Today, the Big 12 Conference announced that three-time Grammy-award winning artist Nelly will perform at halftime of the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship game. Nelly will be joined by the marching bands of both participating teams. Additional entertainment and fan experience enhancements for the Football Championship game will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to announce Nelly will be joining our school’s marching bands to perform at the first-ever Big 12 Football Championship halftime show,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark. “The Big 12 is committed to living at the intersection of sports and culture and introducing Championship enhancements that are best in class.”

Nelly is no stranger to the gridiron – the nine-time Billboard Music Award-winner has performed in the halftime shows of Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XXXVIII. Additionally, Nelly performed at halftime of the 2022 NFL Divisional Playoff matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, and made his acting debut in the 2005-remake of “The Longest Yard”.

Last Saturday, tickets went on sale for the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship. New for this year, tickets are available across nine price levels ranging from $99-$350. They can be purchased online only via SeatGeek at https://big12.us/3i564VW.

The 2023 Big 12 Football Championship Game will kickoff at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, December 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Today, we continue our preview of the upcoming Big Ten football season with a 14-team preview over 14 weekdays. Tanner Hoops previews the 2023 Maryland Terrapins:

Tomorrow, we will preview Michigan State.

The University of Iowa women’s soccer team open the 2023-24 Hawkeye athletics season on Thursday at Pickering Field in Fort Myers, Florida, when Iowa takes on Florida Gulf Coast starting at 6 p.m. (CT).  Iowa opens its home slate on Sunday at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Admission is free to all home soccer games.

WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE

• Thursday’s match will stream on ESPN+. Sunday’s contest will stream on BTN+. Subscriptions required for both platforms.
• Links to streaming and live stats can be found at hawkeyesports.com/soccergameday.
• Fans can follow the Iowa soccer program on Twitter (@HawkeyeSoccer) for live in-game updates.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• Florida Gulf Coast (FGCU) posted a 12-6-2 overall record in 2022 and finished 8-1-1 in home matches. The Eagles allowed just eight goals in 10 contests at Pickering Field last season.
• Junior Ashley Labbe returns a team-best 16 points and six goals for FGCU; the Eagles have offensive firepower to replace, with the loss of three of their top four offensive producers (combined 48 points).
• The Eagles also look to replace goalkeeper Kate Sullivan, who started all 20 games.
• FGCU advanced to NCAA Tournament play with an upset over top-seeded Liberty in the ASUN Championship game.

SERIES HISTORY – FLORIDA GULF COAST

The Hawkeyes and Eagles square off for the first time in program history on Thursday.

SCOUTING THE ROOS

Kansas City finished 2-11-5 overall last season.

• All 2022 goal-scorers return for the Roos this season; forward Madison Page is back after leading the Roos in points (11) and goals (5) last fall.
• Goalkeepers Mackenzie Caldwell and Riley Moore also return after splitting duties in 2022.

SERIES HISTORY – KANSAS CITY

Iowa won the first meeting between the two schools, 2-0, on the road in 2021.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Head coach Dave DiIanni is in his 10th season at the helm of the Iowa women’s soccer program. Last fall, the Hawkeyes were 5-6-7 overall with a 2-3-5 Big Ten record, a few points shy of conference postseason qualification. Iowa returns eight players with at least three years of collegiate playing experience, including seventh-year player Josie Durr and fifth-year Samantha Cary, who was a captain last fall. Cary helps lockdown a Hawkeye defense that has averaged just one goal allowed per game over the past two seasons while posting 13 clean sheets during that span.
• Many of those veterans played for Iowa during its Cinderella-run in the 2020-21 postseason, which saw a two-win regular season result in the first Big Ten Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament win in school history. One such player is redshirt junior Meike Ingles, who scored all four of her goals that year in the postseason, including three game-winners during the Big Ten Tournament.
• Another headliner is junior Elle Otto, whose three goals, five assists and 11 points last season are returning team-bests.
• Senior Macy Enneking returns in goal. Enneking enters the year tied for seventh on the Hawkeye career wins chart with 13 collegiate victories. She is also tied for sixth in program history for career shutouts (9).
• Iowa welcomes 16 newcomers, including 13 freshmen and three transfers.
• Cary, Enneking and Ingles were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List.
• Cary, Enneking, and senior Maggie Johnston were voted team captains for the 2023 season.

LAST WEEK

Iowa concluded a pair of exhibition games at South Dakota and Drake. The road friendlies provided travel experience and the opportunity to play in front of Hawkeye fans in Des Moines.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

The Hawkeyes are led by a veteran core that spans the pitch.

• Along with midfielder Josie Durr (7^th-Year) and defender Samantha Cary (5^th-Year), the senior class includes Macy Enneking (GK), Rielee Fetty (M), Kelli McGroarty (F/M) and Maggie Johnston (F/M).
• Redshirt juniors Meike Ingles (F) and Zoë Bessert (F) are also entering their fourth seasons.
• All together, the group of eight players entering their fourth season have totaled 236 career starts for the Hawkeyes. Five more juniors round out the Iowa upper class.

FRESH FACES

The Hawkeyes welcome 16 newcomers, including 13 incoming freshmen and three transfers.

• The freshmen class features Ava Kenaan (F), Sophie Kincaid (F), Sofia Bush (M), Sammi Glover (D), Eva Pattison (D), Emma Hampton (D), Sonya Mehta (M), Erika Smiley (M/D), Keira Smyser (F/D), Millie Greer (M), Kearstyn Gladden (D), Abby Skiff (M) and Kassidy Lanthier (GK).
• Iowa also welcomes three transfers in sophomore forward Shae Doherty, sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Kane and senior midfielder Kelli McGroarty.
• In 2021, McGroarty led La Salle in goals (3), shots (46) and shots on goal (24).
• Kane (Pamona-Pitzer) and Doherty (Belmont) each had successful rookie outings, combing 21 starts and 35 games played as freshmen.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says there is not a lack of candidates to become Iowa State’s starting running back. Cyclone senior and expected starter Jirehl Brock was charged in connection to a gambling investigation and has not practiced in fall camp.

As he said in the previous cut it could be tailback by committee.

While there is lack of experience at that spot Campbell says there is not a lack of talent.

Iowa State opens at home on September second against UNI.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three University of Iowa soccer players were named Big Ten Players to Watch on Tuesday. The preseason honors are firsts for goalkeeper Macy Enneking and forward Meike Ingles, while veteran defender Samantha Cary receives her fourth conference preseason recognition of her career.

Redshirt junior, Ingles last saw the pitch during the 2021 season, logging 431 minutes across five starts and eight games played. She scored each of her three goals that season with a hat-trick during Iowa’s, 3-2, victory over Illinois.

As a freshman, Ingles was named Big Ten Tournament Offensive MVP for her contributions to the Cinderella-run that saw Iowa win its first conference tournament championship in program history. All four of her goals that season came during the postseason, with the first three being game-winners during Big Ten Tournament play. Ingles’ fourth goal was scored against No. 3 UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.

Enneking, a senior from Hilliard, Ohio, is already one of the winningest goalkeepers in Iowa history heading into her final season, ranking seventh in the Hawkeye record book with 13 career victories. Enneking is also sixth in program history for career shutouts (9), tied with Monica Wilhelm ’22, with whom she shared responsibilities in goal each of the past three seasons.

In 2022, Enneking made seven starts with 30 saves, a .833 save percentage and allowed just 0.86 goals per game.

Cary leads a Hawkeye defense that allowed just one goal per game each of the past two seasons, including 13 clean sheets during that span. She has made 74 career starts since the 2019 season for the Hawkeyes.

Offensively, Cary has netted four goals and has 16 points in the black and gold. She recorded one goal and one assist last fall.

The Hawkeyes kick off the season at Florida Gulf Coast University on Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required). Iowa’s home opener vs. Kansas City is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) on Sunday at the Iowa Soccer Complex. That contest will be streamed on BTN+.

An influx of experience may help Iowa’s offensive line make strides this season. Once a strength of the team that unit has been a liability as the offense has struggled the past two years. Transfers Daijon Parker from Saginaw Valley State and Rusty Feth from Miami of Ohio are competing for playing time this fall.

That’s offensive line coach George Barnett says the transfers have added depth up front.

Barnett says Mason Richman at left tackle and Logan Jones at center are two of the established spots.

Richman enters his third season as a starter and says there is a sense of urgency getting ready for the season.

Richman says added experience is a plus this season.

With so much experience returning from last season Richman says the expectations are high.

Iowa opens at home on September second against Utah State.

Today, we continue our preview of the upcoming Big Ten football season with a 14-team preview over 14 weekdays. Tanner Hoops previews the 2023 Indiana Hoosiers:

Tomorrow, we will preview Maryland.

BARCELONA, Spain – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team defeated the Barcelona All-Stars on Monday, 106-79, to sweep its overseas tour.

Iowa was challenged out of the gate, with the host squad sprinting out to a 32-24 lead after the first quarter behind multiple three-point baskets and early Hawkeye foul trouble. The Hawkeyes turned the tide early in the second quarter, grabbing the lead at 36-35 following a barrage of three-pointers from sophomore Josh Dix. After a back-and-forth second quarter, the Hawkeyes trailed 56-52 at the break.

The third quarter featured a 10-2 run to start, with junior Payton Sandfort knocking down a pair of triples. Fifth-year Ben Krikke took control of the game in the heart of the quarter, scoring nine points in the frame. The Hawkeyes outscored Barcelona 28-11 in the third and built an 80-63 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Iowa would maintain the offensive efficiency and defensive intensity without fouling to put the finishing touches on the win.

The Hawkeyes had seven scorers reach double-figures. The trio of Sandfort, Krikke, and sophomore Dasonte Bowen scored 16 points. Sandfort registered another double-double with 14 rebounds. Krikke filled his stat line with eight rebounds and five assists. Bowen was a force from the free-throw line, knocking down eight of nine from behind the charity stripe. Dix and senior Tony Perkins had identical lines of 14 points and five assists. The freshmen duo of Brock Harding and Owen Freeman rounded out the Hawkeyes in double figure scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

As a team, Iowa shot 48.1% from the floor and hit 13 shots from behind the three-point line. The Hawkeyes had 26 assists on 39 made baskets and only turned the ball over 10 times. The defensive intensity appeared on the scoresheet in the form of 10 steals.

The Hawkeyes finish the overseas trip outscoring opponents by an average of 116-79. Iowa returns to the United States and will now prepare for the regular season.

Fans can stay updated via hawkeyesports.com and @IowaHoops social media channels for regular season information.

Foreign Trip Results
August 8 vs. Paris (FRA) All-Stars W, 123-77
August 11 vs. Valencia (ESP) All-Stars W, 119-83
August 14 vs. Barcelona (ESP) All-Stars W, 106-79

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior Mira Emma realizes that she’s in a fortunate situation. A fifth-year senior and three-time captain of the Iowa State soccer program, Emma is “everything and more that a coach could ask for,” according to head coach Matt Fannon.

Across her five years in Ames, Emma has led teammates both on and off the field while also exploring her passions in both community service and horticulture and turfgrass management.

An Iowa State soccer staple, Emma has played in all 65 possible matches leading into her super senior season, starting 58 of them. She’s a proven contributor who’s done it over the span of four seasons. Yet, she still finds it humbling to see the support from those within the program.

“It’s really cool to have my teammates, support staff, coaches and everyone who is involved be able to look at me as an inspiration,” said Emma. “Everything that I do every single day is to make sure that other people can reach their full potential. My goal as a leader is to never let them down.”

Mira is a true team player in the sense that she would rather talk about her teammates than herself. More specifically, she had nothing but praise for her former teammate and best friend, Jordan Silkowitz. Silkowitz was ISU’s goalkeeper for the past three seasons and was drafted into the NWSL this past January.

“I could talk about Jordan for probably two days straight,” she starts. “She’s hands down my best friend and is one of the best things that has come out of Iowa State to me.”

Emma continued her admiration for Silkowitz, claiming that Jordan “came in and absolutely raised the level of soccer and raised this program. It’s hard to put into words what she’s done here. Her work ethic, determination and grit are out of this world. That’s why you can obviously see all the accolades that she’s gotten, reaching the NWSL level and chasing her dreams.”

Emma’s captaincy extends far beyond the field for the Cyclones, as the Wheaton, Illinois native is often tasked with helping plan team outings which can range from bowling to team nights; however, her favorite way to spend time with her team off the field is within the community.

“Community service is something that I pride myself in and I hope others can pride themselves in too,” said Emma. “The warm feeling that it gives you to truly help out others and make their lives better is something that’s hard to make out of nothing.”

Emma’s favorite community service initiative came this past summer when she was fortunate enough to participate in what she described as a “life-changing experience.”

Mira, three soccer teammates and ten other Iowa State student-athletes volunteered for a service trip to Costa Rica in conjunction with Courts for Kids. The Courts for Kids organization works within communities to build sports courts, offering safe places for children to play and other benefits.

“Just seeing how genuine you can make relationships in such a short period of time with people you’d just met was the highlight of the trip,” said Emma. “They were the happiest people ever. It makes you think about the little things we take for granted. Do I need this, or do I want this?”

Emma’s biggest takeaway from the trip is a new mindset. One she describes as “having intentionality in everything that I do.” She continues, “Being intentional with your actions, your words and relationships are all important because you never know when they’re going to be gone.”

Mira couldn’t mention the Costa Rica service trip without giving thanks to the event’s organizer, Lindsey Long. “She has helped develop me as a student-athlete and showed me how to develop networking skills. Lindsey helps make the athletic experience here at Iowa State the best it can be.”

Another passion of Emma’s is her line of work – horticulture and turfgrass management. Mira initially had Iowa State listed as one of her primary college options coming out of high school because it offered exactly the field of study she was interested in. A scholarship opportunity to play soccer as a Cyclone was the icing on the cake.

“Before I even started (as a player), my academic advisor, Adam Thoms, in the horticulture department called me and said I have a job lined up for you,” said Emma. “I had a job instantly (when I got on campus). Within a week, I was working 7-4. Workouts at 6 am, go straight to work for eight hours. Maintaining fields, mowing, weed-eating, painting and making sure football has the equipment they needed out there.”

Though Emma plays soccer for the Cyclones, she says her preferred athletic field to manage is actually baseball.

“I grew up playing baseball for seven years and I’ve always had a passion for the game,” said Emma. “As much as I love soccer, I would always show up early at baseball practice and stay late to make sure the infield was dragged, that the dirt was perfect.”

Being an Illinois native, Mira grew up a Cubs fan and has followed the team since childhood. During soccer media day, a question was posed to all players, “What is your dream job?” Emma answered: being the head groundskeeper of the Chicago Cubs.

Fast forward to the summer after her junior campaign and she had an internship with the Cubs and their field management department. The organization had seen her media day answer make the rounds on social media and reached out to her regarding a potential summer connection.

“It was so surreal. That’s my dream job, to be an MLB groundskeeper – the head groundskeeper of the Chicago Cubs. It’s pretty crazy how social media worked in such a positive way.”

Emma continued, “Without Adam (Thoms), I wouldn’t have had the opportunity with the Cubs, as he was the one who helped put me in contact with them. My experiences also wouldn’t have been possible without Barb Clawson. She’s the student services director who oversees the horticulture department and helped me get my first job in athletics at Iowa State.”

This past summer, Emma was able to gain more valuable internship experience as she worked at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, which houses both the Louisville City FC (USL) and Racing Louisville FC (NWSL).

Mira says that her experience with Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC was a completely different experience from the Cubs. “Baseball is more dealing with dirt/not working specifically with grass all the time,” she states. “Where soccer, it’s all grass and you’ve got to make sure it’s right.”

In Louisville, Emma was able to work under Iowa State graduate Aaron Fink, the head groundskeeper of the soccer clubs. Fink was named the 2022 Groundskeeper of the Year by the USL.

So, in total, Emma has experience with Iowa State athletics, the Chicago Cubs and a pair of professional soccer clubs.

“My experiences at Iowa State were the foundation that I built upon with the Cubs and then from there, I was able to learn more and tie it together at Louisville,” said Emma. “So, it was really cool to see the stepping stones over the past four years that I’ve learned.”

Mira and the Cyclone soccer team will begin their regular season on Thursday, August 17, at the Cyclone Soccer Complex against future Big 12 opponent Arizona. Thursday’s match is set to begin at 6 p.m. and admission to Iowa State home matches is free.