(Radio Iowa) — Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras says preparation will help him overcome the jitters in his first collegiate start. The Hawkeyes open on Saturday at Purdue.

Petras is not sure what they will see from the Purdue defense. It will be former Hawkeye player Bob Diaco’s first game as Boilermaker defensive coordinator.

It will be an unusual setting with no fans there.

Senior linebacker Nick Niemann says the defense will use some five and six defensive back looks against the Purdue passing attack. Niemann says the Hawkeyes need to find a way to disrupt the timing of the Purdue offense.

With Tristan Wirfs leaving early for the NFL Indiana grad transfer Coy Cronk makes the start at right tackle. His Iowa debut will be in his hometown.

(Radio Iowa) – Two of the top running games in the Big-12 collide on Saturday when 17th ranked Iowa State visits number six Oklahoma State. The Cyclones have averaged 180 yards on the ground in a 3-1 start while the Cowboys have posted a league best 213 yards on the ground in a 3-0 start. Iowa State free safety Lawrence White says sound tackling will be crucial this week.

White is concerned about the big play ability of Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard.

Iowa State has won three straight but White says the mindset has not changed.

Junior center Colin Newell says despite some injuries the offensive line continues to make strides.

Known as a league with a lot of passing and not much defense, Iowa State and Oklahoma State are in contention in the Big-12 because of the run game and solid defense.

Two years ago Purdy made his debut in a Cyclone 48-42 win in Stillwater. Purdy says this is a much better Oklahoma State defense.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State basketball coach Steve Prohm is putting the finishing touches on a 25-game schedule for the upcoming season. The Cyclones announced they will play at Mississippi State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on January 30.

Prohm says ISU does not plan on hosting its own tournament so the schedule will be limited to 25 games.

The Cyclones are looking to bounce back from last year’s 12-20 record.

Prohm says with COVID every team will need to deal with disruptions.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Le’Veon Bell once carried the ball a league-leading 321 times in a single season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He doesn’t figure to get nearly as many chances with the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s just fine with the two-time All-Pro running back, though. Bell has been the focal point of defenses for the majority of his career, whether that was in Pittsburgh or during his short stint with the New York Jets. But now Bell’s on a team with so much offensive firepower that he could only marvel while watching them beat the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. “I was just like,’ This is unbelievable,'” Bell said.

UNDATED (AP) — The game of the week in the Big Ten has No. 18 Michigan at No. 21 Minnesota on Saturday. The Wolverines’ last four seasons have ended with consecutive losses and fans are getting antsy as Jim Harbaugh enters his sixth year. Michigan is breaking in a new quarterback, presumably Joe Milton, in the Little Brown Jug game. Iowa will have a new quarterback for the first time in four years, with Spencer Petras making his starting debut on the road against Purdue. No. 5 Ohio State is a 26-point favorite for its home game against Nebraska.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 17 Iowa State is looking to improve to 4-0 in conference play for the first time in school history _ in any league, not only the Big 12. The Cyclones play at well-rested sixth-ranked Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, who are 2-0 in the Big 12, are coming off consecutive bye weeks after their scheduled open date was followed by their game last Saturday at Baylor being pushed back to December due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Bears program. The Bears are back to play at Texas. No. 20 Kansas State, the only other Big 12 team without a league loss, hosts instate rival Kansas.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A lawsuit says the son of a former University of Nebraska official is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy three years ago. The lawsuit filed Wednesday by the mother of the boy alleges that Jack Eichorst assaulted the victim at a sleepover at the Eichorsts’ home in October 2017. The Omaha World-Herald reports the lawsuit names Jack Eichorst and his parents. It seeks unspecified damages for emotional distress, pain and suffering of the alleged victim, as well reimbursement of medical and mental health counseling bills. Eichorst attorney Vince Powers says the allegations did not happen. Jack Eichorst was convicted of child pornography possession last year.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brandon Lowe (low) homered twice and Tampa Bay hurlers combined for 15 strikeouts in a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lowe was hitting just .107 in 56 postseason at-bats before going deep in the first and fifth innings, helping the Rays even the World Series at a game apiece. Blake Snell no-hit the Dodgers for 4 2/3 innings but was lifted after allowing the next four hitters to reach base, preventing him from picking up the win.