit Iowa on Saturday.

Indiana scored 63 points in a win over Illinois and Ferentz says led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers are reminiscent of some of the offenses Ohio State has had.

Ferentz says the Hoosier offense does not have a weakness.

Iowa’s defense struggled against the pass in the first half at Rutgers and that is not a good sign heading into a game against Indiana.

Iowa’s offense will need to score a lot and quarterback Mark Gronowski is coming off his best game in a win at Rutgers.

1. Martensdale St. Marys – 33 pts

2. Earlham – 39 pts

3. Clarinda – 81`pts

4. Wayne – 86 pts

5. Central Decatur – 110 pts

6. Chariton – 159

Individual

1. Karson Oberender  (Martensdale st Marys) – 19:01.9

2.  Maclaine German (Martensdale St. Marys) – 19:16.9

3. Amanda Smith (Earlham) – 19:58.1

4. Cora Smith, (Creston) – 19:59.6

5. Riley King (Clarinda) – 20:51.9

Nodaway Valley

16. Abby Nelson – 22:35.6

36. Kaylee Van Horn – 25:26.0

59. Kenzie Lilly – 29:58.4

Clarinda

19. Jenna King – 23:37.6

27. Richlyn Muff – 24:39.1

31. Lily Weinreich – 25:00.5

Creston

6. Reese Strunk – 20:58.9

28. Abby Freeman – 24:39.6

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

Atlantic – 3 vs Shenandoah – 0

Kuemper Catholic – 3 vs Atlantic – 0

Kuemper Catholic – 3 vs Shenandoah – 0

Red Oak – 3 vs Harlan – 0

St. Albert – 3 vs Denison-Schleswig – 0

Western Iowa Conference 

Logan-Magnolia – 3 vs AHSTW – 1

Missouri Valley – 3 vs Audubon – 0

IKM-Manning – 3 vs Tri-Center – 1

Treynor – 3 vs Underwood – 0

Corner Conference 

Griswold – 3 vs Essex – 0

East Mills – 3 vs Fremont-Mills – 1

Sidney – 3 vs Bedford – 0

Sidney – 3 vs Hamburg – 0

Bedford – 3 vs Hamburg – 0

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Southwest Valley – 2 vs Central Decatur – 0

Southwest Valley – 2 vs Nodaway Valley – 0

Central Decatur – 2 vs Nodaway Valley – 1

Mount Ayr – 2 vs Martensdale-St. Marys – 0

Mount Ayr – 2 vs Lenox – 0

Lenox – 2 vs Martensdale-St. Marys – 0

Rolling Valley Conference 

Exira-EHK – 3 vs Paton-Churdan – 0

Boyer Valley – 3 vs Woodbine – 2

Coon Rapids-Bayard – 3 vs Glidden-Ralston – 0

West Central Activities Conference

ACGC – 3 vs Pleasantville – 1

Earlham – 3 vs West Central Valley – 0

Des Moines Christian – 3 vs Panorama – 0

Woodward-Granger – 3 vs Madrid – 0

Van Meter – 3 vs Interstate-35 – 0

Non-Conference 

Platteview – 3 vs Glenwood – 1