IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — C.J. Beathard threw for 211 yards and a touchdown in his first career start at Kinnick Stadium and Iowa pounded Illinois State 31-14 on Saturday. Beathard also ran for two touchdowns, and LeShun Daniels, Jr. had 123 yards rushing for the Hawkeyes in their opener.

Iowa held the FCS Redbirds to just 231 yards — roughly half of what they averaged per game last season. Iowa raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead and pushed it to 31-0 on Beathard’s 1-yard plunge midway through the fourth quarter. Jake Kolbe had 147 yards passing and two meaningless late TDs for Illinois State.