Iowa State basketball coach Otzelberger and Hawkeyes football preview 2026 season

Iowa State men's basketball head coach TJ Otzelberger discussed the Cyclones' summer workouts, noting freshman Christian Wiggins' season‑ending injury and the arrival of five transfers—Jaquan Johnson, Taj Manning, Leon Bond, Ryan Prather and Tre Singleton—who are expected to earn significant minutes. He highlighted a challenging non‑conference schedule that includes a season‑opening game against Memphis on Nov. 2, a Las Vegas tournament with potential matchups against Tennessee and Purdue, and the rivalry game with Iowa.

The Iowa Hawkeyes football program held an open media day at the Stew & LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center, where players such as quarterbacks Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, wide receivers Tony Diaz and Evan James, and others shared insights on off‑season training and mental preparation. Brown said, “Just taking it day by day… growing each day,” while Hecklinski noted his progress in coverage recognition. The team previewed its 2026‑27 season opener against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium on Sep. 5, 2026.