Kirk Ferentz addresses how Iowa gambling investigation impacts Cy-Hawk rivalry game

Key players from Iowa and Iowa State will be missing for Saturday’s rivalry game due to the state’s ongoing gambling investigation.

Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke with reporters on Tuesday and addressed how the absences will impact the Cy-Hawk rivalry matchup.

“I don’t know. The guys that aren’t there aren’t there,” Ferentz said. “I can’t speak to their side. I can speak to ours. We’d be a better team with our guys out there. I’m sure they feel the same way. The reality is they aren’t.”

Among the players suspended for Iowa are star defensive lineman Noah Shannon and receiver Jack Johnson.

Meanwhile, Iowa State has also lost multiple players, including starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers and starting running back Jirehl Brock. The latter is no longer with the program.

Ferentz believes at this point, the absences shouldn’t be an excuse, even if he does wish both teams were at full strength.

“We’ve all had ample time to get ready. It’s not the same, but for a coach or for the team, it’s the same as if somebody is injured. Somebody else is going to step in there and play,” Ferentz said. “From what I could tell on the film, those guys [from Iowa State] really did a great job. All the guys that we saw there Saturday looked like they were confident and playing very well.”

Iowa State beat Northern Iowa 30-9 in its season opener this past weekend, while Iowa beat Utah State 24-14.

Iowa State started Rocco Becht at quarterback and he was 10-for-13 for 113 yards and two scores. Becht also rushed for a touchdown. At running back, the Cyclones gave the majority of the carries to Cartevious Norton. He finished with 11 carries for 49 yards.

“They had total control of the game in all three phases,” Ferentz said of the Cyclones.

The 68-year-old Ferentz said this offseason that he was frustrated with Iowa and Iowa State seemingly being singled out as far as being punished for gambling, but he hasn’t spoken with Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell about the suspensions ahead of Saturday’s game.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for coach Campbell. Saw him at the state clinic back in February, early March, like March 2,” Ferentz said. “We see each other there, typically bump into each other in recruiting, but otherwise we’re both in our worlds. A lot of respect for him certainly in their program.”

Iowa has won six of the past seven meetings between the two programs, although the Cyclones came out on top last season.

Saturday’s game in Ames will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by Fox.