Iowa Football: Live Updates of the 2023 Season Opener against Utah State

Iowa football announces Cade McNamara as the starting quarterback for the 2023 season opener against Utah State.

In the upcoming 2023 season, the Iowa football team is set to kick off their first game against the Utah State Aggies at Kinnick Stadium. The game will take place on Saturday morning with an 11:03 a.m. start time. The Hawkeyes will have senior quarterback Cade McNamara making his debut as the starting quarterback.

However, there was some concern regarding McNamara's availability for the game. He suffered a soft tissue injury to his right leg during an open practice on August 12. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned in a press conference on Tuesday that McNamara had been medically cleared to play but was uncertain about starting under center. Despite this, McNamara was ultimately named the starting quarterback against the Aggies on Saturday morning.

Looking back at the previous season, Iowa football finished with an overall record of 8-5. They ended on a high note by defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 21-0 in the Citrus Bowl on January 1. This season, the team has undergone some changes, particularly at the quarterback position. Senior Cade McNamara has taken over the role previously held by Spencer Petras. Additionally, there have been transfers, with Seth Anderson and Kaleb Brown joining as backup receivers from Charleston Southern and Ohio State, respectively. They will be supporting returning receivers Nico Ragaini and Diante Vines.

On the defensive side of the ball, there have been changes as well. Junior Yahya Black will be starting at left tackle, replacing senior Noah Shannon who has been indefinitely suspended by the NCAA due to a gambling investigation. In the linebacker positions, senior Jay Higgins and Virginia graduate transfer Nick Jackson will be starting. At safety, sophomore Xavier Nwankpa will take the field.

As for the Utah State Aggies, they finished the previous season with a record of 6-7. Their season came to an end with a loss to Memphis in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl, with a final score of 10-38. The Aggies have five offensive starters and four defensive starters returning this season. Graduate senior linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr. will be leading the defense after recording 8.5 sacks last year, the highest on the team. Sophomore safety Ike Larson will be holding down the Utah State secondary after recording four interceptions in the previous season.

In terms of the coin toss, it remains to be seen who will come out on top. Both teams are eager to start the season strong and secure a victory in their first game. The outcome of the coin toss could potentially set the tone for the rest of the game.

Overall, there is much anticipation and excitement surrounding the opening game of the 2023 season for Iowa football. With Cade McNamara leading the team as the starting quarterback and a mix of new and returning players on both offense and defense, the Hawkeyes are ready to showcase their skills and make a statement against the Utah State Aggies.