Iowa State’s defense faces a difficult challenge on Friday when the Cyclones play Memphis in the Liberty Bowl. Memphis averaged better than 452 yards of offense in posting a 9-3 regular season record. Cyclone defensive lineman J.R. Singleton.

Singleton says a win would help the Cyclones build momentum for next season.

The Cyclones won their final four road games of the regular season and that will good prep for taking on the home team in Memphis.

That’s junior defensive back Myles Purchase who says Memphis has big play potential.

It will be Tennessee’s high flying offense against Iowa’s stingy defense in the Citrus Bowl on New Years Day. The Volunteers average more than 450 yards and 31 points per game while the Hawkeye defense ranks fourth in the country by giving up just over 13 points per game. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel.

Heupel says the Hawkeyes to a good job of limiting big plays.

The game will also serve as a homecoming for Heupel, who served three seasons as the head coach at Central Florida in Orlando and posted a record of 28-8.

Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel says the Cyclones want to finish the season with a victory. The Cyclones take a 7-5 record into Friday’s Liberty Bowl against Memphis.

Noel says the Cyclones view the game as a chance to build momentum for next season.

With Cartevious Norton and Eli Sanders in the transfer portal freshman Abu Sama rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns in a win at Kansas State. He will get the bulk of the work against Memphis.

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says his rotation could expand when senior forward Hason Ward returns from a foot injury. The Cyclones have been using a seven-man rotation recently and take a 10-2 record into a New Years Eve game against New Hampshire.*

Otzelberger says the rotation is always a work in progress.

Iowa safety Sebastian Castro says opting out of a bowl game has never been an option for him. The Hawkeyes play Tennessee on New Years Day in the Citrus Bowl and Castro is weighing his options as he looks at returning next season or entering the NFL Draft.

Castro says one thing to consider is now much another year in college will help him.

Castro has until-mid-January to make a decision and right now he is just trying to get ready for Tennessee.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Okoboji Winter Games start a month from today (Monday) in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Outdoor events include flag football and a keg toss. There are indoor events, like bowling and a cribbage tournament. Blain Andera with the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce says there’s a chance to be a cheerleader, too.

“Traveling around to all of the events and stuff January 25-28 for the 44th annual University of Okoboji Winter Games,” he says. Three brothers created a crest for the fictional University of Okoboji in the 1970s and it’s now marketed as a mythical, yet fun campus in the Iowa Great Lakes. Cheerleader nominations for the University of Okoboji Winter Games are being accepted through December 31st.

The Iowa Lakes Chamber of Commerce will host voting online and at the chamber office in early January. Andera says eight cheer squad members will be elected. “A ready smile, enthusiasm for all our U of O campus has to offer and just a sincere desire to give their time and talent to enhance the area,” he says. The University of Okoboji Winter Games typically attract 40-thousand visitors and participants.

Registration for most of the competitive events closes January, 22nd, but some events have a limited number of teams or individuals and those will fill up early.

Sunday’s Scores:

Detroit Lions 30, Minnesota Vikings 24

Cleveland Browns 36, Houston Texans 22

Green Bay Packers 33, Carolina Panthers 30

Seattle Seahawks 20, Tennessee Titans 17

Atlanta Falcons 29, Indianapolis Colts 10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, Jacksonville Jaguars  12

Miami Dolphins 22, Dallas Cowboys 20

Chicago Bears 27, Arizona Cardinals 16

New England Patriots 26, Denver Broncos 23

TODAY’S GAMES (12/25):

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (Pre-game on KJAN at 11-a.m., Kick-0ff at Noon)

NY Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 3:30-p.m.

Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers, 7:15-p.m.

Saturday’s college football scoreboard (12/23/23); Schedule for 12/26:

(Eddyville, Iowa) – The Atlantic Trojan wrestlers were 1-3 and had three 4-0 performances, Saturday, at the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (EBF) Tournament. Scores:

Atlantic 41, I-35 36

Des Moines East 51, Atlantic 40

EBF 51, Atlantic 28

Mediapolis 48, Atlantic 36.

Jayden Harter (132) pinned all four opponents at the Tournament. Aiden Smith (126) won by fall, earned a Tech Fall, a Major Decision, and won a match by forfeit. Taye Jordan (106) finished the day with a 4-0 record. The senior posted two pins and twice won by forfeit.

Collin Harris (106), Braxton Hass (120), and Cohen Bruce went 3-1. Harris posted two pins and won by a forfeit. Hass pinned two of his opponents and won by forfeit in the other. Cohen Bruce, wrestling at (190) and (215), posted two falls and a Major Decision.

Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker considers the Broyles Award a team accomplishment. Parker was named college football’s top assistant coach after a season in which the defense carried the Hawkeyes to a 10-3 record and a Big Ten west division crown.

Iowa finished the season ranked fifth in the country in total defense and fourth in scoring defense.

Parker traveled to the ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas, following a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten championship game.

The Hawkeyes are getting ready to play Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl on New Years Day.