Iowa 45, Miami-OH 21, as Hawkeyes and Redhawks kickoff the 2016 season at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday

The Big Ten (Iowa) and the MAC (Miami-OH) both went back
to work as they kicked off the 2016 College Football season
in Kinnick Stadium, as the Hawkeyes win 45-21 over the Redhawks.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- In its season opener, the Miami University football team impressed on offense, outgaining the 18th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes with 424 yards in a 45-21 loss Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa built an early lead, with 21 points in the first quarter over Miami-OH. Iowa was physical, as Redhawks coach Chuck Martin expected heading into the season opener.

Miami-OH (0-1) held possession for over 36 minutes and gained 25 first downs, but the Iowa (1-0) scored three touchdowns off of Miami turnovers and converted on all six red zone opportunities.

"It was a close game, should have been closer," said Miami-OH head coach Chuck Martin. "Without the dang turnovers, it's a really close game. We fought through more than we wanted to, but we did well."

Miami-OH sophomore quarterback Billy Bahl was strong in his 2016 debut, going 19-of-29 with 266 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to sophomore wide receiver James Gardner. Both Gardner and senior wide receiver Rokeem Williams pulled in six catches, with Williams racking up 113 yards. Five Miami rushers combined to post 158 yards on the ground, led by sophomore Maurice Thomas with 60 yards on nine carries.

"We ran the ball legitimately," said Martin. "Legitimate run plays. And passing, we moved the ball very efficiently, obviously except fumbling the ball three times. They know what they are doing and they did."

After Miami-OH punted on its opening possession, the Hawkeyes used a couple of major plays to power an 80-yard drive, culminating with a 1-yard touchdown run that put them up 7-0 with 9:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Iowa junior MLB Josey Jewell was disqualified in the first quarter after being flagged for targeting on a personal foul on the first change of possession of the game. It brought back an explosive punt return by senior Desmond King. Miami-OH coach Martin shared the Redhawks game planned to run offense away from both Iowa cornerback King in the passing game and Iowa senior DT Jaleel Johnson in the running game.

Iowa junior RB 25 Akrum Wadley lead the Iowa ground game with 121 yards,
including two of the Hawkeyes five rushing TDs to open the season. He also
had a critical fumble recovery in the 1st half to avoid a turnover in Iowa territory.

On its next outing, a fumble by Thomas quickly led to another Iowa touchdown run that extended its lead to 14-0 at the 7:14 mark. Bahl then found Williams for a 67-yard completion that put Miami-OH into the red zone, but the momentum was short-lived as Bahl fumbled as he was being sacked.

Iowa capitalized on a Miami-OH, with a 2 play drive, finished with a 43 yard
run by senior RB 29 LeShun Daniels, Jr. After the turnover, Iowa took advantage with
a nice flea flicker from senior QB C.J. Beathard to sophomore WR Jerminic Smith.

Once again, Iowa capitalized on the turnover with a 38-yard pass, followed by a 43-yard run that made the score, 21-0, with 5:41 left in the opening period.

"We're pleased to get the win," said Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. "They're hard to come by, so I am happy about that.  We also appreciate the great crowd, they were in it right from the get-go.  We enjoyed that."

Miami-OH finally got on the scoreboard with a nearly seven-minute, 12-play drive, finished off by a 3-yard touchdown by sophomore running back Alonzo Smith. The drive was highlighted by three clutch third down conversions for the Redhawk offense.

Following punts by both teams, Iowa once again reached the red zone with a 36-yard pass. On the following play, Iowa senior wide receiver Riley McCarron appeared to fumble the ball into the end zone for a touchback, but the call was reversed following an official review. The Hawkeyes took advantage of the second opportunity, scoring on a 5-yard run to go up 28-7 with 7:15 left in the half.

"The turnover take away margin was good and I liked the way the offense capitalized on the takeaways, that's a positive," said Ferentz. "Like any game, you have things you're not quite pleased with.  There are some things we have to work on.

The Redhawks embarked on a 9-play, 39-yard drive, but came up empty after freshman kicker Samuel Sloman missed a 53-yard field goal. The half came to a close with an Iowa punt and a Miami run play as time expired.

Iowa began the second half with another long scoring drive, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass on fourth down that extended its lead to 35-7 at the 11:37 mark.

Miami-OH sophomore QB 5 Billy Bahl didn't always enjoy the physical
nature of the Iowa Hawkeyes, with Iowa senior DT 67 Jaleel Johnson,
who Redhawks coach Chuck Martin indicated they game planned against.
Bahl threw 2 touchdown passes against Iowa, with 266 yards passing
and a 67 yard explosive gain. He was also sacked 3 times for minus 19 yards.

Miami-OH responded with its most impressive possession of the game, a 13-play, 75-yard sequence that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. A 3-yard run by Smith on fourth down kept the drive alive, leading to an outstanding 29-yard touchdown pass from Bahl to Gardner. The catch was the first scoring play of his career and made the score, 35-14, with 4:41 to play in the third quarter.

Gardner's terrific day continued into the fourth quarter as Bahl found him in the front of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 35-21 with 9:43 remaining in the game.

On Iowa's next possession, the Hawkeyes reached the Miami-OH 2-yard line, but the Redhawk defense was able to hold them to a 22-yard field goal, extending the score to 38-21 with 6:04 left to play.

Miami held the ball for three plays, before Bahl's second sack-fumble of the game gave Iowa the ball deep in Redhawk territory. The Hawkeyes proceeded to close out scoring for the day with a 5-yard run at the 3:08 mark. The Redhawks' final drive lasted six plays and over three minutes, but eventually stalled out at the Iowa 21-yard line.

"(It was an) overall awesome experience for our guys here in Iowa," said Martin. "It's just a great place to play and I'm very appreciative. I'd love to come back here."

Ten true freshmen played for Iowa today – LB Amani Jones, S Amani Hooker, CB Manny Rugamba, OLB Kristian Welch, PK Keith Duncan, WR Devonte Young, QB Nathan Stanley, RB Tokes Akinribade, TE Noah Fant, DT Cedrick Lattimore. Iowa lost 21 letter-winners from the 2015 Big Ten West division team that finished 12-2.

Iowa does return experience in 2016. Sophomores DE Matt Nelson and FS Brandon Snyder made their first career starts. Sophomore C James Daniels made his third career start today, his first at center.    

"Our run defense was not what it needs to be today. I want to give Miami credit, too," Ferentz said. "They're an improved football team based on the film we saw and they worked hard."

Miami-OH will open its home season on Saturday, Sept. 10 as it faces Eastern Illinois (0-1) at 2:30 p.m. at Yager Stadium. While the Iowa Hawkeyes, host Iowa State (0-1) for the Cy-Hawk Game, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff at Kinnick Stadium.

#10 Iowa defeats Maryland 31-15 to move to 8-0 on the season ... Happy Halloween!

Iowa celebrates a Halloween victory at Kinnick on Saturday, as PGA
golfer Zach Johnson enjoys his day, as the Hawkeyes' honorary captain.

Kirk Ferentz said, after the
Northwestern win; it was
okay to dare to dream in
2015, as Iowa remains
undefeated on the season.

Iowa City, IA -- The #10 Iowa Hawkeyes (8-0, 4-0) defeated Maryland (2-6, 0-4) 31-15 Saturday at Kinnick Stadium in front of a national audience on ABC and ESPN2 to remain on the path for a College Football Playoff bid, which will be played two months from tonight ... dare to dream Hawkeyes. Like honorary captain Zach Johnson, Iowa continues to play efficient in all three phases of the game to remain undefeated in 2015.

"If you look at all of our players, typically they play better their second, third, fourth years as players for us, and I think it's just a real -- what it tells you is he works hard and he's really paying attention to the little things that older players understand and appreciate, and again, I'll take it back to Zach Johnson when I talk about Zach. Zach is not an overpowering golfer. He's the first guy to tell you that, but boy, he really appreciates the fundamentals, the little details, so the way he approaches his craft and his sport, we can draw so much from that. Somebody threw an article on my desk yesterday saying he tended to be boring. Boring is okay. He's got the Jug, and that's okay," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz shared after the win over Maryland.

Iowa junior TE #46 George Kittle with a one-handed catch in the first half
of the 31-15 win over Maryland. It was a very physical game at Kinnick.

The Hawkeyes are 8-0 for the first time since 2009, the second time under Kirk Ferentz, and the second time in school history. Iowa started 9-0 in 2009, its best start in school history. Unlike 2002 and 2004, Iowa's two previous Big Ten titles under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes are on track to finish at a very high level in 2015. 

Each of Iowa's three running backs scored touchdowns in the first half, as Iowa
took a 21-0 lead at halftime. Here is sophomore RB #25 Akrum Wadley near
the goal line against the Michigan defense.

Iowa is 4-0 in the Big Ten for the third time under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa opened 4-0 in the Big Ten in 2009 (they opened 5-0) and went undefeated in conference play in 2002 (Iowa finished 8-0). The Hawkeyes can't afford to take anytime off, as there are four B1G games ahead moving into November play.

Kirk Ferentz is in his 17th season at Iowa. He entered the season with a lot of
outside noise, over the disappointments last year. The Hawkeyes have improved
in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams to open 8-0.

Iowa was plus-three in turnovers today and is plus-10 on the season. Iowa has 19 takeaways this season, and turned them into 71 points. Last year, the Hawkeyes were a minus 6 in takeaways.

Iowa senior DE #34 Nate Meier is having a career year. He was injured on the
final defensive series of the game, which will be a development to watch
next week, with Iowa hitting the road @ Indiana next Saturday in Bloomington.

The Hawkeyes had three interceptions today, two by Maryland natives (Taylor, Lomax). Iowa also had a fumble recovery (Taylor), as well. The biggest interception was a pick six, on a 88 yard interception return for a touchdown by junior CB Desmond King, who is among the leaders nationally in interceptions.

Iowa found the ground game and passing game difficult going in the second
half, after running up 240 yards in the first half, including this run by sophomore
RB #25 Akum Wadley, who made his first start of the season vs. Maryland.

Iowa ran 27 plays in Maryland territory in the first half, while Maryland ran just one play in Iowa territory. Iowa had 240 total yards in the first half and 53 in the second half. Maryland had 68 total yards in the first half and 173 yards in the second half.

Iowa redshirt freshman LB #31 Aaron Mends made a huge play on special
teams in the first half against Maryland with the block punt, which setup
a Hawkeye rushing touchdown.

Iowa held Maryland to 74 yards passing, the lowest total by an opponent since holding Purdue to 72 passing yards in 2014. The 74 passing yards allowed rank eighth under head coach Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard found the running challenging at times
against Maryland. He is banged up and will not be 100% in November.

Junior QB C.J. Beathard is 9-0 as Iowa’s starting quarterback, a record that includes a 4-0 mark on the road, a 5-0 mark at home, and a 5-0 mark in the Big Ten. Numbers include 143-of-247 passing for 1,843 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions, and 209 yards rushing with three rushing touchdowns. He is the first quarterback in school history to win his first eight career starts.

Iowa junior RB #29 LeShun Daniels Jr. returned from an ankle injury and broke
off an early explosive play in the first half against Maryland. 

Junior RB LeShun Daniels’ 1-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter was his first of the season, and second of his career. Daniels had 60 yards rushing today. Entering the game, he had 47 yards rushing yards combined from Week 3-7. He did not play in Week 6 or Week 7.

Former Maryland prep and sophomore Iowa SS #19 Miles Taylor had his biggest
game of his career, in the win over his home state program.

Iowa sophomore SS Miles Taylor recorded his first career interception and first career fumble recovery. The fumble recovery was turned into an Iowa touchdown. The interception was fumbled back to Maryland. Taylor recorded a career-best eight tackles. He also recovered his first career fumble.

SS Miles Taylor had a team-high and career-best eight tackles. DL Nathan Bazata (4) and DL Parker Hesse (6) matched their career highs in tackles.

Maryland junior QB #11 Perry Hills was smiling here on the sidelines in
Iowa City, but Iowa forced a fumble and three interceptions on him.

CB Desmond King’s 88-yard interception return for touchdown ties for the seventh longest interception return for touchdown in school history (Bo Bower, 2015 vs. North Texas).

Iowa junior CB #14 Desmond King is a leader in interceptions in 2015.

CB Desmond King’s fourth quarter interception was his seventh interception of the season. He is the first Hawkeye since Kerry Burt in 1987 to have seven interceptions in a single season. King has 10 career interceptions, tying for 10th all-time.

Iowa senior WR #4 Tevaun Smith looked healthy again, after
making his return @ Northwestern in Game 7. Smith made
his first catches of the B1G season with 2 catches for 35 yards.

Iowa senior PK Marshall Koehn scored seven points today, including four PATs and one field goal (49). Koehn has 136 career points, 19th all-time.

Iowa senior WR #17 Jacob Hillyer played hard for the Hawks on an important
catch ahead of the end of the first half against Maryland.

Kirk Ferentz has 122 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, eighth all-time. Ferentz has 72 Big Ten wins, tying Duffy Daugherty (Michigan State) for eighth all-time.

Iowa moves to 8-0 and remains alive in the hunt for a Big Ten title and
the College Football Playoff hunt in 2015.

Iowa won the toss and received the opening kick. Iowa received the opening kickoff in seven of eight games this season (Wisconsin), and has outscored its opponents 43-13 in the first quarter. In 17 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 169-of-208 games (102-67). Iowa has started the game on defense in 39-of-208 games under Ferentz (21-18).

Instant replay was not used today. The Hawkeyes play @ Indiana (4-4, 0-4 B1G East), who are coming off a bye week, on Saturday, Nov. 7th. Kickoff time has not been announced, due to television.

Maryland falls to 0-4 in the Big Ten, after falling in Iowa City to the Hawks.

Maryland will host Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1 B1G West) next Saturday for its annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The Badgers beat Rutgers 48-10 fueled by the return of RB Corey Clement, who scored three touchdowns on Saturday.

Was it an average affair in Ames? Iowa Hawkeyes 31, Iowa State Cyclones 17

Iowa senior WR 4 Tevaun Smith ties
the game at 10-10 in the 2nd quarter,
on ISU freshman 10 Brian Peavy.

Ames, IA -- Iowa and Iowa State both looked improved over last year's 20-17 win in Iowa City. Heading into the halfway point of the fourth quarter, it looked like another field goal could win this game for either team. However, Iowa scored two final touchdowns, to break a 17-17 tie late, to win the Cy-Hawk Game 31-17 in Ames on Saturday.

Iowa took an early three point lead early, as placekicker Marshall Koehn hit a field goal from 49 yards. The Hawkeyes showed an ability to get to Iowa State quarterback Sam B. Richardson early. Iowa's defense, slowed down in the second quarter, after Iowa's leading defensive lineman Drew Ott, left the game with a severe wrist injury. Iowa had to turn to redshirt freshman Parker Hesse at Ott's defensive end spot.

Iowa got early pressure on ISU's senior QB 12 Sam B.
Richardson in the first quarter, as senior Iowa WLB 36
Cole Fisher gets to the Cyclones signal caller. In second half,
Iowa's defense warmed up again and the Hawkeyes were
able to keep ISU off the scoreboard, outscoring them 21-0.

Saturday is the first of four trophy games on Iowa's 2015 schedule:

• Iowa State (Cy-Hawk)
• Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale)
• Wisconsin (Heartland)
• Nebraska (Heroes) 

Only Minnesota visits Iowa City, as three of Iowa's trophy games are on the road during the 2015 College Football season.

The visiting team has won the last four meetings in the Cy-Hawk Series. Today's score marked the first time in five years the game wasn't decided by one possession.
The Iowa defense allowed 66 yards on 31 plays in the second half after allowing 244 yards on 31 plays in the first half.

Iowa RB LeShun Daniels got his first
start in a Cy-Hawk Game, but left the
game early, due to ankle injury.

The Hawkeyes converted 5-of-7 third downs in the second half, and 2-of-7 third downs in the first half.

Iowa (2-0) defeated Iowa State (1-1), 31-17, Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa has won 3 of the last 4 games played in Ames.

Since 1981, the average score is Iowa 31, Iowa State 17, the point total in today's contest.

The Iowa Hawkeyes pull off two late scores to win second in a row
in Ames, in the Cy-Hawk Game. Two scores in final 3 minutes put 
Iowa on top for good, breaking a 17-17 tie. ISU lead at half 17-10,
after an early 3-3 tie after one quarter. It was a tight, close game.

Iowa outscored the Cyclones 21-0 in the second half and improves to 41-22 all-time against Iowa State in the Cy-Hawk Game.

Iowa regained possession of the Cy-Hawk Trophy and leads the 2015 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, 7-0, following wins in soccer, volleyball, and football.

INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES
Junior QB C.J. Beathard improved to 3-0 in his career as a starter. He is 1-0 at home, and 2-0 on the road (Purdue, 2014; Iowa State, 2015). He was 15-of-25 for 215 yards passing and a career high three touchdown. He rushed 10 times for 77 yards. The 10 rushing attempts was a career high.

Senior RB Jordan Canzeri career a career-high 24 times for 124 yards and a touchdown. He scored from eight yards on Iowa's final scoring drive. It was his fourth career rushing touchdown and second this season. Canzeri had had over 100 all-purpose yards for the second straight week. He had 143 total yards against Iowa State (124 rushing and 19 receiving).

Junior WR Matt VandeBerg has scored a touchdown in three straight games. He caught touchdowns against Tennessee and Illinois State, and returned a fumble three yards today for a touchdown. VandeBerg played 22 career games before catching his first touchdown.

VandeBerg had career highs in receptions (9) and yards (114). His 47-yard reception in the fourth quarter was a career long.

Iowa junior WR 83 Riley McCarron's 25 yard TD reception,
gave the Hawkeyes the lead, breaking a 17-17 tie in Ames.

Junior WR Riley McCarron's first catch of the season was a 25-yard, eventual game-winning touchdown. It was his first career touchdown.

Senior TE Henry Krieger Coble had a career best 34 yards receiving.

Senior DE Drew Ott left the game with three minutes left in the first quarter and did not return.

Sophomore RB LeShun Daniels left the game in the second quarter and did not return. Daniels had 8 carries for 56 yards, with a long of 24 yards, before leaving the game early, due to an ankle injury.

Redshirt freshman TE Jameer Outsey made his first career start.

K Marshall Koehn has connected on five consecutive field goal attempts over the last five games. Koehn is 5-of-6 in his career on field goals 40-plus yards.

P Dillon Kidd punted five times for 237 yards. Kidd downed two punts inside the 20 and had two punts over 50 yards (55, 50, 49, 46, 37). He averaged 47.4 yards per punt.

Iowa QB C.J. Beathard provided offense both on the ground
and in the air, engineering the Hawkeye win, to go to 3-0,
as Hawkeye starting QB. He had 292 yards of total offense.

DB Desmond King returned a punt 37 yards (career long) to set up Iowa's go-ahead touchdown drive. On Iowa State's ensuring possession, King intercepted a pass (first this season, fourth of career) to set up another Hawkeye touchdown. King added five tackles on defense.

MISCELLANEOUS
Iowa State won the toss and deferred. Iowa received the opening kickoff. In 17 seasons as Iowa's head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 164-202 games (97-67). Iowa has started the game on defense in 38-of-202 games under Ferentz (20-18).

The Hawkeyes have played 58 consecutive games without a missed or blocked PAT, the longest streak of any school in the nation. Iowa has converted on 176 consecutive PATs during the streak.

Instant replay was used three times today:

• Iowa State incomplete pass (confirmed)
• Iowa State third-down conversion: Lazard (overruled)
• Iowa State third-down conversion: Lazard (confirmed)

UP NEXT FOR IOWA
The Hawkeyes host Pittsburgh (2-0) on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. Central Time at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City. The Hawkeyes defeated the Panthers on the road, as C.J. Beathard lead a second half comeback last season, in the  24-20 win over the Panthers.

Iowa's  running backs celebrate Cy-Hawk Trophy in the locker
room, with RB coach Chris White, after the win, in Ames.

UP NEXT FOR IOWA STATE
The Cyclones travel to Toledo (1-0), who upset #18 Arkansas 16-12 on the road, on Saturday. Iowa State won 37-30 over Toledo at Jack Trice Stadium, last season. The Rockets season opener was cancelled, due to a thunderstorm.

After Iowa tied the game at 10-10 on a Beathard to T. Smith
reception for 6; Iowa State responded with a strike from
Richardson to sophomore WR Jauan Wesley to take a 17-10
lead. The Cyclones were not able to score in the 2nd half.

Cy-Hawk Game: Iowa (1-0) at Iowa State (1-0) on FOX at 3:45 p.m, Saturday

Iowa starting RB 29 LeShun Daniels, a junior.

Ames, IA -- The trophy has changed hands in eight of the last 11 games in the Cy-Hawk Game. The visitor has won three of the last four games, as well. Iowa State regained possession of the trophy, after last year's 20-17 win, fueled on the 42 yard field goal by placekicker Cole Netton, with two seconds remaining at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City.

Our Pick: Hawkeyes 29, Cylcones 24

The game should be won in the trenches, on both sides of the football. Over the last five seasons, Iowa's offensive and defensive line has been very inconsistent, at times.

The Hawkeyes (1-0) opened 2015 with strong line play on both sides, in a 31-14 win over Illinois State, the runner-up in the 2014 FCS championship game. The Hawkeyes open 2015 with a new quarterback, a new running back and a new number one receiver.

The 2014 Iowa State Cyclones (2-10 overall) celebrating
the 20-17 win at Kinnick, by taking home the Cy-Hawk
Trophy for the third time in four seasons.

Iowa State (1-0) opened the 2015 College Football season with a strong 31-7 win over Northern Iowa, who split 1-1 with Illinois State, in 2014. The Hawkeyes opened the 2014 season with a win, as well over UNI.

The Cyclones are lead by a three-year starter at quarterback, as well as four upper classmen at wide receiver. The running back position is lead by three underclassmen though.

In the last four games, the Cy-Hawk Trophy has been decided by six points or less. The last dominating win, was Iowa in 2010, in Iowa City, by the score of 35-7.

Last year, Iowa took a 14-3 lead into halftime, at Kinnick Stadium. But, it was all Iowa State in the second half.

Iowa State senior QB 12 Sam B Richardson, in last year's
20-17 win over Iowa. The Hawkeyes senior DE 34 Nate
Meier and his teammates need to put more pressure
on Richardson, after playing contain, in the '14 game.

Iowa dominated Iowa State for nearly 3-1/2 quarters in the 2013 win. Iowa took a 27-7 lead midway into the fourth quarter.

Iowa State came back fueled on the three TD reception performance of wide receiver Quenton Brundrage, as well as on the arm of quarterback Sam B. Richardson. Both seniors are now in 2015. The figure big in today's showdown for the Cyclones.

Iowa won the game in 2013, 27-21, after recovering the Cyclones onside kick with 2:25 left. The Hawkeyes took home the trophy in the game, last played in Ames.

In the last six years, Iowa State has 19 turnovers that have resulted in 51 of Iowa's 161 points.

Penalties hurt Iowa in the 2014 loss. Iowa State had four sacks on Iowa last year. The Hawkeyes failed to get one sack on Richardson. The defensive game strategy was one of containment, rather than pressure. It resulted in a 20-17 win by the Cyclones.

In the 2013 win, Iowa forced turnovers and were not shutout getting to the quarterback, but ISU still lead in the QB sack department. Iowa needs to do a better job protecting the quarterback.

The Iowa players will honor former S #9 Tyler Sash,
after Tuesday's death. Sash was at Iowa (2007-10).

Both Iowa and Iowa State got to the quarterback or benefited from tackles for loss, in the season openers, against MVfC programs, Illinois State and Northern Iowa, respectively. Who controls the line of scrimmage in today's Cy-Hawk Game?

It has been a bitter sweet week for the Hawkeye Football program, with news on Tuesday, that former Iowa safety Tyler Sash had passed away. The former Iowa safety played in three Cy-Hawk games. Iowa won all three games:

• 2008 - Iowa won 17-5 in Iowa City
• 2009 - Iowa won 35-3 in Ames
• 2010 - Iowa won 35-7 in Iowa City

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is 7-9 as a head coach in the Cy-Hawk Games.

Iowa enters today's game 0-4 in trophy games, from last year. Now, throw in the emotional impact of the Sash death on the Iowa coaching staff, especially HC Ferentz, DC Phil Parker and DL coach Reese Morgan, who were directly involved in his coaching and recruitment at Iowa. How will the Hawkeyes coaching staff planning be impacted?

In the last two games, Iowa has opened with leads of 27-7 and 14-3, only to have Iowa State roll back and win one of two over the Hawkeyes. Iowa's starting QB, RB and WR all are new in roles in the Cy-Hawk Game. The TE position is a little of a question mark for each team, as well.

There is typically no easy sledding in the Cy-Hawk Games typically, since Ferentz became the head coach at Iowa. Paul Rhoads is 3-3 in the Cy-Hawk Series, as head coach.

• Iowa has an edge in the rushing game on offense
• Iowa State has an expected edge in the passing game on offense
• Special teams is an area where no one team would seem to have a edge

Iowa State opened 2015, with a new
3-4 front 7, with NG Demond Tucker.

Iowa State has hit the junior colleges, since the 2013 season to strengthen the defensive side of the football. Coach Rhoads has brought in ten JUCO transfers in, filling out the two-deeps for the Cylcones.

Iowa State will use quickness more than Iowa in the trenches. The leader up front is JUCO transfer 97 Demond Tucker (6-0 296 Jr.) at nose tackle. The Cyclones front 7 isn't big and tall, so look for quickness to be a key element, as Iowa works to establish the running and short passing game.

Senior RB 33 Jordan Canzeri has prior Cy-Hawk Game
experience and is coming off one of his better games in '15.

One senior on the Iowa offense to keep a big eye on is Iowa senior running back Jordan Canzeri. The change of pace running back, had a very solid game against Illinois State.

RB Canzeri had 118 all-purpose yards (28 rushing, 90 receiving). His 90 receiving yards are a career best. Canzeri ranked second on the team with 752 all-purpose yards in 2014, including 494 yards rushing, 123 yards receiving, and 135 yards in kickoff returns. His 51-yard reception on the final drive of the first half was a career long.

SERIES EXPERIENCE

Iowa junior QB 16 C.J. Beathard
will make first start today in the Cy-Hawk
Game in Ames. He is 2-0 as a starter.

Junior QB C.J. Beathard is making his first Cy-Hawk Series appearance. Former Iowa QB Jake Rudock took every snap at quarterback against the Cyclones in 2013 and 2014. Junior RB LeShun Daniels did not appear against the Cyclones in 2013 or 2014. The Hawkeyes combined for 104 rushes and 347 rushing yards in those games.

Ten active Hawkeyes, five on offense and five on defense, have previously started games against Iowa State. C Austin Blythe is making his fourth start against the Cyclones. RG Jordan Walsh, DE Drew Ott, and DB Desmond King are making their third starts in the series. Other Hawkeyes with starting experience in the Cy-Hawk Series include DE Nate Meier, DB Greg Mabin, FS Jordan Lomax, WR Jacob Hillyer, LG Sean Welsh, and TE George Kittle.

FIRST TIME STARTERS
Seven Hawkeyes made their first career start in Iowa's season opener: RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., LT Boone Myers, DT Nathan Bazata, DT Jaleel Johnson, LB Cole Fisher, LB Ben Niemann, and SS Miles Taylor.

It will be an interest game on Saturday. The only winning season by Iowa State, in the six seasons Rhoads has been head coach was in 2009, when Iowa beat ISU 35-3, but the Cyclones finished the season 7-6. Rhoads needs more than a 4-3 record over Iowa. Of course, 7-9 for Ferentz has many asking questions in Iowa City, as well.

Iowa DE Drew Ott 95 tackling Illinois
State QB Jake Kolbe in the season
opener, as he enters his final Cy-Hawk
game as a senior. He didn't play
as a freshman, since he was trying to
redshirt, but didn't in B1G play.

Iowa State LT 67 Jake Campos moves
from RT last year to LT for the 2015
Cy-Hawk Game. He will face Iowa's
top pass rusher and most experienced
defensive lineman.

It will be an interesting day for each coaching staff, as the chess match begins ...

Top Match Up on the Field?

It will also be an interesting game on the field, as the most interesting match up will likely be Iowa's senior DE 95 Drew Ott (6-4 272) against Iowa State's sophomore left tackle 67 Jake Campos (6-8 297). 

Iowa has a mix of youth and experience heading into the 2015 Cy-Hawk Game
in Ames. One player to watch is junior DT 67 Jaleel Johnson, who had four
tackles in the season opener against Illinois State. He had his first sack during
Iowa's bowl game against Tennessee and may be primed for a breakout game.

Iowa needs to get some pressure in the Iowa State backfield, unlike last year's game. 

Iowa finished the opening season game with five sacks, all in the opening half. DE Drew Ott had two sacks. Freshman DE Parker Hesse, senior DE Nate Meier, and sophomore LB Ben Niemann each had one. It was the first career sack for Hesse and Niemann.

This game lately has gone down to the wire and it shouldn't surprise as it should this year.

Turnovers, special teams, penalties and coaching adjustments will be key areas to watch, as the Cy-Hawk Game kicks off at Jack Trice. This should be a good game.

Iowa kicks off the 2015 season with a 31-14 win over FCS #2 Illinois State

Iowa City, IA -- The University of Iowa was happy to finally get out and play someone other than the Black & Gold teammate on the other side of the football, as they kicked off the 2015 College Football season at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday.

The preparation paid off, as the Iowa Hawkeyes open the 2015
season with a solid 31-14 win over Illinois State at Kinnick.

The Hawkeyes wore down Illinois State in the First Half
Iowa scored 17 unanswered points in the first half on route to a 31-14 win over Illinois State to open the season. The Hawkeyes scored on back to back opening possessions to take a 14-0 lead. The Hawkeyes lead 17-0, after a Marshall Koehn, senior PK, 40 yard field goal to close out the first half. The Iowa defense completely bottled up the Redbirds offense in the first half, holding the Redbirds to zero yards rushing and 36 yards passing.

In his first career start at Kinnick Stadium, C.J. Beathard lead the Iowa offense,
contributing 15-24, 211 yards, 1 TD passing, along with 2 rushing TDs for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes nearly doubled up the Redbirds in total offense, finishing with a 423-231 advantage. Iowa eclipsed the 200-yard mark on the ground, finishing with 202 yards on 43 carries, while finishing with 221 yards through the air.

Iowa senior DE 95 Drew Ott recorded two sacks, while
junior DT 67 Jaleel Johnson played very solid as a new starter.

Iowa’s defense stifled the 2014 FCS runner-up, limiting the Redbirds to 79 yards through the first three quarters. Illinois State scored all 14 of its points in the fourth quarter, where it nearly doubled its offensive output, piling up 152 yards. Illinois State redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Kolbe replaced a dinged Tre Roberson.

The Hawkeyes scored 31 points to open the scoring in the Iowa-Illinois
season opener, as junior WR 89 Matt VandeBerg finished Iowa's scoring on
the day, on this nine yard TD pass to complete a perfect day in the Redzone.

The Hawkeyes have won 14-of-17 season openers under Kirk Ferentz, averaging 35.3 ppg in the 14 wins. Iowa is 95-29-2 (.762) in home openers.

Oh Nellie!

Iowa's 99-yard scoring drive on its second possession was its first 99-yard scoring drive since 2002 at Miami (OH). 

Iowa DE 95 Drew Ott recording one of his two QB sacks against former IU,
present Illinois State QB 5 Tre Robeson, who made his first career start as a
QB at Kinnick Stadium, back during the 2011 season.

Iowa finished the game with five sacks, all in the opening half. Senior DE Drew Ott had two sacks. Redshirt freshman DE Parker Hesse, senior DE Nate Meier, and sophomore LB Ben Niemann each had one. It was the first career sack for Hesse and Niemann. 

The coin toss was important strategy for Iowa, since it gave Iowa's physical offensive game strategy an early boost winning the toss. In 17 seasons as Iowa's head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 163-201 games (96-67). Iowa has started the game on defense in 38-of-201 games under Ferentz (20-18).

Junior Iowa RB 29 LeShun Daniels, Jr. made his first career start.

Junior RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., carried Iowa's rushing attack with career-highs in yards (123) and carries (26). Junior QB C.J. Beathard finished 15-of-24 for 211 yards with a touchdown. Senior RB Jordan Canzeri had four catches for 90 yards, also a rushing touchdown; while junior WR Matt VandeBerg had six receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. 

Senior RB 33 Jordan Canzeri reacts after scoring a rushing TD, after leading 2014
College Football rushers, without a rushing TD during the season.

On defense, senior WLB Cole Fisher had a career-high eight tackles in his first career start, while Iowa's senior DEs Ott (two sacks) and Meier (three tackles for loss) combined for five tackles for loss.

True freshmen WR Jerminic Smith, WR Adrian Falconer, and OL James Daniels played today. Daniels is the first true freshman to play offensive line since Bryan Bulaga in 2007.

The Hawkeyes have played 57 consecutive games without a missed or blocked PAT, the longest streak of any school in the nation. Iowa has converted on 172 consecutive PATs during the streak.

Instant replay was not used today. The NCAA has a new booth replay system and it off to a very effective start, as witnessed over the course of three days of the first five day weekend opening the 2015 College Football season.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, dean of B1G coaches, in his 17th
season at the helm. Illinois State Brock Spack, a former Purdue
player and two-time assistant coach speak before kickoff.
Spack was very positive about Iowa ahead and after today's game.
Both programs have a lot to play for in 2015.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) return to action Sept. 12, traveling to Ames, Iowa, for the Cy-Hawk Game against Iowa State. Game time is 3:45 p.m. (CT) on Fox Sports from Jack Trice Stadium, in Ames. Iowa State (0-0) kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight against Northern Iowa (0-0) in Ames. Illinois State (0-1) and UNI will play each other in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, later this season.