Iowa’s Week 11 depth chart brings a few notable changes as the Hawkeyes get set for Purdue, and the biggest one is at running back. LJ Phillips is now listed as a starter for the first time since transferring to Iowa, with an OR alongside Xavier Williams.
Nathan McNeil and Braeden Jackson are also listed as backups with an OR. Williams left last week’s game against Northwestern after appearing to pull up limping in the second quarter and favoring his left leg, though he later returned for some action.
There’s also a new name at center. Michael Myslinkski is listed there for the first time this season after starting in place of injured Cael Winter against Northwestern.
The veteran sixth-year player, who recently turned 25, handled the spot without any obvious drop-off, and a lot of Phillips’ runs came right up the middle. Josh Janowski is now the backup at center.
Up front, Iowa made another change on the right side. Gene Riordan has moved in as the backup to Jack Dotzler at right tackle, replacing Cannon Leonard. Leonard was on Iowa’s injury report before the Northwestern game, apparently because of an injury suffered in practice.
Quarterback remains unchanged, with Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski still listed in an OR situation that appears likely to continue the rest of the season.
Iowa also seems to have come out of the Northwestern game in decent shape physically. Jaylen Watson did leave that contest and was replaced by Rashad Godfrey Jr, but Watson is still listed as the starter on the depth chart.
The Hawkeyes enter the Purdue game ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 Poll at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. Purdue is 3-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
The Boilermakers have scored 175 points this season, which ranks third in the Big Ten, but they’ve also given up 185 points, putting them 16th in the league, ahead of only Rutgers and Maryland. Defensively, Purdue has been one of the worst teams in the country, allowing 32.3 points per game, No. 124 in FBS, and 415.3 yards per game, No. 123 in FBS.
On Sunday, Purdue fired defensive coordinator Kevin Kane.
In Other News...
Iowas Defense Just Sent Another Message With Three Games Left
With Northwestern down to backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol after Aidan Chiles was likely out, Iowas defense had to make a quick adjustment and still looked every bit like one of the nations better units. Marchiol completed 24 of 32 passes for 181 yards with one touchdown and added 52 rushing yards, but the Hawkeyes kept the pressure on all afternoon, finishing with six sacks in a 24-10 win.
It was the kind of performance that has become familiar in Iowa City, where the defense has stayed steady even as opponents try to change plans on the fly. With three games left, the bigger question is how much more this group can still raise the bar, especially if it keeps forcing opponents to play from behind and make tough decisions under center. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Enters Its First Real Test Week With One Roster Question
Iowas basketball season is still young, but the schedule is about to sharpen quickly. The women are 2-1 after wins over Towson and Eastern Illinois and a loss to UConn, while the men are off to a 2-0 start with victories over Lipscomb and Eastern Illinois as they head toward a tougher stretch that includes Virginia Tech and Creighton.
Amid that early-season momentum, one roster question remains on the mens side: Andrew McKeever has yet to make his debut. The transfer is dealing with a back injury, leaving Iowa without a piece it expected to evaluate before the nonconference tests start piling up, and his status is one of the few lingering unknowns as the Hawkeyes move into a more demanding part of the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Got An Early Test That Could Shape Everything
A trip to Gampel Pavilion gave Iowa an early measuring-stick game, and second-ranked Connecticut made sure the Hawkeyes felt the full weight of it. UConn beat No. 10 Iowa 91-79 in a womens basketball matchup that offered a reminder of how thin the margin can be when a ranked team steps into a hostile road environment against one of the sports standard-bearers.
Sarah Strong set the tone for the Huskies with a career-high 39 points and 10 rebounds, while Iowa still found some resistance from Chit-Chat Wright, who scored 23 points despite playing through an injury. Ava Heiden added 15 points even while dealing with foul trouble and a facial injury, leaving Iowa with a few encouraging signs and a clear sense that this kind of test can reveal plenty before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]