IOWA CITY, Iowa — According to the NCAA’s annual report on the academic successes across the country, University of Iowa student-athletes graduated at a rate of 89 percent, when the rate was calculated using the criteria for the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR).

Eleven Hawkeye teams posted a score at or above their score from 2022, eight teams were at or above the national average GSR., and all of Iowa’s teams are above a 75 percent GSR.

“This year’s Graduation Success Rate is a reflection of the continued dedication and hard work of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and faculty,” said Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Interim Director of Athletics Chair Beth Goetz. “Hawkeye student-athletes have demonstrated that academic achievement can be coupled with athletics success. We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for maintaining academic excellence and earning degrees at such a high rate.”

The Graduation Rates Institution Report gives graduation information about the most recent six-year graduating class of students and student-athletes who entered as freshmen in 2016-17. The Federal Graduation Rate indicates the percentage of freshmen who entered and received athletics aid during a given academic year who graduated within six years. The GSR adds to the first-time freshmen, those students who entered midyear as well as student athletes who transferred into an institution and received athletics aid.

Iowa’s 75 percent of the 2016 cohort is competitive with non-student-athletes (74 percent-2016 cohort). Iowa’s FGR of 69 four-class average percent ties the national average.

The NCAA introduced the GSR in 2005 to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. Unlike the federal graduation rate, the GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees.

The Iowa State men host Iowa Thursday night in the 77th meeting in the series. The home team has won seven of the last eight games and the teams traded blowout victories the past two seasons.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger who says the Cyclones need to excel in the areas they can control.

It will be the first taste of the Cy-Hawk rivalry for several new players.

Otzelberger says the first key against the Hawkeyes is defense.

Cyclone sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey is coming off a triple-double in a win at DePaul and as a native of Ames has followed this series.

Lipsey’s first game in the rivalry was a 75-56 loss in Iowa City last season.

Iowa is 5-3 overall and after getting manhandled at fourth ranked Purdue the Hawkeyes face another difficult road test.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery who says the Cyclones are a balanced team.

McCaffery on sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey leading the Cyclones in scoring, rebounding and assists.

The Hawkeyes have won four of the last five and lead the all-time series 48-28.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s rowing coach Jeff Garbutt announced on Monday that Mia Lawrence, Karen Carey, Sophia Foreman, Poppy Brooke Turner, and Alli Merritt signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Iowa.

JEFF GARBUTT on SIGNEES

“I am excited to welcome this new class of Hawkeyes to Beckwith Boathouse and the University of Iowa. They have shown an incredible level of rowing ability through their school/home club racing, but also with their level of international experience.  To be able to represent your country is a special thing.  Their talent and experiences will only help our team to take another step in our growth.  I look forward to getting them all here in Iowa City!”

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa football players have been named to All-America teams on Wednesday. Junior Cooper DeJean and seniors Jay Higgins and Tory Taylor were recognized by CBS and/or The Athletic.

DeJean was recognized as a first-team honoree by The Athletic and CBS.

The Odebolt, Iowa, native was one of top defensive players in the nation before going down with a season-ending injury in Week 12. He finished the season with 41 tackles, two TFL, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 10 games. DeJean did not allow a touchdown pass in 388 snaps in coverage in 2023.

As a punt returner, DeJean was one of the nation’s best. He had a 70-yard punt return for a game-winning touchdown against Michigan State and he had a second touchdown return for the game-winning score negated because of an “invalid fair catch signal” against Minnesota. DeJean is second in the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally, averaging 11.5 yards per return.

DeJean is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He also was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. DeJean was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year last month.

Higgins was recognized on the second team by CBS.

Higgins has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking up 155 tackles — the most in the Big Ten, the third-most nationally (most by a Power 5 player) and the fourth-most in a single season in school history. The Indianapolis native has led the team in tackles in 11 of 13 games with two 15+ tackle games and nine games with 10 or more stops. He has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is fourth nationally, allowing 13.2 points per game.

Taylor was a first-team honoree by The Athletic and unanimous first-team selection by CBS.

The Australia, native is leading the Big Ten and ranking fourth nationally with a 47.9 average. Taylor had 86 punts — the most in FBS — in 2023, booming 36 punts 50 or more yards (six punts of 60+), 27 have been fair caught and 30 have been downed inside the 20, 12 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. The Australian, who set the Iowa single-season punt yardage mark for a third straight season and both the career punts and career yardage records, only has six touchbacks in 2023.

Taylor is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year last month.

The No. 17 Hawkeyes will play 21sr-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 1, 2024, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game will start at noon (CT) and will be televised on ABC.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Four University of Iowa football student-athletes – junior Cooper DeJean, senior Jay Higgins, senior Tory Taylor and senior Sebastian Castro — have been named Associated Press All-Big Ten selections, it was announced on Wednesday. DeJean, Higgins and Taylor were first-team selections, while Castro was named to the second team.

DeJean was tabbed first-team All-Big Ten at both the defensive back and all-purpose positions. The Odebolt, Iowa, native was one of top defensive players in the nation before going down with a season-ending injury in Week 12. He finished the season with 41 tackles, two TFL, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 10 games. DeJean didn’t allow a touchdown pass in 388 snaps in coverage in 2023.

As a punt returner, DeJean was one of the nation’s best. He had a 70-yard punt return for a game-winning touchdown against Michigan State and he had a second touchdown return for the game-winning score negated because of an “invalid fair catch signal” against Minnesota. DeJean is second in the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally, averaging 11.5 yards per return.

DeJean is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He also was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. DeJean was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.

Taylor was a unanimous first-team selection after leading the Big Ten and ranking fourth nationally with a 47.9 average. He had 86 punts — the most in FBS — in 2023, booming 36 punts 50 or more yards (six punts of 60+), 27 have been fair caught and 30 have been downed inside the 20, 12 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. The Australian, who set the Iowa single-season punt yardage mark for a third straight season and both the career punts and career yardage records, only has six touchbacks in 2023.

Taylor is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year.

Higgins has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking up 155 tackles — the most in the Big Ten, the third-most nationally (most by a Power 5 player) and the fourth-most in a single season in school history. The Indianapolis native has led the team in tackles in 11 of 13 games with two 15+ tackle games and nine games with 10 or more stops. He has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is fourth nationally, allowing 13.2 points per game.

Castro has been a menace in the CASH position, amassing 61 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack and a team-best three interceptions. The Illinois native had a 30-yard pick six in Iowa’s road win at Iowa State and he had the game-sealing interception in the road win at Wisconsin.

The No. 17 Hawkeyes will play 21st-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 1, 2024, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game will start at noon (CT) and will be televised on ABC.