Marked on folks calendars for the past six months, Luke Combs announced his “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” in October spreading across North America and Europe over the span of 23 nights. These shows have been selling out quickly, becoming one of the hottest tickets of the year, and for good reason. The country star has showcased his iconic sound across the worlds biggest stages, introducing countless audiences to the genre. Coming off the heels of a busy year with headlining slots at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and more, there’s never been a bigger time for Combs. Three weeks removed from his sixth record’s release, The Way I Am, this wave has been high for the singer/songwriter.

Appearing from the tunnels in the north end zone of Jack Trice Stadium came Luke and his band underneath the deluge of cheers as “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” played. Making a pit stop for a quick drink before his entrance to the stage, Luke and his Wild Cards all stepped up to their stations. Shaking the stadium from the start, Combs began with the song sharing the titular honors with the tour “My Kinda Saturday Night” as the crowd jumped to their feet. There was no slowing down in Ames, hitting qiuck with “Lovin’ on You” and “Hurricane” following it up. After, Combs dialed back the speed but not the hits, “She Got the Best of Me” brought all 60,000+ voices into one.

Coming in at #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart this past week is “Sleepless in a Hotel Room.” Combs’ 20th song to reach that milestone proves he still has the secret recipe for a hit after a dozen years in the industry. “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” was one of ten songs performed from his latest record The Way I Am, holding over a third of what was played that evening. Tapping into other tunes from the record like “Back in the Saddle” and “Be By You,” these were some of the most entertaining numbers in the show. For the third night on the tour, the band made these weeks old songs sound like staples in the set.

Although there was a heavy dose on the new album, Combs didn’t forget what songs got him to stadiums. Sweetheart’s favorite jam “Better Together” was a catalyst for fans holding each other close and swaying as the temperature dipped into the 50’s. In the middle of the set, Combs and his band took to some barstools on stage as they sang some more heartfelt ballads. Speaking about the range of emotions it takes to write a song, these introspections were a welcomed addition to the set. Whether tapping into the love in his heart for his wife, or a sadness that sometimes feels paralyzing, this honest chapter in the night was a nice breath. “I Ain’t No Cowboy” and “Wish Upon A Whiskey” were absorbed into the crowd at Iowa State during this breakdown.

The lovey-dovey and sadness eventually scampered off and Luke was back to his rocking chart-toppers like “1,2 Many” and “When It Rains It Pours.” During the former, a Luke Combs tradition is following the lyrics of the song to a ‘T’ and shotgunning a beer. Joining the 2019 Country Artist of the Year was Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball legend Georges Niang to blaring applause. The Indiana Pacers draftee of a decade ago was an eager participant and it was delightful to see him back on home turf. While there was no competition on loudest song throughout the night, closer “Beer Never Broke My Heart” would have taken the gold medal. A killer end to the main set, Combs had the audience in the palm of his hand.

The encore was a trio of arguably Combs biggest songs. Beginning with his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” bringing the crowd back down to earth after that bombastic finale. Chapman’s tune was first covered by Combs in 2023 for his record Gettin’ Old. Tracy came out for her first live performance since 2015 to accompany the North Carolina native on stage at the 2024 Grammy’s, where Chapman has walked away victorious four prior times.

Luke Combs finished the extensive evening with “Where the Wild Things Are” and his song for Twisters, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma.” The finale was grand and included all the jostling a song about tornados in the home of the Cyclones should cause. Despite the threat of rain, all 5 performers put on a knockdown show at Jack Trice Stadium.

Dierks Bentley

This was very much a country concert. Every musician was country, everyone was dressed country, but if I had to put Dierks Bentley into a genre, it would be ‘Dude Rock’. The definition of ‘Dude Rock’ is very vague, but the main idea is that its just a dude who rocks. And let me tell you, Dierks rocks. Hitting 14 songs spanning his 23-year career, there was everything a super fan, casual fan, and soon-to-be fan could want in the set. Classics like “Drunk On a Plane” and “Free and Easy” got the crowd going by the fourth and final opener of the evening. There was a invigorating and joyful energy put into the air by Dierks and his band as their banter and bits kept the smiles coming in between songs. Dierks Bentley will be on the road this year for his “Off the Map Tour“.

Ty Meyers

The youngest performer on the docket was Texas’ own Ty Meyers. At 18 years of age, there is a long and exciting road ahead of the “Thought It Was Love” singer. With a beat up stratocaster in hand, Meyers pulls on bluesy influence for the lead licks in his songs. His 2026 record Heavy on the Soul made up almost half of his setlist. Other notable plays included two covers, “Valerie” and Tyler Childers’ “Feathered Indians“. A busy year awaits Ty Meyers as he will continue a mix of opening sets and headlining dates across Europe and North America.

Jake Worthington

A little honky tonk never hurt anyone, and Jake Worthington is a prime example. Another Texas native was the second to hit the stage on Saturday, bringing his southern charm to Iowa. We heard four tracks from his 2025 record When I Write The Song including his closer “It Ain’t The Whiskey“. Worthington has already created an extensive collaboration list, including Miranda Lambert and Marty Stuart. This brief look into the the musicians young career was catchy. You can take a much deeper dive into Jake Worthington as his headlining “Intent to Tonk Tour” takes flight later this spring.

Thelma and James

The first band of the busy evening was faced with a slight rain delay, although that didn’t shake Thelma and James. Their hit “Happy Ever After You” spurred them into the spotlight as the two songwriters looked into their own careers on the stage much more seriously. The duo has one album out, Starting Over, released in 2025 and are just over a week removed from their latest single “Alternate Ending” dropping. A fun and sweet sound that welcomed folks as they filed into Jack Trice Stadium. Thelma and James will continue opening for Luke Combs on the rest of his North American dates throughout his “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour”.

Throughout all 5 artists, big and small, there was an energy pulsing in the stadium that was a joy to be apart of. I hope more artists will take advantage of the massive stadiums on college campuses, along with their passionate fan bases. Artists like Luke Combs, Zach Bryan, and Coldplay are paving the way for more collegiate stadium shows in a time when high capacity venues are selling out in minutes. Luke Combs will continue on his “My Kind of Saturday Night Tour” for the remainder of the spring. Jack Trice Stadium will host Post Malone in July.

The post Luke Combs: Live in Iowa appeared first on KRUI Radio.

On one hand, it’s a symbol of what could have been. A trip to the Final Four cut just short for head coach Ben McCollum and his unlikely team. On the other, it’s a reminder of how many people they’ve proven wrong. How many brackets they’ve broken. And how, after a year of uncertainty, a team of dreamers dragged Iowa basketball back into belief.

The Run of a Lifetime

After losing five of their final seven games before the NCAA tournament, Iowa wasn’t exactly on a roll. But considering they hadn’t made it to the big dance since 2022-23, it still seemed like fans were content with the season and excitement McCollum had brought back to Iowa City.

The team, however, was anything but satisfied.

The #9 Iowa Hawkeyes won a toss-up game with #8 Clemson behind a free-throw frenzy where Iowa made 24 of their 31 attempts at the line. One down. And with it, something started.

Just 48 hours after the win, they shocked the basketball world by beating Florida, the reigning champions, in the final seconds. Down by two points, Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz took the inbound and dribbled it past half court. Finding himself caught between two Gators trying to foul him, Stirtz dished it off to Alvaro Folgueiras, who hit the game-winning shot with 4.5 seconds left to play. The final buzzer sounded, cementing a storybook score on the jumbotron: 73-72, Iowa. From there, a Midwest motto was born.

“March is for the dreamers,” Folgueiras said after the game. “And there’s no better dreamer than us.”

Four days later, the dreamers took on Nebraska in their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1999. Both squads shot the lights out, but incredible performances from Iowa role players Tate Sage (19 points) and Folgueiras (16 points), along with Stirtz’s 20 points, lifted Iowa up and over the Cornhuskers. 77-71. Another win, another chapter closed.

Last night, their story came to an end against Illinois in the Elite Eight. The dream was over. And while for a split second it felt like the world was ending, it didn’t take long for fans and school alumni to express endless support for a team that will never be forgotten. Tweets and posts flooded social media, with praises and pictures of how much hope this team gave them. From half-empty arenas last season to jam-packed student sections and a historic tournament run this year, the energy was back for this program.

This team was special for a multitude of reasons. The lowest Big Ten seed to ever reach an Elite Eight. A roster built from places far outside the spotlight. A group that believed, with almost delusional conviction, that they could just keep winning. That they could restore hope to a dwindling fanbase.

And for nine days in March, they did just that. They made everyone believe.

Smile Because it Happened

There is something very uncomfortable about watching grown men cry. Especially when you’re in a room surrounded by them.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen it once or you’re a seasoned veteran, numb to the emotions that follow such a gut-wrenching tournament’s end. It’s weird. It’s hard. As close to twenty media members stuck microphones and camera lights in the faces of young athletes, illuminating dried tears and crusty lips, it felt necessary to seek out a smile.

The question: what would your 10-year-old self think about this journey?

Bennett Stirtz: “I always wanted to play college ball, but he wouldn’t believe this. It’s been pretty cool.”

Tate Sage: “He’d be pretty happy. Especially being able to stay up past my bedtime and watch myself on the TV.”

Kael Combs: “I wouldn’t believe it. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I’d tell him not to change a thing. “

Brendan Hausen: “Believe you can. Dream on. There will be lots of highs and lows, but just believe.”

Cooper Koch: “It’s fun. Enjoy practicing with these guys every day and lifting during the season. Trust the process and take it all in. You only get four years of it.”

One by one, reporters started to fade away as they got the answers they needed. When the players were done, they removed their sweat-soaked black and gold jerseys and tossed them into a tattered black Nike suitcase in the middle of the floor. Some laughed, shooting it like a basketball as they hugged their teammates. Others solemnly dropped their tank top time capsule of memories into the bag.

Just a Dream

After the locker rooms cleared completely, Ben McCollum emerged from the hallway to stand in front of a black and blue foldable March Madness backdrop. His usual white dress shirt and gold tie were nowhere to be seen, likely creased and damp, bearing the marks from a game he’ll think about for days.

His voice was steady, but his eyes told a different story. The kind that comes from knowing how close you were. The kind that doesn’t fully settle in until much later.

He talked about Bennett Stirtz, and how the journey they’ve taken together is “a little ridiculous.” How he followed him from school to school. How the University of Iowa feels like home.

For a moment, he paused, reflecting on just how far they’d come.

“We were just in Maryville, Missouri,” he said. “And now we’re playing in the Elite Eight.”

He laughed.

“Man, I almost said Final Four.”

The post A Team of Dreamers appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Less than 24 hours after the Iowa Men’s Basketball team found themselves celebrating a historic March Madness victory over the #1 seed Florida Gators, the women were on the receiving end of a crushing March defeat. An 83-75 loss to the #10 seed Virginia Cavaliers in double overtime.

Alvaro Folguerias’ clutch three pointer won the game for the men. The women lost because they couldn’t get one for themselves.

The basketball gods work in mysterious ways. Maybe that’s the price of a miracle.

The struggles that doomed the women’s team against Virginia were the same ones that nearly ended their season on Saturday against the #15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights: three point shooting.

Iowa went 1-for-13 from deep against FDU. They closed out the first half against Virginia with an eerily similar mark of 1-for-12.

“When I briefly looked at the box score, I didn’t believe we deserved to win it,” head coach Jan Jensen said after the game.

Iowa finished 5-for-29 from downtown against Virginia, but it would be a mistake to reduce their season to their three point struggles down the stretch. This year was a resounding success. 

They went from being picked to finish outside the top five in the Big Ten to being conference tournament runner ups and a March Madness #2 seed. They suffered an injury to a key senior in Taylor McCabe and seemed to get even better with breakout sophomore Taylor Stremlow starting in her place. Two of their best players were sophomore center Ava Heiden and guard Chit-Chat Wright. Those two made 1st and 3rd Team All-Big Ten respectively.

But the loss also marks the end of Hannah Stuelke, Kylie Feuerbach, Jada Gyafmi, and McCabe’s storied careers. The last key contributors from Iowa’s national championship bids in 2023 and 2024.

“Spending time with these girls has been such a blessing to me,” Stuelke said.

“It’s just really hard to process those emotions, and it’s really hard to know that I won’t be able to play again,” Feuerbach said.

When the clock hit zero in Iowa City, Stuelke tearfully embraced her mother as a swarm of photographers descended upon the scene. The same thing played out in Tampa Bay when Folguerias found his mother in the stands. Their emotions could not have been more different.

Grief and glee. The dichotomy of college sports.

The post The Price of a Miracle, Women’s Basketball Iowa v. Virginia appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Tonight, against the reigning March Madness champion Florida Gators, Folgueiras pointed to his father just once all game. But with 4.5 seconds to play, down by two points, he hit the game-winning shot, the shot of his life, and connected with his father once more.

After a great defensive stand from Iowa in the waning seconds, the final buzzer sounded. 73-72. Hawks win. And for the first time since 1999, Iowa punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.

Folgueiras celebrated briefly with his teammates before booking it over to the stands. There, his mother Beatriz awaited. Friday’s round one game was the first time she’d seen him play in an Iowa uniform in person. Tonight was the second. It’d been two years since they said “I love you” face-to-face.

“Having my mom here, she’s everything for me,” Folgueiras said with a smile after the game. “I’m so lucky to have her as a mom.”

The 6-foot-10 junior finished the magical night with 14 points, second in scoring behind Tavion Banks with 20. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa’s consistent scoring leader, was ice cold all night, shooting 0-for-9 from behind the arc. Ultimately, of course, that lack of scoring from the captain didn’t matter.

“It was my teammates tonight,” Stirtz said. “We’re just so unselfish.”

Ironically, it was Stirtz who dished the final assist to Folgueiras to win the game. Practice what you preach.

This year has been up and down for the Hawks. A new head coach. Close games against #1 Michigan. Abysmal losses to Penn State, who ranked last in the big ten. But this month is in a league of its own. And Folgueiras, tonight, felt the madness more than anyone.

“March is for the dreamers,” he said. “And there’s no better dreamer than us.”

The post No Better Dreamer Than Us appeared first on KRUI Radio.

As the final horn and a couple of loud pops echoed around the cavernous Gainbridge Fieldhouse court, the Iowa Hawkeyes quickly and quietly exited into their locker room. The same way they entered, the same way they played.

At the same time, a downpour of blue and white confetti rained from the rafters. The colors of the UCLA Bruins. The colors of the Big Ten champions.

Some scores don’t tell the full picture of what happened in a game. UCLA 95, Iowa 41 certainly does.

While the Bruins are a Big Ten college basketball team on paper, in practice, they are a collection of soon-to-be professionals, getting their last licks in on the rest of the college basketball world.

Four of UCLA’s starting five are projected top 10 picks in the upcoming WNBA draft. It’s a roster that boasts Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Betts, First Team All-Big Ten Kiki Rice, Second Team Gabriela Jaquez, and Gianna Kneepkens.

“Most of us have one or two go, but they have a lineup like that,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said.

UCLA didn’t just beat Iowa. Beat is when you lose by 10. A blow out is when you lose by 20. Brutalized is 30. There isn’t even a word to describe a 51 point loss.

And this was the championship game. In theory, between the two most deserving, battle tested squads.

UCLA’s quarterfinal against Washington on Friday was close for three quarters, until the Bruins pulled away to win 78-60. Their semifinal bout with Ohio State was stress free the entire way through, finishing 72-62 Bruins.

Iowa cruised to a 64-58 win in their quarterfinal game vs Illinois that only looked close in garbage time. Then on Saturday, the Hawkeyes put together one of their best fourth quarters of the year to pull away from Michigan 59-42. 

“In that fourth quarter, to start it, I just had everybody do a zen moment,” Jensen recalled.

After the championship game opened with a Taylor Stremlow three pointer, the ensuing 13-0 Bruin run snapped the Hawkeye flow state. Iowa never recovered.

“If you let that margin get a little too great, you can never really ever shrink it,” Jensen said. 

Against a team like UCLA, there is zero margin for error. Not when your basketball team contains nine freshmen and sophomores. Not when UCLA has eight seniors and grad students. Not when you shoot 21% from beyond the arc and UCLA shoots 50%.

Throughout the second half, a steady stream of Iowa fans made their way to the exits at each break. As they did, “Carver East” felt more and more like East L.A.

The Bruins never let up. They closed out the game making nine of their last nine baskets. Iowa went one for nine in the same stretch.

At the end, there were no tears as the Hawkeyes left the court. Just stunned silence. A reality check for a group with all the momentum in the world.

If the semifinal win against Michigan was the best game of the year for Iowa, the championship was by far the worst. The 51 point margin of victory was the biggest ever in a Big Ten Championship game. It was the largest margin of defeat for Iowa in 50 years. 

“Disappointments and setbacks make losers bitter, but they make winners better,” Jensen said after the game. 

There’s no doubt Iowa will be better when they host the first two games of their March Madness run in two weeks. When their run inevitably leads them into another national championship contender, though, is when they’ll need to prove it.

The post Powerless in Indianapolis: UCLA Dismantles Iowa in Big Ten Tournament appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Starting in 2014 with their debut record “Native Dreamer Kin”, the Oregon trio quickly became favorites of the indie pop scene. All of the sisters, Natalie and twins Meegan and Allison all had musical backgrounds that helped throw them into this career. With a enjoyable sound that earned them an NPR Tiny Desk concert in 2016, they continued on a path leading them to open for bands like The Lumineers and The Shins. A procession of music came from them, dropping five albums in a nine year stretch. The writing seems to flow out of them, always producing new tunes throughout the changes of the band. 

This new record includes a dozen songs written in the past two years. Becca Mancari of Bermuda Triangle joined vocals for “I Believe in Myself” which was released in June of 2025. Mancari has a connection to the band as she was the opener on Joseph’s 2024 “10 Years of Jospeh” tour. Moving past the decade of accomplishment, Allison decided to step back from the band.  This was their first full length record since the departure and adjustments were made to accommodate the new sound. The setlist featured all six new released tunes as well as a few unreleased tracks. The crowd was close to the band as the two sisters and their drummer, April Lee, ripped through their set with a two song encore.  

It was a sweet evening that felt comforting as the sisters sang their deeply personal stories. Warm and inviting, Natalie and Meegan provided a sneak peak to what feels like their most honest album yet. Joseph will continue their extensive “Closer to Happy” tour as it travels through the United States until April supporting the brand new record. You can get updates from Joseph here.  

The post A Night at The Englert with Joseph appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The proposal, being brought before lawmakers for the 2026 Legislative Session, calls for increasing the monthly 911 wireless surcharge from $1.00 to $1.15. While 15 cents might seem like pocket change, officials say it is the key to stabilizing a system that hasn’t seen a funding update since 2013.

“Costs have risen significantly for everything, yet 9-1-1 surcharges have not changed in over 10 years,” says Police Chief Chad McCluskey. This gap has left local emergency communication centers, Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs), that serve as the gateway for emergency services, struggling to keep up with modern technology and rising staffing costs.

Iowa isn’t alone in this struggle. Across the country, local governments are grappling with how to fund aging emergency infrastructure. In Colorado, Arapahoe County recently moved to increase its 911 surcharge to address similar shortfalls, while in Florida, the state’s Emergency Communications Board has faced intense pressure from counties to raise fees to cover the costs of regional dispatch centers.

Image via 2023 Iowa 911 annual report

In Iowa, the situation reached a boiling point after the 2025 Legislative Session. Lawmakers passed a provision allowing the state to charge local 911 boards for “reasonable costs” of statewide operations. Rather than helping, leaders say this has imposed “significant financial strain” and created a cloud of uncertainty for local budgets.

The 15-cent increase is designed to create a sustainable, transparent funding model that doesn’t rely on local property taxpayers to fill the gaps. “This increase is long overdue,” says Chris Collins, President of Iowa NENA. “Our surcharge proposal provides a sustainable, fiscally responsible solution that strengthens Iowa’s 911 system and supports Iowa’s first responders.”

The funds are slated for more than just keeping the lights on. A major portion of the push is centered on “Next Generation 911,” a massive technological upgrade that allows for better location accuracy and digital communication. Todd Malone, president of Iowa APCO, notes that the adjustment “allows us to improve lifesaving technology without using additional taxpayer dollars. Investing in 911 is investing in the safety of every Iowan.”

To prevent another decade of stagnation, the proposal also includes a 2 percent annual inflation adjustment starting in 2027. The goal is to ensure that funding keeps pace with the world around it without requiring a massive, jarring leap in fees down the road.

The post Iowa Public Safety Leaders Warn “9-1-1 Can’t Wait,” Push for First Surcharge Increase Since 2013 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Right out of the gate, the Hawkeyes came out swinging. Senior Mark Gronowski, playing in his final game with Iowa, broke a sack and burst out of the pocket for a 42-yard scramble down the sideline, with a late-hit penalty tacked on at the end. Two plays later, running back Kamari Moulton found the end zone for the game’s first points.

An offensive start like that was encouraging, but Hawkeye fans had learned their lesson in the USC game.

It was nothing to get too excited about just yet.

The momentum continued on the following drive when redshirt freshman tight end D.J. Vonnahme caught a pass and rumbled for a 51-yard gain. It capped off a career day for Vonnahme, who finished with seven catches for 146 yards.

But the momentum came to a sudden halt.

On the very next play, a slant pass intended for running back Xavier Williams bounced from his grasp, ricocheted into the air, and landed in the arms of Commodore defender Martel Hight for an interception and touchback.

Fortunately, the defense cleaned up the mess the offense had left.

A familiar theme for Iowa.

Pavia was sacked four times in the first half, two of them by Karson Sharar. And as the defensive line consistently pressured the quarterback, the Hawks held Vanderbilt to just three points through two quarters.

Iowa wouldn’t be the only team to make a critical mistake. Late in the half on a fourth-and-long, Vanderbilt punter Nick Haberer appeared ready to run before hurriedly punting the ball away at the last second.

The problem?

He he had already crossed the line of scrimmage, resulting in a turnover on downs and giving Iowa the ball at the Vanderbilt 10-yard line. On the very next play, Gronowski lofted a jump ball to Reece Vander Zee. The sophomore, who hasn’t seen as many targets as he probably deserves, made a phenomenal contested catch for the touchdown, sending Iowa into halftime with a 14–3 lead.

The momentum carried into the second half.

Iowa forced a quick three-and-out, then marched down the field, capped off by a double reverse that resulted in a Gronowski touchdown pass to Vonnahme, extending the lead to 21–3.

Down three scores, Vanderbilt had no choice but to open things up. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Pavia launched a deep ball to Tre Richardson, who split two defensive backs and raced 75 yards for a touchdown. When they weren’t scoring on one-play strikes, the Commodores increased the tempo, and it began to disrupt the Iowa defense. Late in the third quarter, Pavia connected with Joseph McVay for a 16-yard touchdown, trimming Iowa’s lead to 24–17.

But all season long, Iowa had been comfortable putting the ball in Gronowski’s hands.

This moment was no different.

There was no safe or nervous play-calling, just trust. First-down completions to Vonnahme and Gill jump-started the drive, followed by a 32-yard burst from Moulton that pushed the ball inside the Vanderbilt five. Moulton finished the day with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown as Iowa’s leading rusher. The Hawkeyes leaned on Gronowski’s legs near the goal line, and he punched it in on the play dubbed the “Gronowski Plowski,” his 13th game with a rushing touchdown, pushing the lead to 31–17.

Vanderbilt responded once more with an 11-yard Pavia scramble for his third touchdown of the game, but Iowa’s offense stayed composed. The Hawkeyes converted three third downs on their next drive and moved well into field goal range. With Vanderbilt burning timeouts, Drew Stevens drilled his second field goal of the game from 44 yards out with 4:13 remaining, restoring a two-score lead.

Pavia moved the Commodores 60 yards downfield in just over a minute, quickly reaching the red zone. Still down two possessions with only one timeout remaining, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea elected to play it safe and kick a field goal early on second down, making it 34–27 with 2:58 left.

The most crucial play came on Iowa’s next possession.

Facing third-and-one with 2:01 remaining and Vanderbilt out of timeouts, the Hawkeyes lined up in their familiar heavy formation, the same look used so often for Gronowski sneaks. Instead, Gronowski took the snap and handed it off to Xavier Williams on an outside run, and Williams picked up 11 yards for the first down. An offsides penalty on Vanderbilt made the ending anti-climactic, but for Hawkeye Nation, it was a fitting finish. The penalty and the expectation of the sneak showed just how much defenses had to account for Gronowski.

Gronowski was named the game’s MVP after going 16-for-22 for 212 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while adding 54 rushing yards and a score on the ground. It was a proper sendoff for the senior quarterback and a fitting way to close the season.

The win marked Kirk Ferentz’s 11th bowl victory, evening his bowl record at 11–11 and snapping his 12-game losing streak against ranked opponents.

While the season included its share of tough losses, this group proved to be a special one. Iowa had 27 graduating seniors, and not a single one opted out of the bowl game. In an era defined by NIL deals and constant transfers, loyalty like that is increasingly rare.

Ferentz has kept tradition alive in the program.

Looking ahead to 2026, there is uncertainty, much like there was a year ago entering 2025. But there is also genuine excitement about what this team can become. Whatever the circumstances, Ferentz has seen it all, and he’ll once again be at the helm to deliver another season of Hawkeye football.

The post Iowa Wraps the Bowtie on 2025 with Bowl Win Over Vanderbilt appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Some 2300 kids, droning and buzzing like worker bees, shrieked with every goal, every scuffle, and every “67” reference, which there were a lot of.

Though the puck dropped at 10:30 a.m., as concession stands were closed and their metal folding windows were fastened shut, it felt like a playoff game.

“It’s just amped up like crazy,” Jen Van Otterloo, a third grade teacher at Heritage Christian School in North Liberty, said.

“The Best Field Trip Ever”, the Iowa Heartlanders’ theme for their December 10th game, turned into one of the best hockey games that most of the kids had probably ever watched. The Heartlanders took down the Kansas City Mavericks 5-4 in a dramatic overtime thriller, complete with momentum swings, fights, and brilliant goals.

“Kids for some reason, bring the energy tenfold,” Heartlanders superfan Marc Korver said.

Amongst a sea of mostly black, gray, and gold, Korver stuck out not only for his age (decidedly not in grade school) but also his outfit.

Green and white striped zebra pants. A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hockey sweater. A half dozen bead necklaces and chains, some in team colors, some adorned with letters spelling out words like “puck” and “goal”. Yellow and black dreadlocks, and to cap it off, a backwards gray Heartlanders cap with antlers sticking out on either side. 

“More well known as the Antler Man” he said after introducing himself, then turned away from us. “116! Let me hear you! Let’s go!”

The 300 plus grade schoolers in the section began screaming in response.

“I think of just the enthusiasm of the crowd and the home team, the community it builds,” Shari Bozorgzad, the head of St. Vincent’s School in Keokuk, said. “They’re so excited.”

A few students were hockey buffs. Others were there watching their first ever game. All of them instinctively knew what to do.

When a Mavericks player went to the penalty box, they banged on the glass incessantly. With every bone crushing check, they cheered with a bloodlust that straddled the line between endearing and troubling.

There were homemade signs scattered throughout the crowd. Some on posterboard, some on scrolls of paper.

One banner said “Hartlanders” in kid handwriting with alternating yellow and black letters. Later during the game, each of the five kids holding it up received a black t-shirt. Another sign said “St. Vincent’s ♡s the Heartlanders”.

When we asked the St. Vincent’s students what their favorite part of the game was, the response was unanimous down the line: the fights. That sentiment was shared by the Heritage Christian kids as well.

Nobody dropped the gloves, but there were shoving matches, trips, slashes, interferences, and headlocks. Every time, the kids ate it up.

“It was a great environment and I think the guys really fed off that,” Chuck Weber, Iowa’s head coach and general manager, said.

But because they were still technically in school, the kids were at the mercy of the school day. When some groups began filing out in the third period to catch their bus home, Kansas City seized the advantage with two goals in 13 seconds to tie the game at 4-4.

“I’m almost worn out with these kids,” Korver told us before the start of the third period.

But as the game went to overtime and his section remained mostly intact, he found a second wind, leading “Lets go Landers” chants as if he was the conductor of an orchestra.

With kids jumping to their feet and screeching, then falling back into their seats after every missed shot, the chaos reached its peak with a snapped stick and a counterattack led by Heartlanders forward Elliot Desnoyers.

In the final minute of overtime, he surged down the right wing, took the puck across his body, and slotted it past Mavericks goaltender Jack LaFontaine to win the game for Iowa. 

He then dropped to one knee and glided across the ice towards Korver and the students, who pounded against the plexiglass in celebration.

The Heartlanders entered the day undefeated in morning games throughout their franchise’s five years and counting of operation. They kept it intact with a little help from the next generation of hockey fans.

“These kids are awesome,” Korver said. “They need to come all the time.”

The post The Iowa Heartlanders Field Trip Experience appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated Nebraska in their regular-season finale behind a dominant second half by a score of 40-16. This win makes it ten wins in the last eleven matchups for the Hawkeyes, securing the Heroes trophy once again.

Given the last two games having identical 13-10 endings, and the two teams having identical 7-4 records, many viewers likely would’ve guessed that this game would be more of the same. 

Early on, it seemed as though the Huskers were actually going to run away with it. Literally. Running back Emmett Johnson’s 70-yard run in the first five minutes to set up a Nebraska touchdown was not a good sign for a normally stout Iowa defense. 

Star returner Kaden Wetjen helped pick up some of the slack with a long kickoff return that led to a Drew Steven field goal. The offense did its part as well, with quarterback Mark Gronowski’s deep bomb to tight end D.J. Vonnahme giving the Hawkeyes a 10-7 lead. 

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (21) returns a kick during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday, November 28. 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska (Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)

Nebraska punched back with a field goal drive led once again by Emmett Johnson, and a bad bounce on a kickoff gave them a free possession as well. Thankfully, the defense held them to three, and Iowa running back Kamari Moulton punched it in for six.

The back and forth between these two kept going as another Nebraska field goal cut the deficit to one point. Then, Iowa kept the avalanche of points going with a Gronowski sneak for a touchdown. 24-16 at the break.

That’s right, 40 combined points at halftime for Iowa and Nebraska. Keep in mind, the over/under for this game was 39.5 points. This was an absolute shootout; the two defenses must’ve eaten too much for Thanksgiving. 

Johnson certainly didn’t; he had a career-high 177 yards in the first half alone. “No. 21 is a tremendous player,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game. Iowa still maintained the lead, but if they wanted to keep it, they would have to come up with a plan to hold him in check. 

The plan they made seemed to be to keep him off the field, and it worked tremendously. Hawkeye linebacker Karson Sharar delivered a devastating (potentially targeting) hit on punt returner Jacory Barner Jr. that knocked the ball out of his hands and resulted in a safety. 

Iowa kept the momentum rolling with Gronowski and Moulton both coming back for seconds as they took a commanding 40-16 lead in the fourth. The Cornhuskers had a long drive towards the end of the game, displaying a strange lack of urgency, which ended with a fumble in the endzone that gave the Hawkeyes the football back and the win.

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) hands the ball off to running back Kamari Moulton (28) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday, November 28. 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska (Dylan Widner / Imagn Images)

The defense woke up from its slumber and pitched a second-half shutout after a sluggish first half. Johnson had just 40 yards in the second half, and Nebraska’s backup quarterback, T.J. Lateef, was nursing an injury and stood no chance as the game went on. 

The win means that Iowa will finish 8-4 in the regular season for the second consecutive year. It’s been a season of ups, downs, and being oh so close to breaking through to the next level. Their next opponent is unknown, and we’ll have to wait and see how they fare in their bowl game next month. Regardless of outcome, the season’s been a fun ride, and we can only hope the bowl game gives us one last high note before a long offseason. 

The post Corn’s Better Over Here: Iowa pummels Nebraska, 40-16 appeared first on KRUI Radio.