The 14th ranked Iowa Hawkeye women used a late 14-1 run to take command in an 86-76 win over 20th ranked Nebraska, Thursday. Sophomore guard Chit Chat Wright led the Hawkeyes with 24 points.

That’s Iowa coach Jan Jensen. Senior forward Hannah Stuelke had 21 points, 10 rebounds and was seven-of-seven at the line.

The Hawkeyes are 3-0 in the Big Ten.

A new challenge begins for the third ranked Iowa State men as they open Big-12 play at home on Friday night against West Virginia. The Cyclones enter league play with a record of 13-0.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger, who says the Cyclones are thrilled with the chance to open conference play at home.

West Virginia is 9-4 under first year coach Ross Hodge and the Mountaineers hang their hat on defense.

Otzelberger feels the leadership on the team has taken a step forward since Christmas break and feels good about their ability to handle the grind of a conference race.

After one game shy of the state tournament a season ago for the ACGC Boys’ Basketball team, the Chargers are experiencing some growing pains early in the season. ACGC is currently 2-4 on the year and have multiple freshmen coming off the bench and seeing valuable minutes. Head Coach Lance Kading says gaining experience is key for these underclassmen.

The Chargers lost three all-conference seniors last year in Payton Policky, Noah Kading and Jathan South, but ACGC does return the veteran leadership of seniors Joe Crawford and Thomas Skram. Both players are averaging roughly 17 points a game.

Kading says the team can improve in multiple areas in the game.

ACGC resumes their season on January 6th at Des Moines Christian.

The Iowa Hawkeyes finally broke through against a rated foe, Wednesday afternoon.

Gary Dolphin on the Hawkeye Network. The 23rd ranked Hawkeyes built a 21-3 advantage midway through the third quarter them held off a furious rally by 14th ranked Vanderbilt for a 34-27 win at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa. The Hawkeyes snapped a 15-game losing skid to ranked opponents.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 54 yards and a score in being named the game’s most valuable player.

Iowa loses 27 seniors from this year’s team, including three members of a standout offensive line.

Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea says the Commodores made too many mistakes and the Hawkeyes made them pay.

The Commodores finish 10-3. It was the school’s first 10-win season.

Gronowski was the key as the Hawkeyes finish 9-4. It is the sixth time they have won nine or more games in the last 10 full seasons.

Iowa outgained Vanderbilt 167-51 on the ground and the offense answered every time the Commodores got to within a score.

Vandy star quarterback Diego Pavia was 25-of-38 for 347 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked five times by the Hawkeyes and senior linebacker Karson Sharar had two of them.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Jimmy Rogers has announced the position coach assistants for his first season with the program.

Rogers previously announced that Jesse Bobbit, his defensive coordinator at Washington State and South Dakota State, will join the Cyclones in the same role.

Bobbit’s group includes three other defensive staffers from Washington State as well as former Toledo Co-Defensive Coordinator Ross Watson.

“I’m thrilled to be able to keep our defensive group together and add Ross Watson to the mix,” Rogers said. “I know what this group is about and have no doubt that their attention to detail, intensity and culture setting will allow us to be competitive from the start.”

The following coaches have agreed to join Rogers’ staff as preparation begins for the 135^th season in program history:

Mike Banks – Cornerbacks – Full Bio

Banks played a key role in helping Washington State’s defense rank among the nation’s Top 15 teams in passing defense, allowing just 174.4 passing yards per game. The University Park, Illinois native also worked with Rogers at South Dakota State in a similar capacity with the 2024 Jackrabbit defense finishing fifth in FCS in total defense and registering 14 interceptions. He helped develop First Team All-American Dalys Beanum in 2024, while on the other side Colby Humphrey was a second team all-conference pick. He also spent time at his alma mater, Illinois State, and produced another All-American while the Redbirds made the FCS Playoffs twice, including the quarterfinals in 2019.

Jalon Bibbs – Defensive Line – Full Bio

Bibbs has worked alongside Rogers at both Washington State and South Dakota State and helped form those defenses into two of the best nationally at their respective levels. His defensive linemen helped Washington State compile 31 sacks last season, while being outstanding in specialty situations. The Cougars ranked seventh nationally in fourth down conversion defense (.333) and 11th in red zone defense (.727). Defensive end Isaac Terrell had seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss and was the nation’s 19^th-ranked edge defender by PFF during the regular season. The Phoenix, Arizona native was on SDSU’s staff in 2023 during the Jacks’ FCS National Championship run. In his two seasons at SDSU, seven of eight starting defensive linemen earned all-conference accolades, while one was an All-American and another a freshman All-American.

Pete Menage – Safeties – Full Bio

Menage joins the Cyclone coaching staff after being on Rogers’ staff at both Washington State and South Dakota State as safeties coach. The 2025 Washington State squad allowed just 20.2 points per game, including just 12.7 points over the course of the season’s final eight regular season games. He was in charge of the same position group at SDSU when the team won the 2023 FCS National Championship and reached the semifinals in 2024. The Rock Rapids, Iowa native’s safety group intercepted 14 passes in his two-year stint with the Jackrabbits.

Ross Watson – SAM Linebackers/Nickelbacks/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator – Full Bio

Watson, a Youngstown, Ohio native, spent the last 10 seasons at Toledo, serving as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Rockets since 2020. His 2025 defense had nine players honored as All-MAC selections, including his two starting safeties Braden Awls and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, both first-team picks. The 2025 Rockets ranked third nationally in total defense (247.8 ypg), while also finishing top five in passing efficiency, tackles for loss and red zone defense. In 10 seasons at UT, the team reached nine bowl games and won the MAC in 2017.

The Atlantic Boys Basketball team is seeking to have a stronger second half of the season after a 2-5 start to the 2025-2026 campaign. Heading into the break, the Trojans are facing a three-game skid. Head Coach Dalton Franken says he’s looking for more full game efforts as the season continues.

Franken sees the improvements that need to be made, especially in key areas.

The Trojans are led by the senior duo of Gavin McLaren and Kale Jensen who are both averaging at least 10 points a game. Franken says those two have been leading heavily both on and off the floor.

Atlantic continues their season Friday, January 2nd in Shenandoah.

The 23rd ranked Iowa Hawkeyes will play 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Wednesday. It will be Iowa’s sixth appearance in the game that used to be known as the Outback Bowl.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who feels the Hawkeyes have had a good week of practice.

The chore for the Hawkeye defense is to contain Vanderbilt quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, who is the nation’s top dual threat.

Ferentz says Pavia is a big play threat on every snap.

Vanderbilt is 10-2 and narrowly missed a spot in the college football playoff. Commodore coach Clark Lea has led his Alma mater to its first ever 10-win season.

Lea says his team is looking forward to the challenge.

The Hawkeyes are 8-4. It will be an 11 o’clock kickoff in Raymond James Stadium.

AMES, Iowa – Head coach Jimmy Rogers has announced the new members of his support staff for his first season at Iowa State. All hirings are pending completion of background checks.

At his hiring press conference, Rogers announced that his chief of staff would be Jon Shaeffer, who has worked the last 13 years alongside Iowa State’s new coach. In his role, Shaeffer will assist Rogers in off-field tasks, including scheduling and travel logistics.

Rogers also previously announced that Ricky Ciccone would serve as general manager for the program. Ciccone assisted Rogers in building a roster last season at Washington State that had 75 newcomers but still managed to finish the season 7-6 overall and won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Rogers announced 10 additional support staff members that have joined the program and will assist in program roster building and logistics.

Tony Calcutta – Director of Recruiting

Ricky Ciccone – General Manager

Leon Douglas – Director of Player Development

Kris Kracht – Head of Player Performance & Culture

Andy Lucas – Director of Recruiting Communications

Nick Meltz – Recruiting Operations Assistant

Alex Self – Director of Player Personnel

Jon Shaeffer – Chief of Staff

Nicole Vuncanon – Director of On-Campus Recruiting

Bailey Wright – Director of Creative

The 23rd ranked Iowa football team will get a final chance to beat a ranked opponent when the Hawkeyes take on 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Wednesday. Iowa is 8-4 in a season of near misses. The four losses were to rated foes by a total of 15 points.

That’s Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski. In an era of bowl game opt outs the Hawkeyes have had none.

Gronowski’s counterpart in this game will be Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. The Heisman Trophy runner-up has passed for nearly 32 hundred yards and rushed for more than 800.

Against a team that averages nearly 40 points per game the Hawkeyes will need to score a lot to have a chance. Gronowski says the Commodore defense will try to confuse them.

A disciplined pass rush will be a key on Wednesday when the 23rd ranked Iowa Hawkeyes play 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa. Not only has Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia passed for nearly 32 hundred yards but his ability to scramble leads to big plays. Iowa defensive end Max Llewellyn.

Iowa has played against Heisman Trophy winner Francisco Mendoza from Indiana and Oregon’s Dante Moore. Llewellyn says Pavia is a unique challenge.

Llewellyn on the opportunity in front of the Hawkeyes.

Iowa had no opt outs and Llewellyn says they are looking forward to the game.