The lead in Class 3A district five is on the line when top ranked Williamsburg visits Solon. Williamsburg coach Curt Ritchie says the raiders will need a big effort.

Ritchie says Solon is a confident team.

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State was picked sixth in the 2023-24 Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll announced by the Conference on Thursday afternoon. The Cyclones were picked behind Texas, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma, all in the top-five.

Iowa State hosts Truman State on November 1 for an exhibition contest before opening the regular season against Butler on November 6 in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones travel to Oklahoma State on December 30 for the Big 12 opener.

The 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship takes place March 7-12 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Big Ten Network today announced the 2023-24 Big Ten men’s ice hockey television schedule, with 28 games appearing on BTN, FS1 and the FOX Sports app. Television coverage includes the semifinals and championship game in the Big Ten Tournament, March 16 and 23.

Action begins Sunday, with a matchup of No. 5 Michigan hosting No. 18 Providence. No. 3 Minnesota makes its network debut on Oct. 26, when taking on Wisconsin at 9 p.m. ET. Additional schedule highlights include a Saturday doubleheader on Jan. 13, as No. 9 Michigan State takes on No. 16 Penn State at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by No. 20 Notre Dame visiting No. 13 Ohio State at 7 p.m. ET. On Feb. 9, No. 16 Penn State will take on No. 3 Minnesota on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, No. 16 Penn State will travel to Minneapolis to take on No. 3 Minnesota, while No. 5 Michigan and No. 9 Michigan State will face off in Little Caesars Arena.

Six Big Ten teams are ranked in the latest edition of the USCHO.com poll, with No. 3 Minnesota, No. 5 Michigan, No. 9 Michigan State, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 16 Penn State and No. 20 Notre Dame leading the way.

All games which do not appear on BTN, with the exception of home games at Notre Dame, will be available for streaming on B1G+, BTN’s home for non-televised events and on-demand archives. Subscription options include a conference hockey pass, which delivers all men’s and women’s ice hockey on B1G+ for $59.99 per year.

Additional coverage includes the return of On The Ice, BTN’s multi-platform, behind-the-scenes look at Big Ten hockey, as well as BTN’s Big Ten ice hockey Instagram page.

The Big Ten Network’s men’s ice hockey schedule is below and is also subject to change.

2023-24 Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Schedule

About The Big Ten Network

A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, Big Ten Network is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 2,200 live events across all platforms, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The Fox Sports App is the digital extension of the Big Ten Network, delivering live games and on-demand programming to Big Ten Network customers via the web, smartphones, and tablets. Network events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events, studio shows and classic games. With over 1,700 events annually, B1G+ is the subscription streaming service for thousands of live non-televised games, next day on-demand archives, 14 school channels programmed 24 hours a day and access to Big Ten Network’s library of previous season classics and original programming. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments from some of the nation’s finest universities, including the Emmy-nominated The Journey. The network is carried by all the major video distributors across the United States and Canada, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon Fios, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum, Cox Contour TV, Mediacom, Astound Broadband and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. Big Ten Network is also available through the majority of streaming providers, including DIRECTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV. For additional information, please visit www.btn.com.

A revamped Iowa offense looks to make progress on Saturday against Purdue. Already without star tight end Luke Lachey the Hawkeyes lost quarterback Cade McNamara to a season ending ACL injury in a win over Michigan State and sophomore Deacon Hill gets his first start against the Boilermakers.

That’s center Logan Jones who says both players will be missed.

Junior running back LeShon Williams says they are ready to rally around Hill.

While the offensive line has gotten its share of the blame for the struggling offense Williams says everyone plays a part in getting it fixed.

Williams says he needs to do a better job.

Work crews are putting the finishing touches on a new stadium on the campus of Drake University. The fourth thousand seat two-tiered Mediacom Stadium is a joint effort between Drake and the Des Moines Public schools. It will serve as the home for football and soccer for the Des Moines high schools as well as the new home for Drake men’s and women’s soccer. Jason Allen is Director of activities for the Des Moines schools.

With no running track it will provide a regulation size pitch for soccer.

Allen says there will be events beyond football and soccer.

For Drake it brings the men’s and women’s soccer programs back on campus for home contests.

That’s Drake AD Brian Hardin who expects the stadium to host more than 100 events each year.

Hardin says the stadium is even better than he thought it would be.

The first football game is next Thursday when Des Moines Roosevelt hosts Waukee. Drake soccer is expected to begin playing in the stadium by the middle of this month.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa’s Big Ten Conference football opponents for the next five seasons (2024-28) were announced Thursday by the Big Ten Conference. Dates for league games will be released at a later date.

In 2024, Iowa will host conference opponents Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes will travel coast-to-coast, playing at Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and UCLA. In nonconference play Iowa hosts Illinois State, Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series and Troy.

In 2025, Iowa’s five league home games include Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon and Penn State. The Hawkeyes travel to Nebraska, Rutgers, USC and Wisconsin. Nonconference contests include Florida Atlantic and Massachusetts visiting Kinnick Stadium and the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game at Iowa State.

The Hawkeyes will make their first visits to Washington and Oregon as members of the Big Ten Conference in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

The 2024 football season will debut the Flex Protect XVIII model, which features a combination of protected opponents. Each season, the Hawkeyes maintain rivalry games with Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Iowa is the only Big Ten team to maintain contests with three protected rivals.

The scheduling model balances annual travel by distance, regions of the conference, and time zones. The format maintains control and flexibility as the college football postseason format evolves, with the goal to create access for programs into an expanded College Football Playoff. It also balances historic competitiveness and recent competitive trends, including home/away balance of traditionally competitive schools.

Beginning with the 2024 season, the annual Big Ten Championship Game will feature the top two teams in the overall standings at the end of the regular season.

• Iowa last met USC in the 2019 Holiday Bowl (W, 49-24)
• The Hawkeyes last played UCLA in the 1986 Rose Bowl (L, 45-28)
• Iowa last met Oregon in Eugene in 1994 (L, 40-18)
• The Hawkeyes last played Washington in the 1995 Sun Bowl (W, 38-18)

IOWA FUTURE FOOTBALL BIG TEN OPPONENTS

 2024

Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, UCLA

Home: Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington, Wisconsin

2025

Away: Nebraska, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin

Home: Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State

2026

Away: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Washington

Home: Nebraska Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin

2027

Away: Indiana, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin

Home: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, UCLA, USC

2028

Away: Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, USC

Home: Illinois, Nebraska, Rutgers, Wisconsin

The (3-3) Exira-EHK Spartans are in control of their district 9 destiny, after a gritty 28-22 win against Fremont-Mills last Friday. Both teams put an emphasis on their ground game and physicality on defense. Both teams rushed the ball at least 30 times and had a combined 366 rushing yards. Turnovers was key for the Spartans to take the win on the road. They had three turnovers and the Knights had none. Exira-EHK Head Coach Drew Buckholdt commented on the resilience of his defense.

The firm and determined mentality of the Spartans starts with their senior, quarterback Jameson Kilworth. Last Friday Kilworth carried the ball 24 times and collected 114 yards and a touchdown. In the pocket he was just as effective going 7-7 for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. His main target was senior Cash Emgarten who had 6 receptions, 103 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Even with the ability to pass well, Kilworth loves the option to put his shoulder down and run with the ball.

Now the Spartans are back home this Friday facing the (2-4) East Mills Wolverines. A team that has struggled earlier n in the year due to a multitude of injuries at the QB spot. But, had a respectable 59-20 win against Griswold.

Every game now for Exira-EHK has playoff implications and Coach Buckholdt is tuning the noise out. Deciding to take each week as it comes and not taking the Wolverines lightly.

Kickoff is set for 7pm in Exira and KJAN has the coverage. The pregame show starts at 6:30pm.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa wide receiver Robert Smith will serve as honorary captain when the Hawkeyes entertain Purdue on Saturday on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:33 p.m. (CT) and the Homecoming game will be streamed on Peacock.

Smith played four seasons for head coach Hayden Fry from 1983-86. He caught four receptions in both the 1984 Freedom Bowl and 1986 Rose Bowl. Smith had a team-best 115 receiving yards, including a 49-yard touchdown reception from QB Chuck Long in Iowa’s 55-17 win over Texas in the Freedom Bowl and 44 receiving yards against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

Smith ranks 26th in Iowa career receiving yards (1,438 yards). He averaged 20.8 yards per catch (69 receptions, 1,438 yards). Hawkeye senior receiver Nico Ragaini enters Saturday’s game against the Boilermakers with 1,424 yards, 15 yards from surpassing the former Hawkeye. Smith is tied for 41st in program history in scoring with 102 points (17 touchdowns). He returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown in a 31-14 victory over Purdue on Oct. 15, 1983 — the 26th longest punt return for a score in school history.

Smith is in his 21st season as an NCAA Big Ten football official. He has officiated 12 NCAA bowl games, including the 2011 and 2014 BCS National Championship games. Smith, who is also Chair of the National Association of Sports Officials Board of Directors, has a total of 30 years as an official for college football and high school girls and boys basketball. Smith was part of the first all-African American football officiating crew in the history of the Big Ten and any Autonomy Five conference on Oct. 24, 2020 (Michigan at Minnesota).

He received the NFHS Officials Association Official of the Year for boys and girls basketball. Smith was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame in 2014, and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Basketball Officials Hall of Fame in 2018.

Smith will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head tennis coach Jaron Maestas has announced the signing of Gala Arangio, who will arrive in Ames for the spring semester and has four years to play.

“Gala is a kid that plays with a ton of passion and heart,” Maestas said. “She loves the sport of tennis and we are excited for her to bring that to Ames. I think that energy will be infectious to the team and I really look forward to this.”

Arangio ranked No. 1 in the Mexican Tennis Federation. She also had a Italian Tennis Federation ranking of 2.6.

Arangio joins the Cyclones with a strong tennis history, having ranked as high as No. 265 in the ITF Pro Singles Rankings. Her top WTA Singles Ranking was No. 1,041, while she ranked No. 1,059 in doubles.

The Buenos Aires, Argentina, native has was a semifinalist in doubles action at the W15 Monastir and reached the round of 16 at the W60+H Irapuato.

She attended Enlightium Academy High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society. Arangio is quadrilingual, speaking Spanish, English, Italian and French.