Iowa’s defense has been susceptible to the big play and that will need to change on Saturday at third ranked Ohio State. The Buckeyes big play offense is averaging nearly 49 points in a 4-0 start.

That’s Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins who says the goal is to make the Buckeyes put together multiple play drives.

Higgins says the game is a challenge for the team and him as an individual.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa has moved its 2025 football game with Florida Atlantic to 2030 and added the University of Albany. The announcement was made Monday by the UI Athletics Department.

The Hawkeyes will open the 2025 season hosting the University of Albany on Aug. 30, while welcoming Florida Atlantic to Kinnick Stadium on Aug. 31, 2030.

In 2025, Iowa will host Albany (Aug. 30), UMass (Sept. 13), Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon and Penn State, and travel to Iowa State (Sept. 6), Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Dates for the 2025 conference schedule will be announced later this fall.

In 2026, Iowa will entertain Northern Illinois (Sept. 5), Iowa State (Sept. 12), Northern Iowa (Sept. 19), Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin, and travel to Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Washington.

Other known future nonconference opponents and dates include Ball State (Sept. 4) and at Iowa State (Sept. 11) in 2027; hosting Western Michigan on Sept. 16, 2028; Northern Illinois on Sept. 15, 2029; and Florida Atlantic on Aug. 31, 2030.

2025
Albany (Aug. 30)
at Iowa State (Sept. 6)
UMass (Sept. 13)

2026
Northern Illinois (Sept. 5)
Iowa State (Sept. 12)
UNI (Sept. 19)

2027
Ball State (Sept. 4)
at Iowa State (Sept. 11)

2028
Western Michigan (Sept. 16)

2029
Northern Illinois (Sept. 15)

2030
Florida Atlantic (Aug. 31)

The Exira-EHK Spartans Cross Country teams are feeling very good about their standing heading into the last weeks of the season. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have multiple runners in the top 10 in the Rolling Valley conference with four meets remaining.

For the boys, they have five of the top 10 best times in the conference. Tim Reinhart, Ben Baggett, Cater Wiemann, and Josiah King have posted the seventh through tenth best times respectively.  Head Coach Kevin Brown is not only pleased with the way they’ve worked but also the way they’ve performed given their youth and inexperience.

Junior Austin Rasmussen has been Exira-EHK’s best runner this season. His best time of 17:43.00 currently ranks second in the conference. In addition to being a leader and helping his team gain five top-10 finishes this year, Brown says Rasmussen has a chance to do special things moving forward.

Unlike the boys, the girls group has been together for quite some time. Most of the girls on the team have been running cross country since middle school.  The Spartans’ girls have two top 10 finishes this year and like the boys have numerous runners with top 15 times. Ruby VanderWal, Gracie Bartz, and Kaitlyn Christensen all rank in the top 15, and Coach Brown knows that their experience has played a key role in their success.

Leading the way for the Exira-EHK girls this season has been the young sophomore Michelle Wilson. She ran her best time of 22:15.33 on September 24th which has her ranked sixth in the conference. Sophomore Leah Boysen isn’t far behind, with her best time of 23:58.71 placing her at seventh. Brown has not only appreciated their work throughout the season but also realized their potential for this season and for years to come.

The Spartans will be in action on Thursday when they compete at IKM-Manning. The meet is scheduled for 4:30 pm.

The Atlantic Cross Country team is looking to continue its history of sending athletes to states with the cross country season winding down. The boys and girls teams have both had multiple top-ten finishes in their last three meets, with the girls finishing in fourth on September 24th while the boys finished ninth on September 19th. Preparing for a race and cutting your time might seem simple. However, Head Coach Daniel Vargason says that each athlete gets their own plan for preparation.

The girls team has been consistently improving throughout the season and has been gaining confidence. Atlantic’s girls have two top 5 finishes this year including a 2nd place finish at Clarinda back in mid-September. Hailey Huffman and Allison Middents have both been able to shave time off their runs while Hailey White, Bella Brock, and Elynor Brummer have all been consistent runners for the Trojans this year. After dealing with some early-season adversity, Vargason appreciates their ability to improve and compete.

Leading the way for the girls this year is the junior Katrina William. Her best time this year of 21:04.00 is currently the 11th best time in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. The difference between her and a spot in the top 10 is just five seconds. Vargason stated that her mindset, confidence, and hard work have allowed her to take off.

The boys team has been a bit of a different story than the girls this year. After struggling out of the gate, Vargason challenged the squad to be better, and they responded. However, where health and numbers were a problem on the girl’s side, the amount of runners on the boy’s side helped push each other to improve.

Luke Irlmier has been the leading runner for the boys team.  His time of 18:34.00 currently ranks 14th in the conference. However, he is less than a minute off of a top 10 place. Vargason says his ability to push himself has been one of Irlmeier’s biggest assets.

Atlantic has just two meets left before the Hawkeye Ten conference meet. They will host their last meet of the regular season on October 10th but are in action on Thursday at Shenandoah with the Boys scheduled at 4 pm with the girls set for 4:30 pm.

Today, Big 12 Conference Deputy Commissioner Tim Weiser announced his retirement following a distinguished 40-plus-year career in college athletics, effective at the end of 2024. Weiser has served as Deputy Commissioner for the Big 12 since 2008, following decades as an Athletic Director at Kansas State (2001-08), Colorado State (1997-01), Eastern Michigan (1993-97) and Austin Peay (1988-93).

“I have been so fortunate to be associated with so many outstanding people through my work in college athletics and will be eternally grateful for the friendships I have made along the way,” said Weiser. “The timing is right for me to begin the next chapter in my journey.”

“Tim has been a tremendous resource since my first day at the Big 12 – I will be forever grateful for his support,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Tim will always be a part of the Big 12 family, and I look forward to our continued friendship.”

In addition to his role as Deputy Athletic Director, Weiser served the college athletics community in a variety of capacities, including two stints as chair of the Division I Baseball Committee, along with being appointed to the NCAA’s Championships / Competition Cabinet. Weiser also formerly served as the president of the D1A Athletics Directors Association (now known as FBS ADA).

Throughout Weiser’s tenure at the Conference, the Big 12 has won 57 team national championships and has grown into a 16-team league that spans ten states and four time zones.

Weiser will continue to serve as a consultant to Commissioner Yormark and the Big 12, providing strategic counsel on special projects and initiatives.

The Great Bend, Kansas native received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Emporia State, where he also played on the baseball team. He is a member of the Great Bend High School Hall of Fame and the Emporia State Hall of Fame.

Drake coach Todd Stepsis says great teams find a way to win and that is what the Bulldogs did last week in a 30-28 victory over San Diego. Drake squandered a 27-9 fourth quarter lead before putting together a late drive that resulted in a game winning 48-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

It was Drake’s 12th straight Pioneer Football League victory dating back to 2021. Nine of them have been by a touchdown or less.

The Bulldogs are on the road in the PFL on Saturday to take on Valparaiso. Drake edged the Beacons 20-14 last year in Des Moines.

The Big 12 will join forces with the Kansas City Sports Commission to host the Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional during the 2027 NCAA Tournament at the T-Mobile Center.

With the 2027 selection, the Big 12 has had 18 opportunities to host Men’s March Madness since the Conference began competition in 1997. It was previously announced that the Conference would host NCAA First and Second Rounds at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City in 2026 plus the 2030 NCAA Men’s Final Four at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Most recently, the Conference hosted the 2024 NCAA South Regional at the American Airlines Center. The Big 12 last hosted the Big Dance in Kansas City during the 2023 Midwest Regional, also playing at the longtime host site of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.

Big 12 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Host History
2001 Kansas City, Mo (Kemper Arena), First/Second Rounds
2002 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), First/Second Rounds
2003 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center), First/Second Rounds
2004 Kansas City, Mo. (Kemper Arena), First/Second Rounds
2005 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center), First/Second Rounds
2006 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), First/Second Rounds
2009 Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center), First/Second Rounds
2010 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center), First/Second Rounds
2013 Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), South Regional
2014 Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), Men’s Final Four
2016 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Chesapeake Energy Arena), First/Second Rounds
2017 Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center), Midwest Regional
2018 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), First/Second Rounds
2023 Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center), Midwest Regional
2024 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), South Regional
2026 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Paycom Center), First/Second Rounds
2027 Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center), Midwest Regional
2030 Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), Men’s Final Four

Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson will be returning to his home state when the Hawkeyes visit third ranked Ohio State. The native of Hamilton, Ohio has tallied 685 yards through four games and was not recruited by the Buckeyes while in high school.

Johnson is trying not to pay attention to all the publicity he is receiving.

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara says the Hawkeye offense needs to find a way to sustain drives against a Buckeye defense that is giving up less than seven points per game.

McNamara says these are games you dream about growing up.

Iowa is 10th in the country by averaging 250 yards of rushing per game. Hawkeye guard Connor Colby.

Colby says running the football will be imperative against the Buckeye defense.

Iowa tight end Luke Lachey makes his second trip to Ohio Stadium where he grew up watching games. His father, Jim, was an All-American offensive lineman for the Buckeyes before embarking on a lengthy NFL career. Lachey talks about the memories he had growing up.

His favorite memory in Ohio Stadium occurred when he was a freshman in high school.

Early in his high school career Lachey did not know if he would one day play in Ohio Stadium.

Iowa State defensive tackle JR Singleton says the Cyclones are enjoying the national attention they are receiving but have kept their focus on Saturday’s game against Baylor. The 16th ranked Cyclones are 4-0 for the first time since 2000 and part of the early playoff projections heading into a prime time “white out” in Jack Trice Stadium.

The Cyclone defense ranks fourth in the country by giving up just over seven points per game and Singleton says the Cyclone run defense will be tested by Baylor.

Singleton says the ISU defense is playing with a lot of confidence right now.

The Cyclones have been winning the turnover battle. They are a plus-seven through four games.

Free safety Jeremiah Cooper says the Cyclones are keeping all the national recognition in perspective.

Iowa State’s secondary has been dominant this season and has already intercepted seven passes.

Cooper says the Cyclone defense will be challenged by Baylor.