Iowa Everywhere

Iowa State has hired Jared Benko as its next athletic director. Chris Williams is joined by Jake Brend and Levi Stevenson for an in-depth reaction to the hire, the challenges facing Cyclone Athletics, and what Benko’s leadership could mean for the next era in Ames.

The crew examines Benko’s background at Auburn and Georgia Southern, his fundraising experience, and the growing importance of NIL, revenue sharing, and financial strategy in college athletics. They also discuss the legacy of Jamie Pollard, the role of Iowa State President David Cook, and why the decisions made now could shape the program for decades.

Plus, the guys debate the proposed expansion of the College Football Playoff, including what a larger field could mean for Iowa State and other programs outside the sport’s traditional powerhouses. They also look at the Week 7 college football landscape before wrapping up with some lighter conversation.

Watch the CW Pod weekly on Iowa Everywhere.

00:00 Intro

03:40 Benko’s Fundraising Background and NIL Experience

10:10 Replacing Jamie Pollard: The Challenges Facing Iowa State

18:15 Iowa State’s Future, Leadership and Financial Priorities

26:20 What Benko Needs to Do to Connect With Cyclone Fans

35:30 Fundraising, Fan Support and Building Revenue

43:20 College Football Playoff Expansion: Who Benefits?

54:30 Week 7 Matchups and the Big 12’s Playoff Chances

1:04:10 Could a Bigger Playoff Change Iowa State’s Future?

1:12:20 Who Should Decide the Playoff Field?

1:17:30 Closing Conversation

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Iowa State has a new athletic director, the College Football Playoff is expanding to 24 teams, and the Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series! Keith Murphy and Andrew Downs break down a busy Friday on Murph & Andy.

The guys discuss Iowa State’s hiring of Jared Benko as athletic director, his experience at Auburn and Georgia Southern, and what his background in fundraising, NIL, and revenue sharing could mean for the Cyclones’ athletic department.

Plus, debating the pros and cons of expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, examining how the changes could affect college football, and celebrating the Brewers’ sweep of the Dodgers to capture the National League pennant.

With Iowa and Iowa State on a bye week, it’s also Pumpkin Patch Saturday, and the guys look ahead to the weekend before wrapping up with listener feedback, Throwdowns, Scott School, and MORE!

Murph & Andy. Sports and MORE!

00:00 Intro

03:38 Jared Benko’s Background, Fundraising and NIL Experience

10:25 What Benko’s Hiring Means for Iowa State Athletics

23:06 College Football Playoff Expansion: The Case for 24 Teams

30:25 How Expansion Changes the College Football Playoff Race

41:56 The Milwaukee Brewers Sweep the Dodgers

46:00 Sports, Entertainment and Friday Conversation

1:04:00 The Future of College Football and Playoff Expansion

1:15:15 More Debate on the 24-Team Playoff

1:25:36 Brewers Celebration and What’s Bugging You

1:28:45 Throwdowns

1:35:27 Weekend Radar and Plans for Pumpkin Patch Saturday

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Keith & Jenny discuss whether they'd rather be freezing or overheated, what kind of vacationers they are, and test out an airplane phone holder.

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Mackenzie Eddie and Scott Siepker overthink a man finding a Pharaoh's head in his yard, couples pole dancing together to strengthen their relationships, and spin the wheel of pop culture stories.

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Iowa football made a statement with a dominant 41-24 road win over Washington. Chad Leistikow and Scott Dochterman break down the Hawkeyes’ performance, evaluate Iowa’s path through the second half of the Big Ten schedule, and debate whether the Hawkeyes can make a run at the Big Ten Championship game.

The guys discuss Iowa’s impressive offensive performance, the running game, quarterback play, and the impact of the Hawkeyes’ traveling fan base in Seattle. They also examine the Big Ten race and debate how the conference standings could shake out.

Plus, Chad and Scott look ahead to the remaining schedule, discuss the importance of the Iowa-Nebraska rivalry, and reveal their picks for the Big Ten Championship Game. Making weekly picks and more.

Legends & Listeners presented by GameDay Men’s Health.

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Can the Big 12 get multiple teams into the College Football Playoff? And is UCLA’s remarkable resurgence for real? Trent Condon and Emery Songer break down the biggest storylines in college football ahead of a massive Week 7.

Pete Mundo of Heartland College Sports joins the show to discuss the Big 12’s playoff hopes, BYU’s pivotal matchup with Notre Dame, Texas Tech’s early-season concerns, and the conference’s growing separation between its top teams and the rest of the league.

Then, Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer of Locked On Bruins joins the program to break down UCLA’s surprising start, the impact of Nico Iamaleava’s injury, and whether the Bruins can sustain their momentum in the Big Ten.

Plus, the guys debate the College Football Playoff outlook for the Big Ten, evaluate Iowa’s path forward, and preview some of Week 7’s biggest games, including Alabama-Tennessee, Missouri-Auburn, Oklahoma State-Houston, BYU-Notre Dame, and Nebraska-Oregon.

The Committee is presented by Bud Light and Buffalo Wild Wings.

01:49 The Committee Opens: Big 12 and College Football Playoff Stakes

03:13 Pete Mundo on the Big 12’s Playoff Hopes

08:25 Texas Tech’s Concerns and Oklahoma State’s Opportunity

13:40 Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer on UCLA’s Resurgence

18:00 Can UCLA Stay in the Playoff Race Without Nico Iamaleava?

23:20 Big Ten vs. Big 12: Which Conference Gets Multiple Playoff Bids?

39:00 Iowa’s Playoff Path and the Big Ten’s Biggest Questions

48:05 Alabama-Tennessee and the Biggest SEC Matchups

54:02 Week 7 Picks

1:00:30 Nebraska-Oregon and the Final College Football Playoff Debate

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How do Iowa and Iowa State look at the halfway point of the college football season? Chris Williams and Chris Hassel break down the Hawkeyes, Cyclones, and the biggest storylines heading into Week 7.

The guys debate Iowa’s quarterback situation after Jeremy Hecklinski’s performance, examine Tim Lester’s comments about the Hawkeyes’ offense, and look ahead to the betting lines for Iowa and Iowa State’s remaining games.

Plus, Chris and Chris discuss the biggest college football matchups of Week 7, drop their LOCKS, and revisit a wild Iowa high school golf controversy that brings back some of their own golf memories.

Two Guys is presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery.

00:00 Show Open

06:23 Hassel Makes the Case: Did a High School Golf Team Cheat?

14:00 Chris and Chris Share Their Own Golf Stories

20:18 Iowa Football: Hecklinski, Hank Brown and Tim Lester’s Comments

31:12 Iowa State Football at the Midseason Point

40:02 Cyclones Quarterback Questions and the Road Ahead

44:13 Mightiest Moment of the Week

48:01 College Football’s Biggest Games of Week 7

57:01 Big 12 Matchups and College Football Picks

1:04:19 Betting Lines, Predictions and Week 7 Picks

1:19:49 Bill Fennelly’s Final Season and His Iowa State Legacy

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Iowa football’s quarterback debate continues, Tamin Lipsey’s status remains a question, and Bill Fennelly prepares for his final season at Iowa State. Keith Murphy and Andy Fales tackle the biggest Hawkeye and Cyclone storylines on Murph & Andy.

The guys discuss Jeremy Hecklinski vs. Hank Brown and what Iowa’s quarterback situation means moving forward. They also break down the uncertainty surrounding Tamin Lipsey’s return to Iowa State basketball and react to Bill Fennelly’s retirement announcement after 32 seasons leading the Cyclone women’s basketball program.

Plus, the guys get into college football, baseball, and the latest sports storylines before bringing out the candy-bar debate and Mr. Movie.

All this and MORE!

00:00 Show Open

07:20 Bill Fennelly Announces His Final Season

23:55 Tamin Lipsey Returns, but Questions Remain

26:34 Hecklinski or Hank Brown: Iowa’s Quarterback Debate

31:00 College Football Reactions and Weekend Storylines

35:30 MLB Playoffs and the Milwaukee Brewers

39:00 MORE!

47:30 Mr. Movie

1:04:00 College Football Memories and the Red River Rivalry

1:06:00 Close

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How has Fareway built a loyal following across Iowa and the Midwest? Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer joins Chris Williams on the CW Pod to discuss the company’s approach to grocery shopping, food prices, customer service, technology, and community.

Cramer shares the story behind Fareway’s growth, what sets the grocery chain apart from its competitors, and why relationships with customers and local communities remain so important. The conversation also covers online grocery shopping, AI, changing consumer attitudes toward food and health, and the challenges facing the grocery industry.

Plus, Cramer discusses Fareway’s involvement with NIL, the growth of the Cyclones’ athletic programs, and his outlook as a longtime Minnesota Vikings fan.

CW Pod weekly on Iowa Everywhere.

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Tickets are on sale now for Dancing with the Stars LIVE from the Casey's Center on Feb. 21. See your favorite DWTS pros take center stage in this unforgettable ALL-NEW show! Plus, the month of country music continues at Casey's Center as Thomas Rhett (Oct. 22) and Ella Langley (Oct. 29) take center stage. Explore more shows and entertainment coming to Des Moines at IowaEventsCenter.com

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