Little things add up to big things and that has been an issue for Iowa State as the Cyclones prepare to host defending Big-12 champ Arizona State. ISU has fallen out of the title chase on the heels of three straight losses.

That’s junior tight end Gabe Burkle, who says while the losing skid has been frustrating there is not a loss of confidence.

The Cyclones are 5-3 and Burkle says there is still a lot to play for.

Burkle says the leadership on the team will help get them through this.

Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods says senior Kaden Wetjen has become the nation’s top return specialist because of his toughness. The native of Williamsburg leads the nation in return yards and has returned two punts for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a score.

Woods says experience has helped Wetjen’s decision making.

Woods describes Wetjen as being obsessed with getting better.

The Hawkeyes are in the midst of a bye week. They return to action on November eighth by hosting sixth ranked Oregon.

Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy says he was excited to return to the lineup in last week’s loss to BYU. The native of Dubuque had missed three games after aggravating a hip injury in a September 13th victory at Arkansas State.

Konrardy has dealt with the injury since before the season started.

Konrardy says the chore now is to prevent a flare up.

Konrardy says the violent and repetitive nature of place kicking can lead to frustrating injuries.

Class 3A Regional Finals

Red Oak – 3 vs Clarinda – 0

Kuemper Catholic – 3 vs Unity Christian – 2

Cherokee – 3 vs Van Meter – 0

Assumption – 3 vs Wilton – 0

Humboldt – 3 vs Roland-Story – 0

Mid-Prairie – 3 vs Center Point-Urbana – 2

Mount Vernon – 3 vs Anamosa – 0 

Western Christian – 3 vs Osage – 0

Class 4A Regional Finals 

Sergeant Bluff-Luton – 3 vs Lewis Central – 2 

Sioux Center – 3 vs Bishop Heelan – 1

Clear Creek Amana – 3 vs Xavier – 0 

Dallas Center-Grimes – 3 vs ADM – 0

North Scott – 3 vs Western Dubuque – 0 

Norwalk – 3 vs Ballard – 0

Pella – 3 vs Waverly-Shell Rock – 1

Marion – 3 vs Solon – 2 

The Riverside Cross Country team is set for the state meet this weekend after winning the ACGC State Qualifying meet. The Bulldogs won an astonishing eight meets throughout the season. Head Coach Alex Oliver says despite the close finishes between his top three runners, they all have their own strategies.

The Bulldogs had three finishers in the top six at ACGC. Senior Dawson Henderson and Junior Owen Fenner going back-to-back placing second and third, with Senior Brody Henderson finishing sixth. Oliver pointed out it’s a top to bottom effort to take home hardware at any given meet.

The course in Fort Dodge is flatter than most tracks the Bulldogs have ran on which alters the strategy slightly.

The Class 1A Boys’ race is scheduled for 2:45 P.M. on Saturday. We’ll have coverage throughout the day on KJAN from the state meet in Fort Dodge Friday and Saturday.

Iowa center Logan Jones has been named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week. The Hawkeyes are 6-2 and on a bye week after a 41-3 win over Minnesota. Jones is in his fourth season as Iowa’s starting center.

That’s Hawkeye offensive coordinator Tim Lester. Jones is a key part of an Iowa run game that is averaging just under five yards a carry in Big Ten play.

The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s top interior offensive lineman. Iowa returns to action on November eighth by hosting sixth ranked Oregon.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell endured some tough times in rebuilding the Cyclone program and he is confident they will navigate their current slump. ISU is riding a three game losing streak heading into Saturday’s game at home against Arizona State.

Campbell says during tough times he relies on his coaches and the players.

Campbell says the leadership on the team will play a key role in helping the Cyclones regain their winning ways.

Iowa State’s hopes for a return trip to the Big 12 championship game have faded but Campbell says their only focus right now is playing their best during the final month of the season.

The Cyclones are averaging 465 yards during their three game skid but mistakes and turnovers have proved costly.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa graduate student Logan Jones was honored Tuesday as the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week for games played during the weekend of Oct. 25, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Jones (6-foot-3, 302 pounds) and the Hawkeyes dominated Minnesota early and continued to pound the ball throughout its 41-3 win to maintain possession of Floyd of Rosedale. Jones anchored the middle of the offensive line that graded as the country’s best last weekend.

The two-time All-Big Ten center from Council Bluffs had the offensive line working well, and fast. The Hawkeyes (6-2, 4-1) had a 128-12 advantage in total yards in the first quarter and 186-44 by halftime. Iowa’s 31 first-half points were the most it has scored in a half since 2021.

Jones, who started his 46th career game and has served as a game captain each week this season, helped the Hawkeyes allow only one pressure against a Minnesota defense that registered nine sacks against Nebraska in its previous game.

Iowa’s offensive line earned the highest grade in the FBS by Pro Football Focus from the game, and Jones is the No. 1-rated center by the service. With Jones in the middle, all five Hawkeye offensive linemen who played at least 40 snaps earned pass blocking grades above 80 percent against Minnesota.

The Hawkeyes have outrushed their opponents in seven of the team’s eight games and have 200 or more rushing yards in four of their eight games.

Jones’ protection along with the rest of the line has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski become a rushing threat. Gronowski rushed for a touchdown against Minnesota, marking the eighth straight game with a rushing score that is a Big Ten single season record for the most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown by a quarterback. His 11 rushing scores this season tie Wilburn Hollis for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in program history.

Iowa has a proud history with the Outland Trophy with four former winners and two previous finalists. Its last finalist was the player Jones replaced as the starting center, Tyler Linderbaum in 2021. Hawkeye defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon was also a finalist in 2020. Iowa’s last Outland Trophy winner was offensive tackle Brandon Scherff in 2014.

The recipient of the 2025 Outland Trophy will be announced Dec. 12. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award.

The Outland Trophy, celebrating 80 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

The Hawkeyes are idle this weekend. Iowa will host nationally-ranked Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 8.

It will be a rematch of last year’s Big-12 Championship Game on Saturday when Iowa State hosts Arizona State this weekend. Both teams are 5-3 overall and coming off home losses. The Sun Devils had a late rally fall short in a loss to Houston while the Cyclones dropped a 41-27 decision to conference co-leader BYU. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham.

The Sun Devils beat the Cyclones 45-19 in last year’s title contest.

Dillingham on the similarities between the two teams.

The Tri-Center Girls Cross Country have qualified for the state meet after placing second at ACGC State Qualifying meet. The Trojans finished with a team score of 47, which was five points behind Newell-Fonda. Tri-Center had three finishers in the top 13, and Head Coach Lexi Cochran was very happy with her team’s performance.

Sophomores Reese Dittmer, Jillian Budge, and Hadley Divelbess along with Freshman Brielle Kramer set PRs in Guthrie Center. Cochran says it’s the underclassmen that bring the firepower for this year’s group.

Tri-Center believes the course Saturday will run fast.

The message is to treat this meet like any other one.

The Class 1A Girl’s race is scheduled for 2 P.M. on Saturday. We’ll have coverage throughout the day on KJAN from the state meet in Fort Dodge Friday and Saturday.