AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior quarterback Brock Purdy was named one of 17 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award.

The Davey O’Brien Award is given annually to the nation’s best quarterback.

Purdy has continued his assault on the Iowa State record book in his third season as the Cyclone signal-caller, owning or sharing 25 school records in his career (game, season, career).

Purdy is the winningest quarterback in school history with 22 overall wins and 19 victories vs. conference opponents. He has an all-time record of 12-1 vs. Big 12 foes in Jack Trice Stadium.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native had another fantastic season directing the Cyclone offense to one its most prolific campaigns in school history. Purdy’s 66.2 percent completion rate is the third-best season total in school history.

Purdy ranks third in the Big 12 in passing efficiency (145.6), the fourth-best total in school history, and his 17 touchdown passes is third-best in the Big 12. He’s tossed a TD pass in nine-straight games, tying for the fourth-best streak in school history.

Purdy is 70-of-91 (76.9 pct.) for 903 yards and 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last 14 quarters, helping the Cyclones to a first-place finish in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

DALLAS, Texas – The Doak Walker Award, a trophy given annually to the nation’s best running back, trimmed its list to 10 finalists this afternoon and it’s no surprise that Iowa State sophomore sensation Breece Hall made the cut.

The prestigious award will announce its finalists on Dec. 21 and select a winner on Jan. 7 on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

Hall is also one of 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the nation’s best collegiate football player.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Hall has made a swift rise to one of the nation’s elite running backs in 2020 by leading the nation in rushing yards (1,357), 100-yard rushing games (8) and multi-TD rush games (6), first down rushes (66), yards after contact (797), consecutive games with a rush TD (10) and 20+ yard rushes (14).

With 90+ rushing yards and at least one rush TD in all 10 games season, Hall has been the most consistent running back in the nation. He’s averaged at least 4.3 yards per carry in every game and is one of only four FBS players since 1996 to have 100+ rushing yards and 1+ TD in the first eight games to begin a season.

Hall’s versatility is what makes him stand out above the rest. He’s among the nation’s leaders in rushing TDs (17- 2^nd nationally), overall TDs (19- 2^nd nationally) and scoring (114- 2^nd nationally). Hall is averaging 135.7 yards per game, second in the nation among teams playing five games, and 6.11 yards per carry.

He’s caught 18 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns and averaging 150.1 yards from scrimmage.

Hall has also proven to be one of the most elusive and explosive backs nationally. He leads the nation in 50+ yard rushes (4), ranks second in 10+ yard rushes (34) and is second nationally in missed tackles (59).

He has recorded just one lost fumble in 449 career touches.

Statistics alone makes Hall’s season incredible, but perhaps his biggest accomplishment on the year is his impact on winning. The Cyclones, currently ranked ninth nationally in the CFP poll, claimed first place in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

Doak Walker Award Semifinalists
Travis Etienne, Clemson
Breece Hall, Iowa State
Najee Harris, Alabama
Mo Ibrahim, Minnesota
Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
Sincere McCormick, UTSA
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Javonte Williams, North Carolina
Kyren Williams, Notre Dame

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance against West Virginia on Saturday.

Purdy was sensational in helping Iowa State clinch first place in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

Purdy was precise and elite in the 42-6 win over West Virginia, completing 87.0 percent (20-of-23) of his passes, the second-best single-game completion rate in school history. He also accounted for four touchdowns, three through the air and one by rush, the sixth time in his career he’s been responsible for four or more touchdowns in a game.

Purdy threw for 247 yards and rushed for 38 yards.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native is 70-of-91 (76.9 pct.) for 903 yards and 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last 14 quarters.

Purdy also set or tied two school records in the win. His rushing touchdown gave him 17 in his career, tying the school mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Purdy has now led Iowa State to 22 victories, the winningest quarterback in school history.

He owns or shares 25 school records.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player and Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday. 

Clark’s Player of the Week nod is the first Big Ten weekly honor for a Hawkeye since Kathleen Doyle earned the award on Feb. 10, 2020. Clark is the first Big Ten student-athlete to be honored with both awards in a single week since Nebraska’s Jessica Shepard on Jan. 25, 2016. She is the second Hawkeye to win both in the same week — Sam Logic earned both honors twice in 2012 (Feb. 14, Feb. 28).

The West Des Moines, Iowa, native averaged 26.5 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and 2.5 steals in the Hawkeyes wins over Drake and Wisconsin. In Iowa’s in-state bout versus Drake, Clark tallied 30 points, 13 assists, four steals, three rebounds, and a block. Against Wisconsin, she posted 23 points, five assists, five rebounds, and a steal.

Clark is the only freshman in the nation to put up 30 points and have at least 10 assists in a single game (since 2015-16). Clark’s 30 points is the most from a Big Ten freshman since Michigan’s Haillie Thome scored 31 against Minnesota on Jan. 31, 2016. Clark’s 13 assists are the most from a Big Ten Freshman since Maryland’s Destiny Slocum had 13 against Illinois on February 9, 2017.

Clark and the Hawkeyes host Iowa State on Wednesday for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk game. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on BTN Plus. Iowa returns hits the road on Saturday to take on Michigan State. Tipoff is yet to be set.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump presented the nation’s highest civilian honor to Dan Gable, a renowned wrestler and coach from Iowa who won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Trump called Gable “the greatest wrestler, probably ever.” Gable is one of several sports figures to be presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom during Trump’s time in office.

President Donald Trump awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, to Olympic gold medalist and former University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Gable was a champion wrestler at Iowa State University, compiling a 117-1 record and winning two NCAA titles. Gable would go on to an incredibly successful coaching career at the University of Iowa, where his teams won 15 NCAA titles.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will present the nation’s highest civilian honor to Dan Gable, a renowned wrestler and coach from Iowa who won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Trump used an October campaign rally to announce the Presidential Medal of Freedom selection, bringing Gable on stage to the delight of the crowd as he sought to win over Iowa voters. The ceremony 11-a.m. (CST) today (Monday) at the White House fulfills that commitment.

FILE – In this Oct. 14, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump greets former University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable, right, during a campaign rally at Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Gable is one of several sports figures to be presented the award during Trump’s time in office. Gable was a champion wrestler at Iowa State University, compiling a 117-1 record and winning two NCAA titles.

Brock Purdy

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior quarterback Brock Purdy was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, announced today by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually to the nation’s best upperclassman quarterback.

Purdy has continued his assault on the Iowa State record book in his third season as the Cyclone signal-caller, owning or sharing 24 school records in his career (game, season, career).

Purdy is the winningest quarterback in school history with 21 overall wins and 18 victories vs. conference opponents. He has an all-time record of 11-1 vs. Big 12 foes in Jack Trice Stadium.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native had another fantastic season directing the Cyclone offense to one its most prolific campaigns in school history. Purdy’s 65.5 percent completion rate is the fourth-best season total in school history.

Purdy ranks third in the Big 12 in passing efficiency (139.3), the fifth-best total in school history, and his 14 touchdown passes is third-best in the league. He’s tossed a TD pass in eight-straight games, the fifth-best streak in school history.

Purdy is completing 76.5 pct. of his passes and tallied 656 yards and seven touchdowns in his last nine quarters, helping the Cyclones clinch at least a share of first-place in the Big 12 regular-season standings with one game remaining.

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Candidates
Ian Book, Notre Dame
Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Justin Fields, Ohio State
Mac Jones, Alabama
D’Eriq King, Miami
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Brock Purdy, Iowa State
Kyle Trask, Florida
Zach Wilson, BYU

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 5, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

Others receiving votes: NC State 98, Marshall 66, San Jose St. 66, Oklahoma St. 33, UCF 11, Boise St. 10, Washington 10, Auburn 9, Missouri 8, Nevada 5, Army 2, UCLA 1, TCU 1.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 318 yards and a touchdown, Harrison Butker was perfect on five field goals, and the Kansas City Chiefs overcame some red-zone woes and major mistakes that cost them two more scores to hold off the Denver Broncos 22-16. Travis Kelce had eight receptions for 136 yards and the go-ahead TD grab late in the third quarter, and Tyrann Mathieu twice picked off Broncos quarterback Drew Lock — the second with 24 seconds left to seal the win — as the Chiefs clinched a playoff berth by improving to 11-1 for the second time in franchise history.

UNDATED (AP) — The Denver Broncos just about followed the blueprint for beating the Kansas City Chiefs to perfection. They pounded away with Melvin Gordon, who piled up 131 yards rushing on just 15 carries while turning a 60-minute game into one that felt like it was 30. They picked up enough first downs to keep Patrick Mahomes and Co. off the field for long stretches, and they held the Chiefs without touchdowns on their first four forays into the red zone. They were aggressive. They were opportunistic. They were smart. They still weren’t quite good enough in a 22-16 defeat.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Mark Smith scored 19 points, Kobe Brown and Dru Smith each added 14 and Missouri beat Wichita State 72-62 for its first 3-0 start to a season since 2013-14. Smith scored seven points during an 11-0 run to give Missouri a 49-33 lead early in the second half, and the Tigers led by double figures the rest of the way. Brown grabbed seven rebounds, Mark Smith had six and Dru Smith dished out four assists. Tyson Etienne and Clarence Jackson scored 14 points apiece for Wichita State.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Zia Cooke scored 19 points and No. 1 South Carolina bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 83-65 win over 23rd-ranked Iowa State. The Gamecocks (4-1) were beaten by No. 8 N.C. State 54-46 on Thursday, but never trailed against the Cyclones (2-2) during the SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup. Aliyah Boston and Brea Beal added 13 points each while Destanni Henderson had 12. Ashley Joens scored 32 points for Iowa State, which shot just 37.1% for the game and was outrebounded 50-24.