Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - UPSET ALERT? Hawkeyes’ Roadmap to SHOCK Michigan State – Betting Trends and Crucial Keys Revealed

Starting point is 00:00:00 Tonight, East Lansing, the Hawkeyes, have a shot to shock the nation. How does Iowa take down Michigan State, toughness, turnovers, and a whole lot of swagger? Let's break down the upset blueprint right now. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked-on Hawkeyes podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio,

Starting point is 00:00:42 including currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network, with stations across the great state of Iowa, including Des Moines, Sioux City, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code lockdown college for $20 off, your first purchase. Today, the upset, the blueprint that Iowa needs to follow. If they're going to pull off the shocker tonight against Michigan State, plus some insight,

Starting point is 00:01:11 as there are some gamblers that like the Hawkeyes tonight. We will get into that. David Eicholts also going to join us from 24-7 sports, hawkye insider.com. We'll get Eicholt's thoughts on the Iowa win against Nebraska. A look into the Iowa football transfer portal, what they're going to be shopping for, including a possibility at the quarterback position and a whole lot more. Plus, we'll talk ourselves about the portal and some of the needs that we believe Hawkeyes need to look at as we get ready for the portal one month from today.

Starting point is 00:01:40 But we begin with the big one on tap tonight. It's Iowa, it's Michigan State, certainly a place, the Brezlin Center, that Iowa historically has struggled, though late in the Fran McCaffrey era, they started to play much better at Michigan State. Picked up some wins there, some pretty big upsets, and that's what it would be here. this evening. If I was going to pull it off currently at Fandul, Iowa, a four and a half point underdog. And this one opened up last night when it came out, six, six and a half in a lot of spots. So there has been some steam on Iowa yet the betting public when you look at the betting

Starting point is 00:02:11 splits have been on Michigan State. Tells you normally that is something that there are some sharp people. There are some sophisticated money. Maybe that is the correct term that is on the Hawkeyes tonight. So what's it going to take for Iowa to pull off this upset? Starting with Michigan State this year. They're also undefeated. Also 7-0, like the Hawkeyes, their last time out against North Carolina, just a dominating performance on Thanksgiving. 74-58, they win that game. Earlier this year against Kentucky, they shot the ball incredibly well in that game and dominated in the Champions Classic. They have a couple of wins. Also have a win against Arkansas. So some really heavy scalps in this early portion of the season. And with Michigan State, yes, they're like you

Starting point is 00:02:53 normally expect. They're rugged. They are tough. They're going to guard you. Six in the country right now in defensive efficiency over at Ken Pomeroy. This is a team that is going to go out there and they are going to grind you. Jeremy fears their point guard as good as anybody in the country. He is your prototypical point guard. Leads the country an assist rate. Second and assist to turnover ratio. Shoots a ball well from the outside. Though he doesn't do it often, he can knock down the open three pointer. He is your prototype. Your old school past first point guard. That's what you get at Jeremy Fears. 6-2, athletic.

Starting point is 00:03:27 He is going to be tough. And that matchup with Bennett starts tonight. Oh, that's going to be incredibly fun to watch. But maybe the more and the most part that concerns me going into this game is the high, low action that they have with Jackson Kohler and Carson Cooper. Kohler feels like he's been around forever. Same thing with Cooper. These guys have been trudging around, but they're definitely the embodiment playing their

Starting point is 00:03:49 best basketball here during their senior campaign. Kohler is a guy that can do it a myriad of different ways. He's more of an inside, outside kind of guy. He's already knocked down 12-3-pointers this year, shooting 46% from the outside. The good news, though, is outside of Kohler and fears, the two guys that we've talked about to this point, nobody else has really shot the ball incredibly well this season for Sparty.

Starting point is 00:04:11 And if that continues tonight, I think that's going to be a path for them. What they do defensively, it is grinding, it is clutching, it is grabbing, it is holding. That is what Michigan State does. They're going to hope to get the whistle going their way. Iowa has to be incredibly tough with the basketball. They have to be physical on the offensive end and not get knocked off your spots. Another thing Michigan State does incredibly well is they chase you off the three-point line.

Starting point is 00:04:36 And as we know what the Hawkeyes now under Ben McCollum, it is really the three areas offensively. Three-pointers, get to the rim or get to the free throw line. There's not a whole lot of mid-range. That's though what Michigan State works to do. and getting to the rim is difficult. This team, very good at blocking shots this season. They have been at a high level on that component throughout the course of this year, 20th in the country, in block percentage this season.

Starting point is 00:05:02 If you get to the rim, they're going to have those big dudes we talked about that are going to be there. I think most importantly for Iowa, one of the big keys to the game, and it goes without saying, for the most part, you've got to shoot the ball well. But in this one, you have to shoot it well from the three point line. And you're going to have to do it with a hand in your face. this is the kind of game where you're not going to anticipate, you're going to get a whole bunch of wide open three-pointers. This is not going to be a game where you're looking at it,

Starting point is 00:05:27 and you're going to have 12 to 15 open threes. You're going to have to hit shots with people in your face. That means Bennett Sturts, and he's obviously the one that does it the most. He's the guy that we saw two games ago against Old Miss, what he was able to do, and some incredibly difficult shots, he was able to knock them down. He's shooting 45% from behind the three-point line, probably going to have to have the same here.

Starting point is 00:05:48 this feels like a game four, five, three-pointers from Sturts, but he can't be alone. We've seen Cooper Cotch and the emergence that we've seen out of him. I want to see an even more aggressive Cooper Cotch in this game. I think he has the skill set. He has the game that can definitely show up in this kind of role, him along with Elverro Fulgaris. Now, when you talk about both those guys,

Starting point is 00:06:09 they're going to be guarding some more physical type of players, staying out of foul trouble. I think both Koch and Fool Garris, though, are going to have to have good offensive games in order for Iowa to compete. Tavion Banks, Cam Manwa, you know, those are the kind of guys. We saw Howard show up for the first time, certainly offensively at the last game against Grand Canyon.

Starting point is 00:06:28 Those guys, though, not the consistent scores that I think you're going to need out of fool Garras Koch and, of course, Bennett Sturts. Also going to be interested to see Kail Combs and what they do with him on the defensive end of the floor. Is he going to get the assignment against Spears? Is that the direction that Iowa goes more on the defensive end? If they go that direction,

Starting point is 00:06:46 that means you're going to see a little bit more a Bennett Sturts out on the wing. That's guarding Tang. Good three-point shooter hasn't really translated this season, but he's a guy definitely that can fill it up from the outside. That's a guy to keep an eye on on that end of the floor. One other name I want to mention, also the transfer trade forward. Whatever reason, just hasn't shot it very well. His previous stops, a really good three-point shooter last year in Open three-pointers.

Starting point is 00:07:10 He was at 45 percent. This year, just 29 percent on open threes. you get anticipated at the Brezlin Center, guys like Trey Fort, they're going to be making those open three-pointers. Another guy that I love for Michigan State is Cam Ward, their freshman power forward. He just looks like the prototype of Michigan State guys.

Starting point is 00:07:27 It's like they got a lab, right? And they just bring these guys out every three or four years. They look the same. They're rugged, they're physical. They're more athletic than you can think. They're tough on the glass, and they can block shots against Cam Ward, who comes off the bench and a really good player.

Starting point is 00:07:40 Michigan State's good. Iowa, excuse me. is going to have to play well in this matchup, though. This is not one where you can just roll out the ball and hope that it's going to happen. Keep the rebounding advantage to a minimum. I think Michigan State's going to win the battle on the glass, but you can't give up double digits and offensive rebounds.

Starting point is 00:07:58 That is another key. So those are the main ones here. Good offensive games, catch, fool garris, go hand in hand. Both those guys staying on the floor, staying out of foul trouble, and being able to provide some kind of punch on the offensive end of the floor. And then on the glass, not winning, the rebounding battle, but keep it close to even. If you can do that, I think you've got an opportunity here,

Starting point is 00:08:19 and some people in the betting public begin the same thing. It's going to be tough. We'll be back with you after the conclusion of that one. We'll have a rapid reaction podcast coming up for you on Tuesday evening. 6 o'clock tip off on Peacock. A one note, Chad Leisdickow tweeted this out, The Beat Reporter for the Hawkeyes with the Des Moines Register. And Chad mentioned if you do have YouTube TV,

Starting point is 00:08:40 and I know there's a lot of you out there that do have that, That is part of your package. Peacock and the NBC Sports Channel, that is available. So even if you don't have Peacock, that is available for YouTube TV subscribers. Just something to put there if you're wondering for the matchup tonight on Peacock. It's tough. We'd love to see this thing, obviously get the notoriety that it should and have some big TV behind it. Unfortunately, it'll be behind Peacock.

Starting point is 00:09:06 And with the ACC, SEC, SEC challenge happening, going to be lost in the shuffle. Regardless, I will pull it off the win. You know, there'll be peop. people talking about that. Chance had a big one here and to really, really ignite the Ben McCollum era. We come back here, Lockdown Hawkeyes, a conversation with David Eichol, a look back at the win against Nebraska. Plus, what's Iowa going to be doing in the transfer portal? We'll talk about Iowa football in the portal with David Eichold. He joins us next on Lockedon Hawkeyes. The holidays always feel a little easier when you already know the perfect gift.

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Starting point is 00:11:05 Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. was yours and your fellow beat reporters kind of interrupted with the trip over to Lincoln. I guess we'll start there. We'll get to basketball, obviously, a massive game tonight as Michigan State and Iowa collide on Peacock or down the hall from us. If you can't, don't have that. And I've got to go back to throwback listening on the radio, 1040 News Radio, 1040 WHO. We talked to SIPPL last week. I keep bringing this up just because I want everyone to realize what this Nebraska-Iowa game meant to those folks over there.

Starting point is 00:11:35 Simple told us that this is the most important game in Matt Wool's tenure at Lincoln, that everybody knows that, the coaching staff all believes it, the players likewise, and obviously the fans. And Iowa just took it to him from start to finish and embarrassed that Huskers team. This is a game, as you know, David, from covering it. It's always close, always a field goal, not this time. Yeah, I mean, I've known Siphol for about 10 years now, and I read that column that you just talked about.

Starting point is 00:12:04 And he was exactly right. It was the most important game in the Matt Ruhl era because right now can we live in an era where Kirk Farrants has more Big Ten wins at Memorial Stadium than Scott Frost than Matt Ruhl. And it really is incredible because the way I kind of evaluate this entire thing, remember when Wisconsin was everybody called Iowa Plus? Yeah.

Starting point is 00:12:30 You know, style of play and everything. That's how Nebraska should be. looking at Iowa right now. Iowa is exactly where they would kill to get to at this point. And the hardcore reality when it comes to Nebraska is the fact that they still don't understand Big Ten football. They've been in this conference for 15 years. They don't understand what's like to be tough in the trenches. Look at the teams they lost against. They lose against the physical heavyweights of the conference. Penn State, respect in the trenches. Minnesota absolutely slack them and embarrass them. They're not great, but they're tough as heck in the trenches.

Starting point is 00:13:10 Iowa continues to win. Why? Because they own the trenches. They don't need the style point. Every team that Nebraska loses to in the Big Ten are much tougher. They have an edge to them. And most importantly, Iowa doesn't blink. They could have blink when Emmett Johnson went 71 yards. And he was going to have a career day. They just said, nope, we're going to regroup, we can get back out there, and they don't blink under pressure while Nebraska crumbles at the first sign of adversity. We go into this offseason. Iowa has been portal shopping the last couple of years for a quarterback.

Starting point is 00:13:46 Obviously, Grinowski this season. They got a couple of transfers already on campus, Hank Brown, who we saw against Indiana. Jeremy Hicklinski, we got to see a little bit against Wisconsin late in that game as Iowa blew out the badgers. Are they happy with where the quarterback room is, or do you anticipate there's going to be more portal shopping. And yes, obviously, if there is a can't miss guy that's knocking down the door and wants to come to Iowa City, they're not going to say no. But what do you anticipate it's going to look like when we get to this offseason and we get here a month from today,

Starting point is 00:14:15 January 2nd, the portal opens up at least at the quarterback spot in the portal. Yeah, I mean, I think there's a couple different layers to this question. One, I mean, I'd be surprised if Pat Fitzgerald's son doesn't transfer out and go follow it to Michigan state, right? And then, and this is. is just this is not under anything i know this is my speculation i want to make sure i say that before i put this out there i'm very curious what happens with hank brown does he stay on campus and try to compete in the spring or does he look for an opportunity elsewhere because i think we all kind of knew it and maybe i was i jumped a gun a little bit at the time but i remember coming on

Starting point is 00:14:55 this show guys and i said i just don't know how you after what you saw happen against indiana and i get it There was an awful spot for him to go in, unfair circumstances. How do you think Iowa fans would feel about him being a starting quarterback after what happened over the final 10 minutes in that game? I just don't know how people would rally behind it. And again, it's not fair because maybe he's practiced great. They spoke glowingly about his arm talent. But the other side of it, too, is after what Grinowski did on the ground and as a dual threat guy, how do you not have a mobile quarterback

Starting point is 00:15:30 as the next starting quarterback at Glensky fits that bill more than not so I'm keeping an eye on Hank Brown to see if he's going to compete if both of those guys transfer Fitzgerald and him then I think you have to go on the portal for at least some quarterback debt but you're right I just don't think you go out

Starting point is 00:15:47 and try to land a big time transfer at quarterback because I could give you three or four positions right now that I believe Iowa needs to invest quarterback money into doing and filling the gap right i think you feel good about the running back i think you need a defensive tackle really bad i think you need to land a big time wide receiver ding ding ding sure and i also think you need to go get a safety and a corner if you can do that i don't think you need to go all in on another quarterback but again there's a highly regarded quarterback that says hey i want to go play for tim lester and kirk

Starting point is 00:16:20 parents yeah you pay him the money to get him here yeah absolutely yeah keep an open mind but i don't think that you're, you know, you're shopping in that, in that aisle, if you will. Well, fascinating stuff as it unfolds. Are you, like many, that have the team going to Tampa for their bowl game? Yeah, I'd be surprised if they didn't. I think it makes sense. I'm more interested about the fact that it could be the best matchup that, you know, an Iowa team has had because, yeah, I mean, yeah, you want to play Missouri.

Starting point is 00:16:49 Yeah, they played Kentucky. But, like, Tennessee with when Nico was there, but wouldn't you get more excited about the potential playing the potential highs, winner in Vanderbilt and Diego if he ends up playing in that bowl game what if Texas falters late what if they get arch manning and Texas in Tampa right I mean I maybe they get you know Oklahoma like there's a wide variety of possibilities there I think you get a lot more fired up and you get a fan base fired up about that game then over the past couple of years who they've played in the postseason yeah no no question eight and four how do you rate the

Starting point is 00:17:26 season. Coming into the year, I look back, Ken and I were close. I had eight and four, Ken had seven and five. That was our anticipation coming into the year. How would you put it? I know it was a lot out there going into November and the disappointment of what happened against USC and Oregon. If you had to put a letter grade on this one, how would you grade the 2025 Hawkeyes? So before I answer that, let me throw a question back at you. I know it's not popular thing to do, the interviewee is going to act, but do you feel like this was Iowa's most balanced team over the past

Starting point is 00:17:57 eight to nine years. Yeah. Yes. I think because of the quarterback position as much as anything. Were you more entertained about it? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Not even close. Yes. I think seven to seven and a half is a fair grade.

Starting point is 00:18:13 I think you obviously lack the quality win, right? But you weren't in, Iowa was not embarrassed any game. And I still believe if Mark Grinowski finishes the game against Indiana, Iowa beats to Nienna. Now, again, I hate the what-if scenario. They took significant strides. Anybody who says Iowa's, you know, they poked on Iowa's offense, quite frankly, they're lazy, they're looking

Starting point is 00:18:37 for engagement, and they lack the actual football knowledge to talk about Iowa football or the sport in itself. Okay, the passing offense is atrocious. We all know this, right? But they put up 40, they put up 37 or more points 10 times over the last two years. Tim Lester's on a marvelous Now, again, the passing offense has to be there. You wish you got a big quality win. In three of the four games, Iowa had to lead or was tied with two minutes to go. But now you're looking ahead at the next two years. I think based on this season alone, you took steps forward offensively.

Starting point is 00:19:14 Kirk Farrant still seems very fired up. I think the fan base is going in more optimistic in the next season and the following season than they have in some time. and not just as important, but a very important factor. Guys, I think fans are having fun again. Like, the amount of people that have told me they had more fun watching Iowa football this year this season, then they did two years ago when Iowa went 10 and 2, I think really does speak volume.

Starting point is 00:19:41 So I go seven, maybe seven and a half. You know, and Hawkeye fans, I thought that they were robbed. You know, they were robbed in the Cooper DeGine moment, right, when the stadium went bananas. They were robbed on the 93-yard drive in the Oregon game. that turned out for not. I agree. That was a massive, massive feeling that the balloon popped late in that. I get with a phenomenal pass.

Starting point is 00:20:01 Don't get me wrong. I don't know if he completes it more than one out of ten time, but he did during that misty Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium. So more power to him. It's a what-if kind of season for me. Trent, any more football? He wants to switch to basketball. Right.

Starting point is 00:20:16 Here comes Michigan State tonight. Well, I guess, to be correct, here comes Iowa to Michigan State tonight. East Lansing, they will go. I'm fascinated by this, David, because speaking of fun teams to watch, that's what Iowa basketball has been so far, at least I think. I probably speak for the fan base as well. It's been fun to watch the McCollum era get underway. I watch Michigan State in Kentucky and New York.

Starting point is 00:20:40 Yes, Michigan State couldn't miss, but my God, I was impressed. They beat North Carolina. They bludgeoned them in their last, I think there was their last game. A point being, Sparty's really good to no surprise. Maybe it's a surprise that they're good early as opposed to late. late. What's Iowa walking into tonight, David Eicholt? Yeah, I mean, two things. First of all, who to Ben McCollum tick off of the Big Ten office to have his first career Big Ten game at in East Lansing?

Starting point is 00:21:06 Like, man, that's a brutal draw. But two, guys, nobody's talking about Iowa's slow pace to play right now, are they? Yeah, yeah, good. They don't care. You know, I think Michigan State's a really good team. Quite frankly, I was a little bit surprised Iowa. Last time I checked. is only a four and a half point underdog, maybe five point underdog to Michigan State. They're a tough team. They're incredibly physical. They have plus 12 and a half in the rebounding margin.

Starting point is 00:21:34 Jeremy Fears is a really good point guard. They're deep. You know, and I do think that they're going to try to pound the basketball inside on Iowa, and they're going to try to utilize that size advantage. It would not surprise me if they get 25 to 30 free throws tonight, Michigan State. I think that's going to be their bread and butter. I think Iowa's going to have to go really deep in.

Starting point is 00:21:53 of their bench. I'm not going to say it's a buzzsaw by any means. But again, I think the only other place you'd rather not play in the conference is at Purdue for your first game. But I'm really impressed in Michigan State. They're better than I thought they would be at this point in the year. But I do think, again, you talk about gut check time for Iowa. You talk about measuring them up. How do they take the next step? How good is Iowa? I'm not going to try I'd take too much stock into tonight, but I'm very curious how competitive Iowa is going to be tonight. But if there is a coach that you want at the helm of Iowa basketball,

Starting point is 00:22:28 and I think is one of the best exes-nosed coaches in college basketball, you want Ben McCollum at the helm of things. And you want one of the best point guards in America and Bennett starts running the show. I love also that this is not, oh, what was me? This is, oh, we got a mad draw. Oh, look how tough it is. Ben McCullum, when it first came out, he was all about it. When he was asked when you guys had him the other day, he was all about it.

Starting point is 00:22:52 There's no backing down here, and who knows? It could go poorly tonight, but that's something different about this team. And there's a certain edge, and there's definitely a confidence that you get with Ben McCollum. He is not a wilting flower in the corner, is he? He is a guy that believes in his team, his program, and they're going to see it. That is something that I think inspires confidence in this group. I think it does, too. and there's a big X-factor tonight

Starting point is 00:23:16 that I'm very curious about a player that Iowa has that struggled the past couple of games but you talk about a guy that is molded for a game of physicality and against Michigan State Iowa needs a strong bounceback from Tavion Banks

Starting point is 00:23:31 how good he is on the glass how physical he is on the defensive end how tough he is when he gets the ball in the post a guy that's not an immovable object but he does not play second fiddle was not good when Iowa went out west. I'd be a really encouraging

Starting point is 00:23:50 scientist Steve Avion Banks have a strong bounce back. And I'm curious how Isaiah Howard attacks tonight because he finally got the ball to go through the hoop from three point range. And once it rained it poured, brother. He dropped in three of them more, the final four minutes. You would like to see

Starting point is 00:24:05 Iowa not, you know, hanging his hat. And you're right. I think not low as me mentality is a very big deal. And the other side of it, too, is Ben McCollum's not taking any moral victories. You do not win four national championships at the D2 level and take moral victories. And I do think Ben wants to go in and try to make a statement and what better way to make a statement than beating Tom Mizzo at home. I mean, I'll go back to this press conference the other day when he was asked about it. What do you say?

Starting point is 00:24:34 What better way to start off Big Ten play? Give me the champ. Give us the champ. Let's go. And I'm like, okay, that Ben's not downplaying it. It was almost like a W.W.E. like answer, like a George Kiddell like answer from Ben McCollum. And I think that's the attitude that his team needs to have. And I'll be very curious if Iowa goes blow for both of them over the first couple of minutes,

Starting point is 00:24:58 you cannot go out there and get punched in the mouth and play from behind early. Iowa's got to be aggressive first or they got to punch them right back if they get dealt the first blow. The people at Hawkeye Insider.com, what do you see? you compare this time this year basketball-wise to last year. I mean, it's got to be night and day, right, as far as the enthusiasm meter? Oh, absolutely. Yeah, it's night and day. I mean, we've been getting great, great feedback and engagement on all of our men's basketball stuff.

Starting point is 00:25:26 Sean Elliott, myself, I feel like we put together a really quality product, 50% off, by the way. Oh, good. So you might want to get on that. But, you know, we're not slowing down, but you're exactly right, man. I think the enthusiasm around the men's team, the winning. team's been really big and I do think with the transfer portal man it's just a busy busy time but there's zero question that it's a total 180 right now as far as excitement around the men's basketball program one of the most surprising things I think of this early portion of the season

Starting point is 00:25:58 has been the lack of seeing Brendan Hassan out there yeah didn't play in the game against grand canyon the minutes have been very limited I think a lot of people had us at least in pencil him as a starter, and he hasn't been close to that, certainly minutes-wise. Fill us in a little bit. What's going on there and what it's going to take for him to even be a regular part of this rotation? So I think two things. One, you need to give credit

Starting point is 00:26:21 to Brendan Howson. Despite the lack of playing time, he's repeatedly told us that it's the most fun he's ever had. And I don't know if you heard the story about Brendan was set to check in like a week ago and he looked over at Ben and said, I don't want to take out Cooper, because Cooper's playing well. I think he gave him a lot

Starting point is 00:26:37 of credit for staying the course. And remember, He was like the first player that committed for McCollum when McCollum got the job. I'll go back to a quote I heard from one of the swarmer players. I'm not going to name the player, but I wrote it in my introduction column. And when I basically endorsed Ben McCollum as the next guy, if you don't bleep and play defense, you're not playing. I think Brennan is as great as he is on the offensive end and he'll light it up from three. He's going to win Iowa, a big 10 game or two this year. I just think you look at what Isaiah Howard gives you specifically at that two spot,

Starting point is 00:27:13 what Kale Combs gives you specifically. I think from a ball handling perspective, that's not Brendan Howeson. And I think defense, you'd rather have Isaiah Howard out there or a kale Combs out there rather than a Brennan Howes. And even Cooper Koch, Cooper Koch looks like he's going to be a pain in the plot for opposing Big Ten coaches. So I think right now, based on the way Iowa is playing,

Starting point is 00:27:35 it's simply they're a better fit at the position than Brendan Housen. But you're exactly right. I thought he was going to start by thinking he'd give credit to Cooper Cotch and some of the other guys for taking bigger steps forward. Then I think a lot of us were expecting, especially this early. Oh, next Thursday's going to be unbelievable. Is it not two teams that like to get after it defensively in Iowa and Iowa State, it's going to be unbelievable.

Starting point is 00:28:00 But we have work to do tonight. And then again, on Saturday when Maryland, comes to town. Good stuff. Appreciate it, David Eicholt. Once again, when does the 50% off sale ends? You're right. It's a busy time for you guys. Likewise, Bussy, what he's doing on the Iowa state site for part of 24-7 sports as well. When's the sale end? Yeah, so it'll be a couple days. Keep in mind also, we have not even mentioned yet, signing days tomorrow. Oh, sure, yeah. So we're going to be all to meet with Tyler Barnes and Kirk Bairns and obviously talking about a new group of Hawkeyes who, it's going to be a borderline top 25 class.

Starting point is 00:28:38 You know, as Kirk Farnance gets older, they continue to kill it. So HawkeyesAder.com for all details, but should be going on for another couple days. Always appreciate you guys having me. Thank you. Yeah, good to talk to you, buddy. Thank you, David. Take care. David, Icult, 24-7 sports Hawkeye Insider.com.

Starting point is 00:28:53 Thanks, as always to David for his time as we talk little Hawkeyes with David Eicholt. An Iowa quarterback has entered the transfer portal. Talk about that when we come back. It's locked on Hawkeyes. The World Cup is coming back to North America for the first time since 1994. And with 48 teams for the first time ever, it's going to be massive. Let's be honest. Getting tickets is usually the hardest part.

Starting point is 00:29:17 That's why the game time app is clutch, finally giving fans a real advantage when it comes to snagging seats. With game time, you can track price drops in real time. Get alerts when great seats open and buy tickets the moment they hit the app. It puts the power back in your hands and makes. going to the World Cup realistic instead of impossible. Pick a game, tap a section, and you have your tickets locked within minutes. No confusion, no hunting for fine print. The game view feature.

Starting point is 00:29:46 Seeing where exactly you're going to sit is an absolute game changer. Love the seat view. You're going to see exactly what the pitch looks like, exactly from the seat before you buy. Plus the upfront pricing. That's right. No surprise fees. You know what's in there, and I absolutely love that. No last minute second surprises when you get to checkout.

Starting point is 00:30:05 Take the guest work out of buying World Cup tickets with every match, concert, or event with Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code locked on college for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, download the app, make an account, and use code Lockdown College for $20 off. Swipe, tap, Ticket Go, Game Time today. Trent, I'm back with you. one final time here. Locked on Hawkeyes as we wrap things up.

Starting point is 00:30:34 And Jackson Stratton has entered the transfer portal. Jackson Stratton, 2 and O as a starter at the University of Iowa, battled some injuries this year. I know there are a lot of people that really like Jackson Stratton. I know there are some limitations talking to some people inside the program. Really getting through, going through his progressions was always the knock. Definitely has some arm talent. And we saw that at different times last year.

Starting point is 00:30:57 went into the game against UCLA after the injury to Sullivan and played okay in that matchup, had a couple of opportunities, got the wins against Maryland and really made one throw against Nebraska a year ago to get the victory in that one. A guy that knew wasn't going to happen here, came in as a walk-on, helped the team out back in 2004 and definitely a guy going to be rooting for going forward. Now the big question is what happens with Hank Brown? Is it going to be Jeremy Hicklinsky that has the upper hand? these bowl practice is going to be important and we'll definitely be talking more about that.

Starting point is 00:31:29 Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day, part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team every day, and now the number one sports podcast network. Shout out to her everydayers as well, our everyday listeners could do it without your support. Make sure hit subscribe if you're watching on YouTube or a five-star review if you're on the podcast side. We will talk to you Tuesday night after Iowa, Michigan State with a rapid reaction podcast. Until then, go Hawks.

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