The Daily Iowan Pregame — 11.22.23

The Daily Iowan

PREGAME FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24 IOWA VS. NEBRASKA MEMORIAL STADIUM

Never shying away

Iowa free safety Quinn Schulte progressed up the ladder in the Hawkeye defense.

2 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

DAILYIOWAN.COM

DAILYIOWAN.COM

THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | 3

IOWA VS. NEBRASKA | FRIDAY, NOV. 24 | 11:00 A.M. |

Five things to watch

OFFENSE QB

10 5

Deacon Hill Joe Labas

Soph Soph

RB

4 9

Leshon Williams Jaziun Patterson

FB

OFFENSE QB

10 7

Heinrich Haarberg Jeff Sims

Soph Jr

Jr #Fr

RB

21 Emmett Johnson 23 Anthony Grant

#Fr Sr

88 Hayden Large 41 Rusty VanWetzinga

Sr Fr

FB

16 Janiran Bonner 34 Barret Liebentritt

#Fr Soph

WR

3 18

Kaleb Brown Alec Wick

Soph Soph

WR

84 Alex Bullock 19 Jaylen Lloyd

Soph Fr

WR

89 Nico Ragaini 6 Seth Anderson

Sr Soph

WR

15 17

Malachi Coleman Ty Hahn

Fr Soph

TE

87 Addison Ostrenga 86 Steven Stilianos

Soph Sr

TE

87 Nate Boerkircher 24 Thomas Fidone II

Soph Soph

LT

78 Mason Richman 71 Jack Dotzler

Jr #Fr

LT

65 Teddy Prochazka 77 Gunner Gottula

Soph Fr

LG

60 Rusty Feth 56 Nick DeJong

Sr Sr

LG

51 Justin Evans-Jenkins #Fr 62 Sam Sledge Fr

C

76 Tyler Elsbury 66 Jeremy Chaplin

Jr Soph

C

66 Ben Scott Jr 51 Justin Evans-Jenkins #Fr

RG

77 Connor Colby 58 Kade Pieper

Jr Fr

RG

63 Nouredin Nouili 59 Henry Lutovsky

Sr Soph

RT

67 Gennings Dunker 79 Daijon Parker

Soph Sr

RT

54 Bryce Benhart 75 Tyler Knaak

Jr #Fr

PK

18

Soph

PK

30 Trisan Alvano

Fr

Drew Stevens

DEFENSE

DEFENSE

LE

45 Deontae Craig 48 Max Llewellyn

Jr Soph

DE

9 Ty Robinson 97 Blaise Gunnerson

Jr Soph

LT

94 Yahya Black 95 Aaron Graves

Jr Soph

DT

0 Nash Hutmacher 88 Ru’Quan Buckley

Jr Soph

RT

85 Logan Lee 55 Jeremiah Pittman

Sr Soph

DE

11 10

Fr Soph

RE

13 Joe Evans 49 Ethan Hurkett

Sr Jr

LB

4 Luke Reimer 33 Javin Wright

Sr Jr

Leo/ 37 Kyler Fisher Cash 29 Sebastian Castro

Sr Sr

LB

3 5

Jr Jr

MLB 34 Jay Higgins 41 Jaden Harrell

Sr Soph

JACK 42 Mikai Gbayor 48 MJ Sherman

Soph Jr

WLB 10 Nick Jackson 37 Kyler Fisher

Sr Sr

CB

Tommi Hill Tamon Lynum

Jr Soph

CB

8 7

Deshaun Lee John Nestor

#Fr Fr

ROV 2 Isaac Gifford 26 Koby Bretz

Jr Soph

SS

1 Xavier Nwankpa 29 Sebastian Castro

Soph Sr

S

12 Omar Brown 23 Cory Collier Jr.

Sr Soph

FS

30 Quinn Schulte 4 Koen Entringer

Sr #Fr

S

24 Marques Buford Jr. 37 Phalen Sanford

Jr Sr

CB

27 Jermari Harris 20 Deavin Hilson

Jr Soph

CB

6 13

Quinton Newsome Malcolm Hartzog

Sr Soph

P

9

Sr

P

18

Brian Buschini

Jr

Tory Taylor

31 15

Cameron Lenhardt Jimari Butler

Nick Henrich John Bullock

Matt McGowan Pregame Editor

matthew-r-mcgowan@uiowa.edu

1. New-look Nebraska While the 2023 season was obviously less than perfect for the Cornhuskers, Friday will be their last chance to secure six wins for the first time since 2015. Under new head coach Matt Rhule, Nebraska has had a relatively similar year Rhule as Iowa: an offense ranking in the bottom third of the conference and a defense holding its opponents to less than 20 points per game. Obviously, execution and record speak for themselves, but Nebraska isn’t exactly the laughing stock it’s been in recent years.

Husker quarterback Heinrich Haarberg doesn’t have much prowess in the passing game but leads the squad in rushing with 477 yards and Haarberg five touchdowns. He started eight games before suffering an ankle injury in Week 11 against Maryland.

Filling in for Haarberg last week was sophomore Chubba Purdy, who tossed for 169 yards with a 62.5 completion percentage while also dashing for 104 yards. It is unclear if Rhule will opt for a recovering Haarberg, Purdy, or even the season-opening starter Jeff Sims for Friday, but the Hawkeyes will need to be ready for anyone under center.

2. Offensive improvement As mentioned earlier, this contest will serve as momentum heading into Indianapolis to play the winner of Michigan vs. Ohio Hill State. A crucial piece of that momentum is not just a victory but also an encouraging offensive output from Deacon Hill and Co. Last week against Illinois, the Hawkeyes piled up 281 yards and just one touchdown against a mediocre Illini defense. Against a unit that currently gives up an average of 150.6 rushing yards per game, Iowa ran for a meager 114 yards.

And without Hawkeye running back Kaleb Johnson’s miraculous dash in the fourth quarter, the team’s total is just 84, and that win may never have happened. Nebraska ranks second in the Big Ten in opponent rushing

yards per game, ahead of both Michigan and Ohio State. At least 150-plus yards on the ground against the Cornhuskers would be a great deal of confidence for the Hawkeyes heading into the Big Ten title game.

3. QB protection While Iowa is superior in terms of total defense, Nebraska has the edge in the sack department. Sitting at third in the Big Ten standings with 31 sacks on the season, Nebraska has a formidable pass rush led Butler by linebacker Jimari Butler with 5.5 sacks. First-year defensive coordinator Tony White has brought in a 3-3-5 scheme, and the former coordinator for Syracuse was endorsed by Rhule as head coach material on Monday.

The last time Iowa went up against this potent of a pass rush was in Happy Valley, and things didn’t go so well. How well Hill adjusts to an insecure pocket and how effective an already-depleted offensive line pass blocks will be the keys to finding success on Friday.

4. Starters’ playing time While Nebraska will be all-hands-on deck in its last attempt to secure bowl eligibility, Iowa has clinched the West title and is simply playing for revenge from last year’s heartbreak. While head coach Kirk Ferentz joked about emulating the NFL and resting starters in essentially meaningless games, it’s not exactly a bad idea. Yes, the depth chart released on Monday was the same as last week, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some Hawkeyes such as Jay Higgins, Sebastian Castro, and Joe Evans, taking a breather earlier than normal in the second half if the Hawkeyes have the game in hand or are well behind.

I’m not saying that these players want to do that by any means, but it would be a thought the coaching staff should consider. The last thing Iowa needs is yet another injury. As a Chicago Bulls fan, I think of Derrick Rose’s ACL injury with less than two minutes to go, up 12 points against Philadelphia. Kirk, please don’t pull a Tom Thibodeau in this one.

5. Michigan vs. Ohio State Since I’ve been looking ahead for much of this piece, I might as well advocate for all Hawkeye fans to tune into “The Game” on Saturday. I guarantee the coaching staff will. After nearly falling to Maryland last week, it will be intriguing to see what Michigan changes against its rival. In my opinion, Iowa matches up better against OSU.

The Daily Iowan Publisher Jason Brummond jason-brummond@uiowa.edu Executive Editor Sabine Martin sabine-martin@uiowa.edu Pregame Editor Matt McGowan matthew-r-mcgowan@uiowa.edu Sports Editor Kenna Roering mckenna-roering@uiowa.edu Asst. Sports Editor Colin Votzmeyer colin-votzmeyer@uiowa.edu Football Reporter Cooper Worth cooper-worth@uiowa.edu Managing Editor Parker Jones parker-jones@uiowa.edu Managing Editor, Digital Jami Martin-Trainor jami-martin-trainor@uiowa.edu Managing Editor, Enterprise and Design Marandah Mangra-Dutcher marandah-mangra-dutcher@ uiowa.edu Managing Editor, Visuals Ayrton Breckenridge ayrton-breckenridge@uiowa.edu Asst. Design Editor Bri Brown brianna-m-brown@uiowa.edu DITV Sports Director Michael Merrick michael-j-merrick@uiowa.edu Business Manager Debra Plath debra-plath@uiowa.edu 319-335-5786 Advertising Director/ Circulation Manager Juli Krause juli-krause@uiowa.edu 319-335-5784 Production Manager Heidi Owen heidi-owen@uiowa.edu The Daily Iowan (USPS 143-360), the student newspaper at the University of Iowa, is published by Student Publications, Inc., E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Published in print weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, Fridays of Hawkeye football game weekends (Pregame), and year-round on dailyiowan.com.

Periodicals Postage Paid at the Iowa City Post Office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Iowan, E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.

Copyright 2023 Student Publications, Inc.

4 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

DAILYIOWAN.COM

From quiet walk-on to vocal leader Quinn Schulte leads the Hawkeye defense with communication and execution.

Colin Votzmeyer Assistant Sports Editor colin-votzmeyer@uiowa.edu Quinn Schulte isn’t the loudest guy when he’s not playing football. He keeps to himself when he’s around people he doesn’t know well, speaking only when spoken to, and even then in a softer tone.

Schulte But when he’s set back in the Iowa secondary, the free safety is the most vocal leader on the field.

The free safety position is the last line of defense, looming far behind the line of scrimmage and thus allowing for a vision of the entire play. That vision grants the free safety greater control of the defensive scheme, which demands a strong sense of leadership and communication.

“When you have a good relationship, especially with the linebackers or the guys up front, it makes communication a lot easier,” Schulte said. “You’re not worrying about who’s doing this or what the call is … It just makes it easier for guys in secondary to do their job.”

Schulte is in his second year starting for the Hawkeyes, spending his three years prior to earning the nod working his way up the ladder in defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s scheme. And his teammates and coaches have had high praise for him as a result.

“It’s not an easy job, that free safety,” Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins said. “We like to say his job is harder than the [middle linebacker’s job].”

Iowa defensive line coach Jay Niemann noted how Schulte does what the team asks of him every day and has been instrumental in the cohesion of the defense at all three levels – from defensive line to linebackers, and to defensive Niemann backs.

“I can just tell you the guys that play his position — they have to have great football IQ, and they have to have some leadership skills: He has both of those,” Niemann said. “It takes somebody with a lot of moxie and a good football IQ to keep everything going and staying in sync on the back end, so he’s done really well for us.”

Schulte’s locker sits next to that of Iowa defensive back Sebastian Castro, who said he recognized how quiet Schulte was when the

Grace Smith | The Daily Iowan

Iowa free safety Quinn Schulte catches an interception during a football game between Iowa and Rutgers at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 11. The Hawkeyes defeated the Scarlet Knights, 22-0.

two first met — yet how smart and outspoken he quickly became when on the field.

“He just knows what’s going on; he knows the defense,” Castro said. “Sometimes he’s making calls out there that Castro weren’t necessarily part of the game plan, so he just has his own way of seeing different plays.”

Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson noted Schulte’s obsession with watching game film, sending his teammates clips throughout the week. Schulte said he watches film from around midday to well into the late afternoon.

“When you have Quinn Schulte on the field, he can get you in and out of anything, and he’s going to put you in the right spot,” Jackson said. “He’s going to know the play

better than you know the play.”

Jackson called Schulte a “coach on the field,” which isn’t surprising, as the safety has been around the game of football since he was a toddler. His father, Duane, is the head football coach at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids and often brought Schulte along to practices when he was very little.

“Quinn’s the ultimate competitor,” Duane told The Daily Iowan. “He doesn’t say a whole lot … In the house, he’s a little more vocal than he is out in public, but he just has a deep fire … He’s a competitor and wants to win. That’s the bottom line.”

Schulte’s brothers, Bryce and Reggie, suited up for Duane at Xavier before playing tight end at Iowa and quarterback at Northern Iowa, respectively. Both taught their younger brother the game as he developed behind them.

In fact, Schulte’s brothers and their friends would often bring him into their backyard football games as children, although he served more as their tackling dummy as the youngest in the group.

“I would say I was probably the one getting clocked,” Schulte said. “A lot of those older guys were giving me a rough [go at it].”

Family has been instrumental to Schulte’s success as his younger sister, Hope, and mother, Sherry, have shown immense support and positivity by his side throughout his career.

Schulte grew up to play for the Saints with his father as his head coach, and he put together one of the most impressive football resumes in the state of Iowa as a quarterback, receiver, and defensive back.

As a junior and senior, Schulte earned all-state honors, led the team to consecutive state championship titles, and held the top quarterback rating in the state.

In those two years, he also finished in the top three for The Des Moines Register’s Player of the Year honor — among the likes of current Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Max Duggan.

Schulte compiled 428 yards of total offense with four total touchdowns, seven tackles, and an interception on the final play of the state championship game his senior year.

Schulte holds school records for career rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, total offense, and points.

Despite all of his high school success on offense, Schulte also progressed into a college-caliber player on defense under Xavier defensive coordinator Jim O’Connell. Schulte finished his time with the Saints with 10 interceptions – second-best in program history. “[What O’Connell does at Xavier] is somewhat similar [to the Iowa defense] from the standpoint of high expectations and having to be tough and have some grit and determination,” Duane said. “For Quinn to play for Jim O’Connell helped him get ready for [Iowa defensive coordinator Phil] Parker.”

Now-retired Iowa football coach Reese Morgan visited Schulte at Xavier and extended him an offer, so Schulte committed to continuing his football career with Iowa — but not as a scholarship athlete. He was a preferred walk-on as a 247 Sports’ zero-star recruit.

“I grew up watching the Hawks,” Schulte

DAILYIOWAN.COM

THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | 5

Grace Smith | The Daily Iowan

Iowa free safety Quinn Schulte tackles Ohio State running back Treveyon Henderson during a football game between Iowa and No. 2 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 22, 2022. The Buckeyes defeated the Hawkeyes, 54-10. said, noting his parents both went to law school at the university. “During the recruiting process, I was very open to any school, but [Iowa] ended up being the right fit, especially with my brother here.”

After redshirting his freshman year, Schulte embarked on that climb up the ladder toward significant time on the field — and in a role on a Hawkeye defense that brings in so many talented players competing for spots every year.

“I just learned to focus on the little things and the details and listen to the older guys and follow their path,” Schulte said, recognizing fellow walk-on Jack Koerner leading the way before him. “Someone has done it before, and they showed the way for me.

“I knew that if I came here, I’d get an opportunity just like everyone else, and I’d still have to work my butt off just like everyone else,” Schulte added. “You just have to go throughout the same process that anyone else would and hope that things turn out well.”

But he had to impress Parker to get to the top.

The defensive coordinator played a joke on a second-year Schulte by frequently pretending to forget his name.

“I know Phil well enough now, and I could tell he liked [Schulte] right from the start,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “[Schulte] is a serious, hardworking, and focused guy.”

“He wasn’t good enough to play at that point [early in his career], but he had all the right attributes,” Ferentz added. “It was a matter of time before he was going to start.”

Schulte played in three games in 2020, recording three solo tackles. In 2021, he made a big leap, playing 12 games and even recording an interception for 42 yards in a crushing 51-14

win over Maryland.

“Sometimes people get the idea that because you’re a walk-on, you must not have been as good of an athlete as a guy that was offered a scholarship,” Duane said. “I don’t want to say I’m surprised by what he’s doing [now] because, with his mindset and competitive spirit, I thought he could do it. He just had to prove it.”

By the following season, Schulte had established his role in the Iowa defense and defined his value to the team. He did so with an adherence to hard work and personal development before anything else.

He started all 13 games at free safety for the Hawkeyes last season, recording 71 tackles, six pass breakups, and a key interception against Illinois that stopped a potential score at the oneyard line.

“I think the biggest change has been physically — he’s just gotten bigger, faster, and stronger,” Duane said, noting Schulte’s tendency to go home to Cedar Rapids on days off to lift weights and run. “I’ve been the head coach [at Xavier] for 26 years, and no one has been in the weight room more than him. He just wants to get better.”

Now in his second year starting for a top-tier Iowa defense, Schulte is something of a quiet weapon.

“It’s those fifth-year guys that the media forgets about,” Higgins said. “He shows up to work every day and does his job. Guys like that — that’s who I appreciate.”

Although he won’t always make a dozen tackles every game — despite grabbing eight, including one for a loss of eight yards, against Michigan State and another eight against Purdue — Schulte will always keep his teammates

in the right positions to execute and make the right plays.

And he even makes them himself.

With five minutes left in Iowa’s contest with Rutgers at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 11, the Hawkeyes were up, 15-0, leaving the Scarlet Knights desperate for a score to have even a glance at a win.

Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt dropped back after taking the snap in the shotgun in his own territory and hopped on the balls of his feet, scanning the field for any glimpse of an opening to throw.

He opted to look left and release the ball deep down the field as the Hawkeye defensive line enclosed him. But the ball went well short of the target, who was already covered by the Iowa defensive backs, leaving Schulte wide-eyed with his head up toward the ball coming his way.

Schulte stepped back slightly and pinned the ball against his upper chest as it hit him, securing it with two hands. He took off in a dash to the left before he could even tuck the ball in for a run.

“I was just trying to cover the [receiver] a little bit, and seeing the ball up in the air, [I tried] to go get it,” Schulte explained. “Then the defense set up a little wall, and I tried to cut it back to get into the end zone.”

His blockers in front of him, Schulte kept his eyes glued on the black end zone, cutting across the field before he was ultimately taken down just inside of the five-yard line.

“It was just a really cool moment,” Schulte said. “Any time someone makes a big play, everyone else is celebrating it. We’re told to celebrate with our teammates, so it was just a cool moment.”

Jackson noted how hard he tried to find a

block to get Schulte into the end zone — a testament to how valuable Schulte is to the defense.

“Oh my gosh, that was awesome,” Jackson said after the game. “Quinn’s one of my best friends, and I’m really appreciative for everything he’s done, and that was just a heck of a play. You just love when a guy like that makes a play like that.”

While Schulte’s mother was jumping up and down in excitement at the interception, Duane was watching the play through the coach’s lens — one he’s passed on to his son – as he looked to ensure there were no flags to bring the play back before he could celebrate.

And shortly after, the Iowa offense found receiver Kaleb Brown to extend the lead to 22-0, close the door on the Scarlet Knights, and bring the Hawkeyes one win away from clinching a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. The Hawkeyes achieved the feat the next week in a win over Illinois, where Schulte racked up five tackles.

“He’s been a good player for us, and he’s a strong team leader too and just so respected,” Ferentz said in his press conference following the Rutgers game. “You just hear his teammates talk about him studying film and all the things he does. It’s pretty impressive, and that’s the reason why he plays so well.”

While the Rutgers win was a collective effort, Schulte’s pick ensured it. And although many might find Schulte an underrated factor to that effort, Duane has seen enough of his son’s play to be confident he’s not to be overlooked.

“Other people might think he is [underrated], but he’ll take care of business and surprise you and get the job done — that’s for sure,” Duane said. “I think he’s one of the best in the country.”

Grace Smith | The Daily Iowan

Iowa defensive backs Quinn Schulte and Jermari Harris celebrate during a football game between No. 17 Iowa and Illinois at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Nov. 20, 2021. The Hawkeyes defeated the Fighting Illini, 33-23, at the last home game of the season.

6 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

­

­

­

­

­

­

­

­

­ ­ ­

­

­

­

¡

­

­

¡

­

¡

¡

­

¢

­

¡

­

­

­

­

­ ­ ­

DAILYIOWAN.COM

DAILYIOWAN.COM

THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | 7

­

¡ ­

¡

­ ­

­

­

­

¢

­

£

­

­

¡

­

­

­

­

£

­

­

­ ­ ­

¡ ­

­

DAILYIOWAN.COM

8 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

IOWA +1.5

NEBRASKA -1.5 The motivation factor of playing for a bowl game helps, but the Cornhuskers also have a few advantages on defense. This unit allows fewer than 20 points and just over 300 yards per game while ranking top-30 in rushing success rate and finishing drives and top-40 in passing success rate.

The Hawkeyes are looking for revenge after last season’s heartbreaker at Kinnick, so that will definitely be a factor in this one. And to be underdogs as the Big Ten West champs? Come on now. I’m not driving to Nebraska on Thanksgiving day for nothing. Kirk Ferentz just won’t let that happen.

1

UNDER 26.5

UNDER 26.5

Iowa has set a record for the lowest over/under multiple times this season. I’ve bet the under on every occasion, and the Hawkeyes have yet to let me down. Both teams also rank top-25 in rush rate and outside the top 100 in seconds per play. The clock will tick early and often in this defensive battle.

It would just feel wrong to take the over in the last game of the regular season. Nebraska’s defense is not too far off from Iowa’s in terms of opponent points and rushing yards, so any trips to the end zone from either team will be a rare occurrence..

Plus, it’ll be a nice 28 degrees on game day.

The Daily Iowan’s official bettor’s guide to Iowa football’s Week 13 matchup with Nebraska.

1809

$

AUBURN +14.5 The Tigers have won three of their last five home games against Alabama.

Ruden’s 2023 record: 20-13

2079

$

McGowan’s 2023 record: 23-10

GEORGIA -23 Over the past five meetings with Georgia Tech, Georgia has won by an average of 33.6 points.

DAILYIOWAN.COM

One on One: Nick Jackson

THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | 9

The Hawkeye linebacker talked vacation spots and basketball with The Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Matt McGowan. #10 Nick Jackson • Senior | Linebacker | 6-foot | Atlanta, Georgia The Daily Iowan: What’s your favorite food?

Nick Jackson: I’d probably say sushi. I like some good sushi, I had some last night.

Where at? Formosa?

Yeah, had to get a little lobster roll or something like that.

How about Thanksgiving food?

I’m a big ham and turkey guy. Lots of gravy. All of it on there.

Both ham and turkey?

I love both, but if I had to choose, it would probably be ham.

Let’s say you could go anywhere on vacation. Where would you go?

I’ve heard South Africa is amazing, so kind of want to go there. My new ‘go-to’ spot.

Would you go on a safari?

Yeah, for sure.

What animal would you want to see there?

Oh, lion for sure.

This is going to sound like a dumb question, but do you think you could take on a lion in a fight?

I wish. In my head, I probably think so, but no.

Who on the team most likely could take on a lion?

I would probably say Ben Kueter. You know, the Olympian wrestler.

Who’s the one most likely to think they could take on a lion? Who’s got that confidence?

Max White.

What sport, besides football, are you the best at?

Basketball.

OK, are you a shooter? Do you get down in the post?

Anything, I’m a 6-foot-1 LeBron [James].

Did you play basketball as a kid?

Yeah, it was my first love growing up.

Who was your favorite team growing up?

I never really had a favorite team. I kind of grew up an Atlanta Hawks fan, but I always grew up liking certain players.

Who’s your favorite player right now?

I used to love Kevin Durant.

So is LeBron the greatest player of all time?

LeBron? No, I’m sorry, LeBron’s not the G.O.A.T. [He’s] just my play style. I don’t play like Michael Jordan. I wish I did. If I had a 45-inch vertical then maybe I could.

Find more online

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Read the full interview at dailyiowan.com.

Breaking news, top stories, Postgame and more delivered right to your inbox

The Daily Iowan Sign up at dailyiowan.com/newsletters

10 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

DAILYIOWAN.COM

DAILYIOWAN.COM

THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | 11

WEEK THIRTEEN

Power Rankings Matt McGowan Pregame Editor

IOWA Friday | 11 a.m. | No. 17 Iowa (9-2, 6-2) Nebraska (5-6, 3-5) Memorial Stadium Lincoln, Nebraska

NEBRASKA A nationally-broadcasted game for simple bragging rights, and also a contest where the total won’t exceed 27 points. That is college football at its finest.

Line: Nebraska -1.5 | O/U: 26.5

OHIO STATE Saturday | 11 a.m. | No. 2 Ohio State (11-0, 8-0) No. 3 Michigan (11-0, 8-0) Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, Michigan

MICHIGAN “The Game” should just be a three-game series already.

But no matter what the result, each team could both go to the playoff, and each fan base will be armed with an array of excuses.

Line: Michigan -3.5 | O/U: 46.5

PENN STATE Friday | 6:30 p.m. | No. 11 Penn State (9-2, 6-2) Michigan State (4-7, 2-6) Ford Field Detroit, Michigan

Saturday | 2:30 p.m. | Northwestern (6-5, 4-4) Illinois (5-6, 3-5) Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois

INDIANA Saturday | 11 a.m. | Indiana (3-8, 1-7) Purdue (3-8, 2-6) Ross-Ade Stadium West Lafayette, Indiana

MARYLAND Saturday | 6:30 p.m. |

Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |

Who will be the flagship university of Illinois? In one corner, the snobby private school where the quad is devoid of life. In the other, a school where you can use a lecture hall as a home theater.

Wisconsin (6-5, 4-4) Minnesota (5-6, 3-5)

Maryland (6-5, 3-5) Rutgers (6-5, 3-5)

RUTGERS The federal government versus the mafia. A tale as old as time. Some would say it dates back to 1963, but I’ll stop while I’m ahead.

SHI Stadium Piscataway, New Jersey Line: Maryland -1 | O/U: 44

MICHIGAN STATE It will be higher scoring, yes, but an absolute snooze-fest.

Plus, it’ll only remind me of the Bears’ choke-job against the Lions last week.

PURDUE This one should be played with a basketball instead of a football. Just switch things up a bit. Replace those goal posts with hoops. Field goals are three-pointers. Hire me, BTN.

Line: Purdue -3 | O/U: 50.5

ILLINOIS

Line: Illinois -6 | O/U: 46.5

Don’t worry, the Big House is big, but it ain’t loud.

Line: Penn State -21 | O/U: 43.5

WISCONSIN NORTHWESTERN

1. Ohio State

Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minnesota

MINNESOTA Is this even a rivalry? Who is the less mediocre Big Ten school up north? Who has the worst winter? If anything, delay this one until a blizzard hits. I would tune in.

Line: Wisconsin -2.5 | O/U: 42

2. Michigan

There’s Michigan gear somewhere in my house.

Still haven’t found any matches.

3. Penn State

Go beat an actual good team challenge: impossible.

4. Iowa

Going to Lincoln, Nebraska, is now more boring than it already is.

5. Maryland

I know, you were probably bribed to lay off the comeback. Happens to everyone.

6. Rutgers

Props for not getting completely embarrassed at Happy Valley. I’m so proud of this team.

7. Northwestern

How on Earth did they get to a bowl game?

8. Wisconsin

The “potent” offense can now add a bowl game to the resume.

9. Illinois

Uh Bret, you do know about The Wave, right?

You don’t get those alumni magazines?

10. Nebraska

I couldn’t tell if it won or lost against Wisconsin.

Have some uniform variety.

11. Minnesota

The Gophers might just hang a banner for beating Iowa.

12. Purdue

Get Zach Edey on the field goal unit!

13. Michigan State

The Spartans’ season has been a kick to the groin. Looking at you, Draymond.

14. Indiana

“And the fan [singular] goes wild!”

12 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

DAILYIOWAN.COM

KID CAPTAIN

On the other side of The Wave Nathan McDonald is grateful to be recognized with family as the final Kid Captain of the season.

Cooper Worth Pregame Reporter cooper-worth@uiowa.edu Iowa football Kid Captain Nathan McDonald has defied expectations.

Being taken off chemotherapy at three years old in an attempt to let him live his life without treatment for a cancerous disease, McDonald has progressed and gained health for over a decade.

Now McDonald will be turning 17 years old on Nov. 22, two days before being recognized as the last Kid Captain for the 2023 Iowa football regular season as Iowa takes on Nebraska on Friday.

“I really underestimated what it would feel like [being Kid Captain],” McDonald said. “It’s really cool and it’s even cooler because I get to experience it with my family.”

Hailing from Delta, Iowa, McDonald was born with physical abnormalities that were immediately noticed by his parents, Eric and Kylie.

“We both immediately knew visually that something was going on with his back, and the amount of oxygen he was taking in wasn’t sufficient enough,” Eric said.

Eventually, doctors diagnosed McDonald with infantile myofibromatosis, which is a rare, cancerous disease found in one out of 150,000 babies, according to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics health care experts. The disease causes tumors to form in the skin, muscles, and organs.

For McDonald, these included his heart, abdomen, and spine. Subsequently, he was also diagnosed with scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, and kyphosis, a forward rounding of the upper back.

During the early part of McDonald’s life, doctors at the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital put him on chemotherapy to shrink the tumors, but oftentimes the treatment was ineffective.

The chemotherapy wasn’t working as well as intended, and by the time McDonald was 3 years old, his parents decided to take their son off the radiation and let him live as long as he could.

“After that point through most of his single-digit ages, it was a big test, you know, to sit back and see what was going to happen,” Eric said.

The tumors began to disappear. According to Eric, X-rays of his son post-chemotherapy revealed no tumors, which was a shock to him and doctors at UIHC.

“There was no recollection of them ever being there, and the complete disappearance of some was just jaw-dropping both to us as parents and the UI doctors,” he said. “The most improvement we noticed was when we just let go and let Nathan grow, and he alone has got him as healthy as he is.”

However, Nathan still dealt with more health conditions. As he aged, he began having seizures and experiencing poor eyesight, which doctors found was attributed to low blood sugar levels.

Kylie said Nathan takes medication for his seizures and has been seizure-free for the past five years.

In June 2021, at 14 years old, Nathan underwent his first surgery to correct his scoliosis and kyphosis, a major operation where physicians removed five of his discs in between his vertebrae to straighten out his spine.

Before going through with it, Nathan was faced with the risks associated with the surgery, such as how he could wake up and not feel his legs at all.

“I had to accept the risk and fully be, like, ‘This can go one or two ways, and you know, one of them is great, and I’m in better shape for the rest of my life, or I come out alive the rest of my life just a slight bit worse,” he said.

The surgery was successful, and Kylie said Nathan grew from 4-foot-6 to almost 5-foot-2 after the operation.

“He’s still looking to grow, but it doesn’t help his dad’s only 5-foot-10,150 pounds,” Eric joked.

The McDonalds still visit the Stead Family Children’s Hospital once a year for a check-up with an oncologist, but other than that, Nathan is enjoying life as a healthy teenager.

“He was kind of told to go be him, and if something comes up, we’ll deal with it, but as of right now, he’s as healthy as he possibly can be,” Kylie said.

In his free time, Nathan enjoys reading, creating comic books, using tools he finds around the house to make new appliances, and hanging out with his three younger siblings, Landon, Kayden, and Lily.

“Nathan is always happy, engaging, and you can keep trying to knock him down, but he just keeps rising to the challenges,” Stuart Weinstein, McDonald’s physician at UIHC, said. “He’s really an exceptional young man who inspires those who are fortunate enough to care for him.”

Contributed by Kylie McDonald of Nathan McDonald

Nathan McDonald’s favorites: Video game: Mortal combat Movie franchise: Star Wars

Activity: Drawing Comic book company: Marvel Player: Rusty Feth

DAILYIOWAN.COM

On The Line Matt McGowan Pregame Editor 42-24

IOWA

VS.

No one goes to Nebraska to lose. They go there to leave.

VS.

Once in a blue moon, toxicity breeds success.

VS.

This one will be great.

Such an undervalued state. Both teams win.

MICHIGAN

OREGON

VIRGINIA

VS.

“Enter Sandman” doesn’t play on the road.

NORTH CAROLINA VS.

Look the other way in this game, George McCaskey.

VS.

The Iron Bowl will be boring this year.

FRESNO STATE

THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | 13

The Daily Iowan staff share their predictions and thoughts on this week’s upcoming games.

Kenna Roering Sports Editor 38-28

IOWA

Kirk won’t let the Hawks slouch heading into Indy.

OHIO STATE

I don’t like cheaters.

OREGON

Bo Nix for Heisman.

VIRGINIA TECH

JMU is the best team in Virginia.

NC STATE

The Wolfpack cross country team is raw.

FRESNO STATE

I won’t watch a second of this game.

Colin Votzmeyer Asst. Sports Editor 44-22

IOWA

The Hawks will do it for KF.

MICHIGAN

I think the Wolverines will steal one from the Buckeyes.

OREGON

Cooper Worth

Football Reporter 38-28

IOWA

Revenge game from last year.

MICHIGAN

This is the real Big Ten Championship.

OREGON

Bo Nix should transfer to Iowa next.

Bo knows ball.

VIRGINIA TECH

VIRGINIA TECH

I don’t blame Nick Jackson for transferring.

NORTH CAROLINA

Drake Maye is the next Mitch Trubisky.

FRESNO STATE

SDSU has a bottom-25 team in college football.

Michael Merrick

DITV Sports Director 34-32

IOWA

I’ll never pick Nebraska.

OHIO STATE

Easier matchup for the Hawks.

OREGON

This will be the one I miss the most from the PAC-12.

VIRGINIA

“Enter Sandman.”

Got any more Nick Jacksons we can have?

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

FRESNO STATE

SAN DIEGO STATE

The one where MJ went Drake Maye is too much to school. for the Wolfpack.

I’m Keene on the Bulldogs’ QB.

“Nobody in the state cares at all ... but me, go Aztecs” - my roommate.

John Bohnenkamp

Jason Brummond

Sports Writing Coach 40-26

Publisher 43-23

IOWA

IOWA

10 wins is a heck of a season, no matter how they got here.

Scott Frost’s legacy of losing close games remain intact at Nebraska.

MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN

It’s them vs. everybody, or so they say.

Who wants Iowa?

OREGON

OREGON

Last one in the rivalry as PAC-12ers.

VIRGINIA TECH

Lot of mediocrity here.

Bring on Washington-Oregon 2.0 for the Pac-12 title.

VIRGINIA TECH

Only appropriate to pick the Hokies at Thanksgiving.

NC STATE

More fun as a football matchup than basketball.

FRESNO STATE

Not much to say about this one.

NC STATE

NC State continues its hot streak.

WE’VE MOVED! 119 ½ E. Washington St., Iowa City (next to Target) 319.339.TAT2 (8282) hotspottattoo.com Health Department Approved and Clean, Licensed Facility

FRESNO STATE

The Old Oil Can Trophy doesn’t sound like much of a prize.

14 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | THE DAILY IOWAN PREGAME

DAILYIOWAN.COM

IOWA CITY’S BIG 3 Now Renting For 2024 Telluride 278 E Court St

• First Floor Lounge Area • Fully Furnished • Internet Included

Whistler 416 E Iowa Avenue • First Floor Lounge Area w/Full Wet Bar • Roof Top Grilling Area • Fully Furnished • Big Screen Smart TV Included • Internet Included

Breckenridge 707 S Dubuque Street

• First Floor Lounge Area • Roof Top Grilling Area • Fully Furnished • Big Screen Smart TV Included • Internet Included

J Michael Real Estate 608.233.4440 | www.iowa-city.apartments