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TO NO. 1

2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 LT 74 Garret Greenfield SR LG 60 Mason McCormick SR C 50 Gus Miller SO RG 76 Bo Donald JR RT 78 John O’Brian JR TE 87 Z ach Heins SR TE 85 Tucker Kraft JR WR 10 Jaxon Janke SR WR 1 Jadon Janke SR QB 11 Mark Gronowski SO RB 2 2 Isaiah Davis JR PK 10 Hunter Dustman JR •••••••• DE 97 Reece Winkelman SR NT 98 Ryan Van Marel SR DT 99 Caleb Sanders SR DE 94 Cade Terveer SR WLB 29 Graham Spalding JR MLB 32 Adam Bock JR SLB 2 Isaiah Stalbird SR CB 1 Malik Lofton SR FS 25 Cale Reeder JR SS 35 Chase Norblade SR CB 5 DyShawn Gales #FR P 10 Hunter Dustman JR LT 78 Mason Richman SO LG 76 Tyler Elsbury SO C 65 Logan Jones SO RG 7 7 Connor Colby SO RT 79 Jack Plumb SR WR 6 Keagan Johnson SO WR 10 Arland Bruce SO TE 84 Sam LaPorta SR QB 7 Spencer Petras SR RB 25 Gavin Williams SO FB 38 Monte Pottebaum SR PK 1 A aron Blom SO •••••••• LE 92 John Waggoner SR LT 99 Noah Shannon SR RT 85 Logan Lee JR RE 13 Joe Evans SR OLB 5 Jestin Jacobs JR MLB 31 Jack Campbell SR WLB 4 4 Seth Benson SR CB 2 Terry Roberts SR SS 26 Kaevon Merriweather SR FS 30 Quinn Schulte JR CB 3 3 Riley Moss SR P 9 Tory Taylor JR STARTERS The Daily Iowan’s official bettor’s guide to Iowa football’s Week 1 matchup with South Dakota State of the week

TEXAS STATE +5.5 all in on fading Nevada in Week 1. Bobs! STATE +42 like Utah State to cover against Alabama, even if the Crimson Tide usually beat teams like this by 50.

I don’t have the same fancy numbers as Pete, but you don’t really need those to make this bet. With my own two eyes, I can see that the Hawkeyes have a great defense and a suspect offense — to put things nicely. The only way I see the over hitting here is if South Dakota State’s offense can figure out how to move the ball efficiently.

I don’t think anybody should be surprised that I’m picking South Dakota State to cover this week. I don’t consider this bet to be much of a gam ble because, if there’s one thing you can always count on, it’s Iowa’s offense scoring fewer points than it should. Pick the Hawkeyes to win by two touchdowns? Can I even count on them to score two? YTD: $0 YTD: $0

AUSTIN HANSON Pregame Editor

SDSU +15.5

Remember when Iowa beat Colorado State, 24-10, last year? SDSU beat those same Rams, 42-23. The point is, this Jackrabbit team is better than many programs at the bottom of the FBS barrel. Add in the fact that Iowa might keep things relatively vanilla on offense with a rivalry game on deck, and it makes sense to take the points with the Jackrabbits.

I’m

PETE RUDEN College Football Editor. Action Network Daily Iowan Alumnus For advanced analysis and statistics, read the full version of The Daily Iowan’s bettor’s guide dailyiowan.comat

Each week during the Iowa football season, Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Austin Hanson and Action Network College Football Editor Pete Ruden will place three hypothetical bets of $100. The score of the contest will be kept in the piggy banks to the right and left with a winner to be declared at the end of the season. Ruden’s 2022 record: 0-0 Hanson’s 2022 record: 0-0 UNDER 44.5

Iowa is essentially every under bettor’s dream. The Hawkeyes ranked 18th nationally in Defensive Success Rate last season. On the other side, Iowa’s offense finished 118th in Success Rate and 121st in Finishing Drives. I’d feel comfortable taking this under down to the key number of 42. UNDER 44.5

UTAH

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 3 Breaking news, top stories, Postgame and more delivered right to your inbox Sign up at dailyiowan.com/newsletters The Daily Iowan

Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta runs the ball toward the end zone for a touchdown during the 2022 Vrbo Citrus Bowl between No. 15 Iowa and No. 22 Kentucky at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 1.. The Wildcats defeated the Hawkeyes, 20-17.

The Illinoisan had built strong relationships with the school’s coaching staff, gone on an official visit, and was ready to become a Falcon. But things can change, and Sam did not end up at BGSU. Iowa’s coaching staff offered Sam a scholarship on Dec. 13, 2018 — just five days before the early signing period started for the class of 2019 — and suggested he come to Iowa City for an official visit.

Looking back on LaPorta’s journey to Iowa

4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022

Chris Werner Assistant Sports Editor As a high school senior, Sam LaPorta believed he was going to play college football at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Iowa was the only Power Five school to offer Sam a scholarship. Sam’s record-setting career at Highland High School put him on Iowa’s radar. He caught 50 touchdowns and racked up 3,793 receiving

If it wasn’t for a last-minute scholarship offer from Brian Ferentz, the Hawkeyes’ No. 1 tight end might’ve been a Bowling Green State Falcon.

Staci said Sam didn’t want to make the four-hour trip to Iowa — though she and Sam’s high school football coach, Jim Wernecke, convinced him to “Samgo. was torn,” Staci said. “He got to know a lot of the other coaches and kind of built relationships. He kind of gave his word, almost, to this other coach that he would come his way and sign. Then, last-minute, he got this other opportunity. He really felt bad about, you know, going against his [verbal] commitment.”StaciandSam agreed to go on the weekend visit the Hawkeyes’ coaching staff, and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz in particular proposed. Sam and Staci, however, insisted Sam be back in Highland for a varsity basketball game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. Sam was LAPORTA

This guy from Illinois kept showing up, and it was Sam.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 5

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta attempts to stiff arm Nebraska safety Marquel Dismuke during a football game between No. 16 Iowa and Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Nov. 26, 2021. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers, 28-21.

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

— Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods yards. The then-wide receiver’s TD and receiving yardage totals ranked second and third in Illinois High School Association history, respectively.Although Sam had amassed those numbers primarily as a wideout, Iowa’s coaching staff told the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder he could possibly make the switch to tight end if he became a Hawkeye. While head coach Kirk Ferentz and company learned about Sam early in the recruiting process and invited him to their camps, they initially passed on the multi-sport athlete because their roster was already stacked with tight ends. Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, now in the NFL, occupied the top two TE spots on Iowa’s 2018 depthBehindchart.Hockenson and Fant were Nate Wieting and Shaun Beyer — both of whom played more than 30 games for the Hawkeyes. But Iowa’s tight end room would become thinner. Fant declared for the 2019 NFL Draft on Nov. 30. and Hockenson did the same on Jan.“He14. came here to camp and it didn’t quite go the way he had hoped,” Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods said of LaPorta’s initial appearance at one of the Hawkeyes’ prospect camps during summer 2018. “So, we kept moving on, ‘hey, we’ll keep watching you.’ And he just kept performing every single week. And every week I’d check the St. Louis PostDispatch sports page and see who was great, who’s doing well at “Well,receiving.thisguy from Illinois kept showing up at the top, and it was Sam. So, we kept following him, kept following him. Then, we had two tight ends, Noah and T.J., both declare for the draft. All of a sudden, now we had a need. We needed a guy and Sam kept performing and kept doingSam’swell.” mother, Staci LaPorta, said Iowa’s coaches gave Sam and his family less than 24 hours to decide if he was going to come on an official visit, and they were unsure what to do. So, Kirk Ferentz called Staci a day later to try to convince them to come to Iowa City. Staci said Sam didn’t really want to make an official visit to Iowa because he hadn’t formed solid relationships with its coaching staff. The Hawkeyes’ last-second scholarship offer didn’t sit right with Sam, either. “I think he was a little bit hurt by that,” Staci said. “... He started talking to more and more players and they got to go to those Iowa football games and stand on the sidelines and look at it from a different level. We never got that opportunity. So he was like, ‘I feel like I can play at that level. I don’t know, maybe not because nobody’s taking notice.’”

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta jogs into the end zone after a touchdown reception during a football game between Iowa and Colorado State at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 25, 2021. The Hawkeyes defeated the Rams, 24-14.

| Page 6

LAPORTA Continued

You have to tell Staci I groveled more with her than I probably have with my wife, ever.

— Iowa offiensive coordinator Brian Ferentz Highland’s starting power forward during the 2018-19 season.Once Sam and Staci got to Iowa City, the Hawkeyes pulled out all the stops. Director of recruiting Tyler Barnes, Brian finalist-to-be. And then, true to their plan, Sam and his mom drove back to Highland the next day for a basketball game versus Centralia.Sam committed to Iowa on December 18 and signed one day later. And it didn’t take long for Sam to find his way onto the Cook, and Wieting,Wieting.whoisnow back in Iowa City and enrolled in medical school, said teammate. He knew that coming into the program, especially in Iowa, it typically is a developmental notable Hawkeyes like A.J. Epenesa and Tristan Wirfs, who are now in the NFL. “I thought to myself, ‘I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to play at this level,’ … I have quite a few stories of me on my ass,” Sam said. “But I’ve also had a lot of ‘aha’ moments in my career as well, where onto the scene against Northwestern at Ryan Field on Oct. 26, 2019. In a 20-0 Hawkeye win, Sam reeled in his first two collegiate receptions, including a 41-yard catchand-run on a play-action pass from QB Nate Stanley. Sam recorded at least one reception in the last six from 5

6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta jumps up to catch a pass over Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig during a football game between No. 9 Iowa and Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 30, 2021.

The Badgers defeated the Hawkeyes 27-7.

Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the 2022 Vrbo Citrus Bowl between No. 15 Iowa and No. 22 Kentucky at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 1.

I’ve played against him since my freshman year. He’s a grinder. — Wisconsin junior linebacker Nick Herbig any other Hawkeye passer — said Sam’s understanding of what a defense is doing is a big part of his success. “I think his route running has improved quite a bit and he really understands coverage, almost the level of a quarterback, which really helps, especially at tight end when, a lot of times, it’s about finding windows in zone coverage,” Petras said. “I know he’s worked really hard at that and understanding everything. It shows up on the field with just how consistently he gets open, how hard he is to cover for defenses.”

christopher-werner@uiowa.edu

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 7

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

Wisconsin junior linebacker Nick Herbig called Sam a “polished route-runner” who has great hands and runblocking ability. “I love playing against Sam,” Herbig said at Big Ten Football Media Days on July 28. “I’ve played against him since my freshman year. He’s a grinder. You try to get off the block, but he’s still there on your hip like, ‘What’s this guy still doing here?’”Thisseason will likely be Sam’s last at Iowa. While he does have two years of eligibility remaining — the NCAA gave all 202021 athletes an extra year of eligibility because of COVID-19 — he has suggested 2022 will be his final year with the Hawkeyes.During a media availability session in April, Sam said he considered declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft. He will likely go pro in Sam2023. said one of the main reasons he returned to the UI was to finish up his business degree off the field, but Staci told The Daily Iowan Sam is returning this season with something to prove on it. “I think that’s why he came back this year, he’s just like, ‘I was third-team AllBig Ten this year. I think I had the most yards, why am I third-team?’” Staci said. “He just has a chip on his shoulder. You know, from not even being recruited to Iowa, now, all of a sudden, he’s like, ‘I want to be the best tight end, I want to get the most yards.’ All right Sam, go get it.”

0 Diante Vines WR 6-0 198 Soph Danbury, CT 1 Xavier Nwankpa DB 6-2 210 Fr Pleasant Hill, IA 1 Aaron Blom K 5-11 189 Soph Oskaloosa, IA 2 Kaleb Johnson RB 6-0 212 Fr Hamilton, OH 2 Terry Roberts DB 5-10 182 Sr Erie, PA 3 Carson May QB 6-3 221 Fr Jones, OK 3 Cooper DeJean DB 6-1 209 Soph Odebolt, IA 4 Leshon Williams RB 5-10 210 Soph Chicago, IL 4 Koen Entringer DB 6-0 199 Fr Ypsilanti, MI 5 Joe Labas QB 6-4 207 #Fr Brecksville, OH 5 Jestin Jacobs LB 6-4 238 Jr Englewood, OH 6 Keagan Johnson WR 6-1 194 Soph Bellevue, NE 6 TJ Hall DB 6-0 183 Fr Fresno, CA 7 Spencer Petras QB 6-5 231 Sr San Rafael, CA 7 Reggie Bracy DB 6-0 209 Jr Mobile, AL 8 Alex Padilla QB 6-1 200 Jr Greenwood Village, CO 8 Deshaun Lee DB 5-10 174 Fr Belleville, MI 9 Jaziun Patterson RB 5-10 188 Fr Pompano Beach, FL 9 Tory Taylor P 6-4 230 Jr Melbourne, Australia 10 Arland Bruce IV WR 5-10 198 Soph Olathe, KS 11 AJ Lawson DB 6-0 193 Soph Decatur, IL 12 Jaxon Rexroth DB 6-2 213 #Fr Cedar Rapids, IA 13 Reese Osgood WR 5-11 176 Fr Franklin, WI 13 Joe Evans DE 6-2 246 Sr Ames, IA 14 Brody Brecht WR 6-4 217 #Fr Ankeny, IA 15 Jacob Bostick WR 6-2 171 Fr Palatine, IL 15 Dallas Craddieth DB 5-11 207 Sr St. Louis, MO 16 Jordan Kumm WR 5-9 188 Soph Ankeny, IA 16 Jamison Heinz DB 6-0 205 Soph Humboldt, IA 17 Max White RB 5-10 203 #Fr Cedar Rapids, IA 17 Brenden Deasfernandes DB 6-0 192 Soph Belleville, MI 18 Alec Wick WR 6-1 196 #Fr Iowa City, IA 18 Drew Stevens K 6-0 180 Fr North Augusta, SC 19 Graham Friedrichsen WR 6-1 183 Fr Urbandale, IA 19 Gaven Cooke DB 6-1 184 #Fr Kentfield, CA 20 Deavin Hilson RB 6-1 192 #Fr Des Moines, IA 20 Kael Kolarik DB 6-0 211 Fr Indianola, IA 21 Kaden Wetjen WR 5-10 191 Soph Williamsburg, IA 21 Thomas Hartlieb DB 5-11 193 Jr Madison, WI 22 Nolan Donald RB 5-9 197 Jr Morton, IL 22 Carter Erickson DB 6-0 181 Fr Indianola, IA 23 Landyn Van Kekerix LB 6-1 198 Fr Inwood, IA 25 Gavin Williams RB 6-0 214 Soph Altoona, IA 25 Kelby Telander LB 6-4 228 #Fr North Liberty, IA 26 Kaevon Merriweather DB 6-0 212 Sr Belleville, MI 27 Jack Johnson WR 6-0 194 Soph West Des Moines, IA 27 Jermari Harris DB 6-1 190 Jr Chicago, IL 29 Jackson Ritter WR 6-3 209 Jr Frankfort, IL 29 Sebastian Castro DB 5-11 207 Jr Oak Lawn, IL 30 Quinn Schulte DB 6-1 208 Jr Cedar Rapids, IA 31 Jack Campbell LB 6-5 246 Sr Cedar Falls, IA 32 Johnny Plewa FB 6-0 240 Jr Franklin, WI 32 Eli Miller LB 6-1 232 #Fr Sedalia, CO 33 Riley Moss DB 6-1 193 Sr Ankeny, IA 34 Zach Brand RB 5-11 210 #Fr Grimes, IA 34 Jay Higgins LB 6-2 229 Jr Indianapolis, IN 35 Justice Sullivan LB 6-2 230 #Fr Eden Prairie, MN 36 Jayden Montgomery LB 5-10 214 Fr Suamico, WI 37 Kyler Fisher LB 5-11 229 Jr Farnhamville, IA 38 Monte Pottebaum FB 6-1 244 Sr Larchwood, IA 38 Greg Fagan LB 6-3 214 Fr Council Bluffs, IA 39 Eric Epenesa LB 6-3 193 #Fr Glen Carbon, IL 39 Luke Elkin LS 6-1 227 Soph Neenah, WI 40 Turner Pallissard FB 6-0 243 Sr Frankfort, IL 40 Josef Smith LB 6-3 233 Soph Britt, IA 41 Jaden Harrell LB 6-2 239 #Fr Urbandale, IA 42 Denin Limouris FB 6-2 234 #Fr Glen Ellyn, IL 42 Zach Twedt LB 6-3 240 #Fr Story City, IA 43 Karson Sharar LB 6-2 224 #Fr Iowa Falls, IA 44 Seth Benson LB 6-0 232 Sr Sioux Falls, SD 45 Deontae Craig DL 6-3 266 Soph Fort Wayne, IN 45 Nick Phelps P 5-10 200 Sr Kingsley, IA 46 Logan Klemp LB 6-2 235 Sr Jewell, IA 48 Max Llewellyn DL 6-5 243 #Fr Urbandale, IA 49 Andrew Lentsch TE 6-4 252 #Fr West Des Moines, IA 49 Ethan Hurkett DL 6-3 252 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA 50 Louie Stec DL 6-0 268 Jr La Grange Park, IL 51 Luke Gaffney DL 6-2 247 Fr Robins, IA 52 Asher Fahey OL 6-5 289 Soph Waukon, IA 53 Michael Myslinski OL 6-3 287 #Fr Jacksonville, FL 54 Matt Fagan OL 6-5 296 Sr Council Bluffs, IA 54 Dominic Wiseman DL 5-11 274 Fr Davenport, IA 55 Jeremiah Pittman DL 6-3 297 #Fr Palatine, IL 56 Nick DeJong OL 6-6 300 Jr Pella, IA 57 Will Hubert DL 6-3 247 Fr Omaha, NE 58 Taylor Fox OL 6-3 292 Jr Winthrop, IA 59 Griffin Liddle OL 6-3 282 #Fr Bettendorf, IA 63 Justin Britt OL 6-4 301 Jr Indianapolis, IN 65 Logan Jones OL 6-3 283 Soph Council Bluffs, IA 66 Jeremy Chaplin OL 6-2 263 #Fr Waverly, IA 67 Gennings Dunker OL 6-5 316 #Fr Lena, IA 69 Tyler Endres OL 6-6 297 Jr Norwalk, IA 70 Beau Stephens OL 6-6 307 #Fr Blue Springs, MO 71 Jack Dotzler OL 6-6 266 Fr Waunakee, WI 72 Kale Krogh OL 6-5 276 Fr Huxley, IA 73 David Davidkov OL 6-6 309 #Fr Glenview, IL 75 Josh Volk OL 6-4 308 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA 76 Tyler Elsbury OL 6-5 308 Soph Byron, IL 77 Connor Colby OL 6-6 308 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA 78 Mason Richman OL 6-6 308 Soph Leawood, KS 79 Jack Plumb OL 6-7 297 Sr Green Bay, WI 80 Kyson Van Vugt TE 6-6 247 Fr Hull, IA 81 Cael Vanderbush TE 6-4 208 Fr Plainfield, IN 82 Johnny Pascuzzi TE 6-4 224 #Fr Olathe, KS 83 Alex Eichmann WR 6-2 193 Fr Sussex, WI 83 Jameson Witte DL 6-5 270 Soph O'Fallon, MO 84 Sam LaPorta TE 6-4 249 Sr Highland, IL 85 Luke Lachey TE 6-6 252 Soph Columbus, OH 85 Logan Lee DL 6-5 275 Jr Orion, IL 86 Steven Stilianos TE 6-5 264 Jr Hayes, VA 86 Jeff Bowie DL 6-5 270 #Fr West Branch, IA 87 Addison Ostrenga TE 6-4 234 Fr Sun Prairie, WI 87 Andrew Kraus DL 6-4 227 Fr Barrington, IL 88 Jackson Frericks TE 6-6 233 Jr Cedar Falls, IA 89 Nico Ragaini WR 6-0 196 Sr East Haven, CT 90 Brian Allen DE 6-4 263 Fr Lake in the Hills, IL 91 Lukas Van Ness DL 6-5 269 Soph Barrington, IL 92 John Waggoner DL 6-5 267 Sr Des Moines, IA 93 Anu Dokun DL 6-3 230 Soph Iowa City, IA 94 Yahya Black DL 6-5 306 Soph Marshall, MN 95 Aaron Graves DL 6-4 271 Fr Dayton, IA 96 Lucas Amaya K 6-2 209 Jr Muskego, WI 97 Caden Crawford DL 6-4 253 Fr Lansing, KS 97 Liam Reardon LS 6-1 223 Soph Chicago, IL 98 Chris Reames DL 6-7 274 Jr Van Meter, IA 99 Noah Shannon DL 6-0 289 Sr Montgomery, IL 99 Max Hoskins P 6-1 175 Fr Salem, OR 8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022

Michael Drotzmann P 6-3 210 Jr Yankton, SD

John O'Brian OL 6-5 300 Jr Eaton Rapids, MI 79 Jharett Bloomenrader OL 6-5 290 Jr Highmore, SD 80 Nate Sullivan Jr. TE 6-2 225 Soph Bellevue, NE Rhett Foster WR 6-3 185 Fr Smithville, MO 82 Jason Harris WR 6-0 210 Fr New Lenox, IL 83 David Alpers TE 6-6 225 Fr Sioux Falls, SD 84 Daxon Lindholm WR 5-10 160 #Fr Glendale, AZ 85 Tucker Kraft TE 6-5 255 Jr Timber Lake, SD 86 Patrick Hoffmann WR 6-1 200 Soph Naperville, IL 87 Zach Heins TE 6-7 260 Sr Sioux Falls, SD 88 Greyton Gannon TE 6-4 215 Fr Eagle, WI 89 Brody Gormley TE 6-7 225 Fr Topeka, KS 90 Randy Keumogne DE 6-3 230 Jr Oakdale, MN 91 Hayden Muirhead TE 6-6 230 #Fr Sioux Falls, SD 91 Jace Sifore DT 6-4 265 Fr Howard, SD 92 Brian Williams DT 6-1 290 Jr Chipley, FL 93 Max Baloun DT 6-6 245 Soph Redfield, SD 94 Cade Terveer DE 6-3 250 Sr Brandon, SD 95 Zac Wilson DE 6-3 235 Jr Chipley, FL 96 Zach Brummels K 6-4 190 Fr Brandon, SD 97 Reece Winkelman DE 6-4 245 Sr Marshall, MN 97 Luke Fenton K 6-0 185 Fr Omaha, NE 98 Ryan Van Marel DT 6-4 280 Sr Sheldon, IA 99 Caleb Sanders DT 6-1 270 Sr Glenwood, IA 99 Jack Green K 6-3 #195 Fr Rapid City, SD

Quinton Hicks DE 6-3 245 Sr Wichita, KS

Kevin Brenner DE 6-3 240 Jr Silver Lake, WI 45 Kaden Johnson LB 6-2 205 Fr La Vista, NE 46 Cullen McShane LB 6-2 210 Fr Marquette, IA Kytan Fyfe LB 6-2 195 Fr Grand Island, NE

Noah Jessup DE 6-5 225 #Fr Franklin, WI Logan Green DT 6-3 270 Fr Northboro, IA 52 Jarod DePriest DT 6-5 270 Jr Trivoli, IL

Aaron Wolfcale-Holsten DT 6-2 285 #Fr Gilbert, AZ 56

Grant Conaway DT 6-3 270 Jr Huntington Beach, CA Mason McCormick OL 6-4 305 Sr Sioux Falls, SD 61 Evan Beerntsen OL 6-4 300 Jr De Pere, WI 62 Derrick Brown OL 6-5 310 #Fr Mesa, AZ 64 Ethan Vibert OL 6-4 305 Jr Regina, SK 66 Brady Beck OL 6-8 305 Jr Sioux Falls, SD 67 Brennan Leines OL 6-2 320 Fr Wagner, SD 69 Quinten Christensen OL 6-4 275 Fr Wessington Springs, SD Colby Christensen OL 6-8 280 Soph West Des Moines, IA

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 9

0 Daeton Mcgaughy LB 6-0 210 Jr Elwood, KS Jadon Janke WR 6-3 210 Sr Madison, SD 1 Malik Lofton CB 5-10 190 Sr Minneapolis, MN 2 Isaiah Stalbird S 6-1 200 Sr Kearney, NE 2 Rudy Voss QB 6-3 210 Soph Lakefield, MN Amar Johnson RB 5-11 190 Soph O'Fallon, MO 3 Dontay Johnson S 6-1 170 Fr Fort Collins, CO 4 Canyon Bauer WR 6-0 195 Jr Sioux Falls, SD 5 Landon Wolf WR 5-10 160 Sr Tulsa, OK DyShawn Gales CB 5-11 190 Sr North Chicago, IL 6 Saiveon Williamson LB 6-1 205 Sr Waseca, MN Chase Mason QB 6-4 225 #Fr Hurley, SD 7 Dalys Beanum CB 6-1 185 Jr Omaha, NE 8 Tyler Feldkamp WR 6-0 195 Soph Sioux Falls, SD 9 Caleb Francl LB 6-0 185 Jr Grand Island, NE 10 Jaxon Janke WR 6-3 210 Sr Madison, SD 10 Hunter Dustman K 6-3 230 Jr East Bethel, MN 11 Mark Gronowski QB 6-3 220 Soph Naperville, IL 11 Jason Freeman LB 5-9 200 Jr Zion, IL 12 Regan Bollweg TE 6-2 230 #Fr Harrold, SD 13 Keaton Heide QB 6-3 205 Sr Wayzata, MN 13 Aydan Dautermann CB 6-1 185 #Fr Hartford, WI 14 Colby Huerter S 6-1 195 Soph Katy, TX 15 Devon Cole Jr WR 5-9 165 Soph Clermont, FL 15 Timothy Croskey CB 6-0 170 #Fr Buckeye, AZ 16 Jon Bell QB 6-3 190 #Fr Naperville, IL 17 Jeff Becker QB 6-0 205 Fr Fort Wayne, IN 17 Abe Hoskins III CB 6-2 185 Soph Omaha, NE 17 Jeff Becker QB 6-0 205 Fr Fort Wayne, IN 18 Grahm Goering WR 6-2 190 #Fr Iowa City, IA 19 A.J. Coons WR 6-4 215 Soph Solon, IA 19 Max Polischuk S 6-1 190 Fr Regina, SK 20 Myles Taylor CB 6-1 180 #Fr Gilbert, AZ 21 Angel Johnson RB 5-10 185 #Fr Irene, SD 22 Isaiah Davis RB 6-1 220 Jr Joplin, MO 23 Matthew Durrance S 6-2 195 #Fr Lutz, FL 24 Derrick Johnson RB 6-0 200 Fr Austin, TX 25 Cale Reeder S 6-0 180 Jr Yorkville, IL 26 Steven Arrell CB 6-2 190 Soph Brooklyn Park, MN 27 Noah Thompson S 6-1 180 Fr Brandon, SD 28 Josh Buri RB 5-11 210 #Fr Stewartville, MN 29 Graham Spalding LB 6-1 205 Jr Oviedo, FL 30 Payton Shafer LB 6-0 210 Sr Cottage Grove, MN 31 Jalen B Lee CB 6-2 180 Fr Wentzville, MO 32 Adam Bock LB 6-1 215 Jr Solon, IA 33 Justin Harris RB 5-10 185 Fr New Lenox, IL 34 Michael Morgan FB/TE 6-3 235 Sr New Lenox, IL 34 Ryan Swoger S 6-2 175 #Fr Tucson, AZ 35 Chase Norblade S 6-1 185 Sr Papillion, NE 36 Dane Miller WR 6-3 180 Fr Hardy, NE 37 Tucker Large S 5-11 170 #Fr Sioux Falls, SD 38 Trevor Scott LB 5-11 200 Fr Kansas City, MO 39 Isaac Kracl RB 5-11 180 Fr Crete, NE 40 Aaron Kusler LB 6-2 220 Soph Sioux Falls, SD 41 Joe Ollman LB 6-2 210 Fr Mequon, WI 42 Davion Sterner LB 6-0 190 Soph Alvord, IA 43 Adam Kusler LB 6-3 215 Soph Sioux Falls, SD

Jalen Lee OL 6-2 305 Soph Robbins, IL 55

Jaden Mueller LS 6-1 205 Soph Johnston, IA Bryce Johnson LB 6-3 200 Fr Parker, CO Gus Miller OL 6-3 295 Soph Brookings, SD

Caden Johnson DE 6-3 235 Jr Wahoo, NE 54

J.T Gulbraa OL 6-4 290 Fr Wallace, SD 74 Garret Greenfield OL 6-6 305 Sr Rock Valley, IA 75 Dawson Rudd OL 6-5 260 Fr Claremore, OK 76 Bo Donald OL 6-6 300 Jr Kimball, SD 77 Michael Reed OL 6-3 325 #Fr Sparta, WI 78

Levi Vanden Bos DE 6-3 225 #Fr Rock Valley, IA 58 Aidan Murphy DE 6-4 230 Fr Magna, UT 59

Isaac Goffin Football Reporter

In 2015, South Dakota State downed Kansas, 41-38. Last season, the Yellow and Blue beat Colorado State, 42-23. When Minnesota wel comed South Dakota State in 2019, the Golden Gophers barely pulled off a 28-21 vic tory.The Hawkeyes have seen how strong MVC programs are. FCS powerhouse North Dakota State made a walkoff field goal in Iowa City during the 2016 season for a 23-21 victory. Iowa squeaked by Northern Iowa, 17-16, to open the 2009 campaign.

10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 Get to know South Dakota State

Erin Woodiel/Argus Leader South Dakota State head coach John Stiegelmeier leads drills during football practice on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz talks with an official during a football game between Iowa and Colorado State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. The Hawkeyes defeated the Rams, 24-14.

South Dakota State head football coach John Stiegelmeier said there’s no doubt in his mind that Iowa will be the best team he’s faced in his 35 years with the Jackrabbits.TheHawkeyes and Jack rabbits are set to meet in Kinnick Stadium for the first time at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Stiegelmeier said if his pro gram is going to have any chance of winning the sea son-opener, the Jackrabbits must play their best football and be mistake-free. Stiegelmeier specifically noted the Hawkeyes’ stout defense, which ranked first in the nation in 2021 with 25 interceptions.“Thething about [Iowa’s] defense — they may prove me wrong — but they don’t do a lot,” Stiegelmeier said. “They rely on being sound, under standing their defense and then doing their job, and I’ve watched them against some really good opponents, and they’ve had success doing that.“Ithink it’s going to be re ally hard to run the football based on their front seven, and ideally, we can pass the ball,” Stiegelmeier added. “But again, that means you got to block through their pass rushers, which is part of their front seven, and so it’s going to be a tough game.”

South Dakota State lists 12 players on its 2022 roster who went to high school in Iowa. Three of those student-ath letes are from Johnson Coun ty.Linebacker Adam Bock was a member of the Des Moines Register’s 2018 All-Iowa team following his senior season at Solon High School. He was a HERO Sports FCS All-America First Team selec tion in 2021. He’s also a team captain for the 2022 season. Sophomore wide receiv er A.J. Coons attended So lon, while freshman receiver Grahm Goering competed at Iowa City West High School. Coons recorded one recep tion for 18 yards last fall, and Goering took a redshirt year in Stiegelmeier2021. and Ferentz hold similar legacies and are the all-time winningest coaches at their respective programs.Bothwere assistant coach es at their schools before becoming head coaches. Stiegelmeier was hired as South Dakota State’s head coach in 1997, while Ferentz started at Iowa in 1999. Fer entz described Stiegelmeier as a first-class coach and gen tleman.“Ilook forward to picking his brain,” Stiegelmeier said. “He’s only a couple years older than me, but I’m sure he’s got some really good insight. And the success of his program, I respect what he’s done, what the Iowa Hawkeyes have done throughout the years, and it’s going to be an hon or to meet him and compete against him.” isaac-goffin@uiowa.edu

The Jackrabbits finished second in the FCS in 2020 and have taken down two FBS schools all-time.

Iowa head coach Kirk Fer entz said he reminds his stu dent-athletes there’s nothing easy about winning college football“We’regames.playing a really good football team and a good football program in South Dakota State,” Ferentz said. “First thing that jumps out at you when you look at their film in any phase is they’re well-coached and they real ly play hard, and that’s what good teams Stiegelmeierdo.” noted his team practiced “The Wave,” which will take place at the end of the first quarter on Saturday to recognize pa tients at the Stead Children’s Family Hospital. The Jackrabbits are ex pected to start quarterback Mark Gronowski, who missed the 2021 season because of a knee injury. As a true freshman during the 202021 slate, his 15 passing and seven rushing touchdowns led South Dakota State to the FCS national championship game. He was injured during the national championship game, and the Jackrabbits finished runner-up.

The Jackrabbits are a mem ber of the Missouri Valley Conference in the FCS, so its not often they match up against a FBS program. But when that happens, they’ve had moments of success.

7. Minnesota Mo Ibrahim is back, so maybe Minnesota will be good again.

Western Michigan won’t have to go far to get tram pled, at least. To give West ern Michigan some credit, Kalamazoo is a cooler town name than East Lansing.

4. Wisconsin Graham Mertz redemption year?

Michigan State is the type of good team that nobody knows anything about.

Rutgers playing a road game in the first week of the sea son really is… something. Rutgers, a Big Ten team, be ing the underdog in week of the season is a whole ‘nother kind of something. Charlie Jones went to the MAC, the Big Ten West, and then the Big Ten West again. He left Buffalo, left Iowa, and now tickets to this game are as low as $3. Try not to onside kick when you’re up by two posses sions this time, Nebraska.

10. Maryland Taulia Tagovailoa broke three program records last year, and Maryland was still bad.

1. Ohio State The Buckeyes are back, baby.

3. Michigan State

2. Michigan Two starting quarterbacks, second in the rankings.

5. Purdue Purdue is going to win the Big Ten West, just you wait. 6. Iowa Does Iowa have a quarterback yet?

Although, it would be really funny if you did. I have no opinion about this blowout game. I still have to write around 50 words about it though, so I guess this is a chance for Graham Mertz to show he’s not terrible. Objectively, the only Big Ten game worth watching this week. And this season, Brian Kelly won’t be in South Bend with his *fahmily*.

Bring me the Big Ten map commercial. I only have two more seasons before they have to expand to the ~West Coast~ for Big Ten country teams USC and UCLA. I like to think of Colorado State as an FCS team. That being said, Colorado State did lose to FCS South Dakota State, so it’s like the Rams are right there. Iowa actually has a chance to lose this one, funnily enough. South Dakota State almost beat Minnesota in 2019 anyway. SDSU to the Big Ten, anyone?

8. Penn State I don’t even know what to think about Penn State anymore. 9. Northwestern It’s an even year, the Wildcats have to be back.

11. Rutgers Also bad. 12. Illinois Super bad. 13. Indiana I forgot Indiana in my original rankings, if that tells you anything.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 11 W. MICHIGAN ILLINOIS COLORADO ST. SDSU RUTGERS BUFFALO NORTH DAKOTA ILLINOIS STATE OHIO MICHIGANSTATEST. INDIANA MICHIGAN IOWA BOSTON COL. MARYLAND NEBRASKA WISCONSIN NOTRE DAME Purdue has winning the Big Ten West vibes this year. Chloe Peterson chloe-peterson@uiowa.edu Friday | 6:00 p.m. | Western Michigan (0-0, 0-0) No. 15 Michigan State (0-0, 0-0) Spartan Stadium | East Lansing, MI Line: Michigan State -20 O/U: 54 Friday | 7:00 p.m. | Illinois (1-0, 1-0) Indiana (0-0, 0-0) Memorial Stadium | Bloomington, IN Line: Indiana -3 O/U: 47.5 Saturday | 11:00 a.m. | Colorado State (0-0, 0-0) No. 8 Michigan (0-0, 0-0) Michigan Stadium | Ann Arbor, MI Line: Michigan -27 O/U: 58 Saturday | 11:00 a.m. | South Dakota State (0-0, 0-0) Iowa (0-0, 0-0) Kinnick Stadium | Iowa City, IA Line: Iowa -15.5 O/U: 44.5 Saturday | 11:00 a.m. | Rutgers (0-0, 0-0) Boston College (0-0, 0-0) Alumni Stadium | Chesnut Hill, MA Line: Boston College -7 O/U: 48 Saturday | 11:00 a.m. | Buffalo (0-0, 0-0) Maryland (0-0, 0-0) Maryland Stadium | College Park, MD Line: Maryland -23 O/U: 63.5 Saturday | 2:30 p.m. | North Dakota (0-0, 0-0) Nebraska (0-1, 0-1) Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE Line: Nebraska -21.5 O/U: 48.5

14. Nebraska 0-1 to start the season, just as the college football gods intended.

12 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022

Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan Iowa quarterback Joe Labas poses for a portrait during Iowa football media day at Iowa football’s practice facility on Aug. 12.

DI: People don’t rec ognize you in class like, ‘hey, that’s Joe Labas. He’s the third-stringer for the Hawkeyes?’

Austin Hanson Pregame Editor

Labas: I think, so far, Penn State, for sure. Penn State was an unbelievable experience. I’ve never had that type of experience in my entire life. So, that was a lot of fun. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Read the full interview online at dailyiowan.com. austin-hanson@uiowa.edu

The Daily Iowan: Every body says the third-string quarterback is the most pop ular man on campus. Do you feel like the most popular guy on campus? Joe Labas: No, I don’t. Not really. Yeah, no. I don’t really know, not really.

Labas: I don’t want to give that information out. DI: So, my last question for you is this: Do you have a favorite football moment, high school, college, what ever. Is there something you go back to like, ‘highlight of my career, right there.’

DI: Let’s say there’s an NCAA football video game coming out this year. What do you feel like your overall rating should be? Labas: Oh, boy. I mean, as a third-string quarterback, hopefully it’s higher than like 68. Maybe higher than a 70? DI: Let’s say, hypotheti cally, you’ve got a big date tonight. Where do you take that person to impress them? Is there a certain thing you do or restaurant you go to? Labas: That’s a good question. I’d probably take them out to eat. Formosa is a good place. Just pick a spot. Pick a good spot to take and have a good time. DI: Do you have a sad song you cry to in the show er? Something you turn up to maximum volume when you’re feeling sad?

Labas: During class last year, I was the fourth-string quarterback. Nobody really knew me. That’s pretty much it. Nobody really knew me.

“I have five kids, so I’ve dealt with the fevers, kids be ing sick, and all the different illnesses,” she said. “I knew this was definitely different. I asked the pediatrician and he said, if I knew something was wrong, to take him to Iowa City. So, that’s what we did.”Eli was diagnosed with a rare bone disease called chronic recurrent multifo cal osteomyelitis, or CRMO, in 2019. After choosing a treatment plan, Eli didn’t get better. The family returned to the UI with continuing symptoms a month later, and Eli received more testing. Katie and Marcus then heard a scarier diagnosis: stage four

The seven-year-old and his family first took the neartwo-hour drive from Elkad er, Iowa, to Iowa City when he was four. Eli had been limping and a pediatrician referred him to Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Katie and her husband, Marcus, were frustrated waiting for the August ap pointment and hit a breaking point in June.

ball team changes kids like Eli’s“Tolives.pick Eli as a Kid Cap tain, it’s amazing,” he said. “I’m grateful for it all.” Whenever Katie travels to Johnson County, she knows it could be the moment her fears come true, and she might hear her son has can cer again. Coming down to the UI this Saturday is a break in her normal pace — an ex citing, fun, and needed break. “After Kids Day, it was a whole different feeling we’ve never felt. It was like clo sure,” she said. “Families go through so much. When you go down there, it’s for very serious things and a lot of it is traumatic. It’s one of those things you sugar coat, and you don’t tell people how you really felt. For once, we’re go ing down there for fun … To go down there and feel loved and happy and not once think about a scan coming back bad, the experience is com pletely different. It was clo sure.”

Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan

Eleanor Hildebrandt Managing Editor Eli Belser is living out a dream this weekend. When the first Kid Captain of the 2022 Hawkeye foot ball season was too sick to watch games, his mom Katie promised he would one day see Kinnick from the field, not from the halls of the Uni versity of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Katie said she struggled making a promise she was unsure she could keep.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 13

The seven-year-old is a neuroblastoma survivor and ready for the first game of the Hawkeye season.

selectedHawkeyechildthisrictheandchildhoodhastreatments,cancerbratednotherapy.plants,motherapy,surgeries,ElimentofturethatNeuroblastomaneuroblastoma.isacancerdevelopsfromimmanervecells.Ithasonethemostaggressivetreatplansgiventochildren.wastreatedwithbiopsies,fivecyclesofchestemcelltransradiation,andimmuInMay,theBelsersceletwoyearsofElibeingfree.SincehisdiagnosisandKatiesaidElibeenabigadvocateforcancerawarenesshetakesthefieldwithHawkeyesduringPediatCancerAwarenessMonth.AsthefirstKidCaptainfall,ElialsoisthefirsttopickasongfortheWave.ThesongEliis“Brave”bySara

Marcus is a big Alabama fan, and head coach Nick Saban sent Eli signed gear when he was in the hospital for treat ment.Marcus said Eli being a Kid Captain is a once in a lifetime experience, and he’s thankful the Hawkeye foot

“Every day, I am scared of relapse because he still has a high chance,” she said. “But I promised him he would wave someday. And I asked him what seat he would sit in. He said, ‘well, why can’t I be on the field?’ And I said, ‘you have to pick a seat.’ I prom ised him, but then COVID happened, and no one was in the stands. Last year was a crazy year without regular treatments, so he never got to go to a home game. Now that it’s happening, it’s super exciting.”

Eli Belser celebrates two years cancer-free at Kinnick

eleanor-hildebrandt@uiowa.edu

Kid captain Eli Belser shakes hands with head coach Kirk Ferentz during Iowa football’s Kids’ Day at Kinnick in Iowa City on Aug. 13.

“The song that is going to be played at Kinnick was a song that got him through treatment and it helped his siblings a lot,” she said. “They all love it.” Eli is ecstatic to see his favorite player, Kaevon Mer riweather, this weekend. He started telling friends at school and is looking for ward to coming back to Iowa City.“I’m excited about every thing,” he said. “I’m ready.” Eli dreams of being a quar terback and one day being a Hawkeye or an Alabama football player. Those are his only two options, he said.

Bareilles. When fans take the stands, Katie wants them to know the song is extremely important to her, Marcus, and their five children.

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, September 2, 2022 - 15

The Hawkeyes are on upset alert this week IOWA Will Iowa learn from 2016? Maybe. IOWA Can’t win ‘em all if you don’t win the first one. IOWA The game comes down to special teams. IOWA Hawks by a million. IOWA SDSU played 25 games in 2021. Odd facts known by few. IOWA Hawks literally eat Jackrabbits.

IOWA

OHIO STATE I dare somebody to pick Notre Dame this week. OHIO STATE Petition for Ohio State to defect to the SEC. OHIO STATE C.J. Stroud laughed at me at Big Ten Football Media Days. OHIO STATE Where Heartlanders associate coach Joe Exter used to work. OHIO STATE ND never wins the big ones. OHIO STATE Checking the line for this game. Oh... OHIO STATE A budding Big Ten rivalry. ARKANSAS G’Hogs. ARKANSAS Remember when Cincinnati was good? CINCINNATI Shivansh Ahuja will live on through me. ARKANSAS I’ll never doubt an SEC West program.

ISAAC GOFFIN Football Reporter

ARKANSAS No Ridder, No W. ARKANSAS Hogs are good at home. ARKANSAS Might be one of the best and closest games of a rough opening week.

RUTGERS “Together, Rutgers will be No. 1.” — Greg Schiano circa 2019 BOSTON COLLEGE

The ACC is actually in the Power Two. BOSTON COLLEGE Picking Rutgers to win any football game is a proposition.dangerous BOSTON COLLEGE A rare opportunity to pick a Northeastern contest. BOSTON COLLEGE Knights won’t fly with the Eagles. BOSTON COLLEGE I didn’t know this game was going on. BOSTON COLLEGE I’ve already Rutgers-NebraskaDVR’donOct. 7.

AUSTIN HANSON Pregame Editor CHRIS WERNER Asst. Sports Editor

GEORGIA Home teams sweep this week. GEORGIA Oregon is really good — and a 17.5-point underdog. GEORGIA To quote Larry Bird, who’s coming in second?

GEORGIA Like Ray Charles, Georgia’s on my mind. GEORGIA Who wouldn’t pick Georgia? GEORGIA The result of this game depends solely on how cool Oregon’s jerseys are. GEORGIA I mistrust some SEC East mem bers, but not the Bulldogs.

CHLOE PETERSON Sports Editor

MICHAEL MERRICK DITV Sports Director JOHN BOHNENKAMP Sports Writing Coach JASON BRUMMOND Publisher

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