and-goal from the Oakland 1-yard line,

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowas 12-0 start last season led some to label the Hawkeyes a fluke. A blowout loss to Stanford in the Rose Bowl only seemed to confirm those suspicions.Iowa is intent on proving that its still a national contender and the Hawkeyes should have a team capable of doing so.Iowa is a favorite to repeat as Big Ten West division champions. The Hawkeyes return 13 starters from last year, when they finished 8-0 in the West and fell inches shy of a playoff berth.Quarterback C.J. Beathard had a strong first season as the starter despite a litany of injuries. If Beathard can stay healthy, a run at Big Ten Player of the Year isnt out of consideration. Iowas defense, which let up just 20.4 points per game, will be led by Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Desmond King.Basically since 1999, when we got here, our goal has been the same, to be Big Ten champions, said coach Kirk Ferentz, who is entering his 18th season with the Hawkeyes. I think what it comes down to is, all you can ask for is opportunity. We feel like we do have a solid foundation built right now.SEASON OPENERThe Hawkeyes shouldnt have too much trouble when they host Miami of Ohio on Sept. 3. The Red Hawks went just 3-9 in 2015 and were pounded at Wisconsin 58-0. Miami averaged a paltry 17.9 points per game last season while giving up 32. Iowa dominated Illinois State in last years opener, the first sign that perhaps the Hawkeyes were in for a special season.SENSATIONAL C.J.Beathard emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten in 2015 despite injuries that hampered his mobility. Now healthy and a senior, Beathard appears poised to put together one of the best seasons an Iowa quarterback has ever had under Ferentz. Beathard threw for 2,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and just five picks a year ago, and Ferentz recently compared him to Brad Banks, who was second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2002. Theres just something about him, Ferentz said.BACK-TO-BACK?Iowas powerful rushing attack paved the way for its offense last season, but star running back Jordan Canzeri has moved on. The Hawkeyes should be fine, however, if they lean on big back LeShun Daniels Jr. and speedster Akrum Wadley. Daniels and Wadley each rushed for over 190 yards in a single game in 2015 and appear ready to play bigger roles.KEY GAMESIowas season will likely come down to a three-game stretch starting in late October, with home games against Wisconsin and Michigan wrapped around a road trip to Penn State. Iowa fans know better than to sleep on North Dakota States trip to Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 17. The Hawkeyes will be coming off its rivalry game with Iowa State, and the Bison are the five-time defending FCS champions.PREDICTIONIowa goes 11-1 and wins the West only to fall to Michigan State in a rematch of the Big Ten title game. Of course, Iowa could always go 8-5 -- like it did in 2010, the last time the Hawkeyes entered a season with such high expectations.---This story has been corrected to show in last paragraph that Iowa played Michigan State in the Big Ten title game.---Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAPCustom Nike Baseball Jerseys China .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Custom Nike Baltimore Orioles Jerseys .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-tampa-bay-rays-jerseys/ . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. Custom Nike Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Custom Nike Colorado Rockies Jerseys . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies..Odell Beckham Jr.Ravens vs. Giants ? Odells new friendThe situation: First-and-10 from the Giants 25-yard line with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter after the Ravens have just taken a 13-10 lead. The play: Beckham lines up on the right side, close to the line of scrimmage and opposite Ravens cornerback Will Davis. He runs 10 yards and pretends to sit down. But instead of stopping he spins back upfield and past the defender. Eli Manning hits Beckham in stride as he races for a 75-yard touchdown that includes a triple-jump celebration in the end zone.Al Bello/Getty Images.Colin Kaepernick49ers vs. Bills ? Welcome back, KaepernickThe situation: 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick starts his first game since Week 8 of last season, replacing Blaine Gabbert.His play: He finishes 13-for-29 for 187 yards and a touchdown in a 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Kaepernick has eight rushes for 66 yards and throws his only TD of the day into the wind. Wide receiver Torrey Smith adjusts for the catch and goes 53 yards for a touchdown.Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images.Rob Gronkowski Bengals vs. Patriots ? Gronkowski jawing with Vontaze BurfictThe situation: Rob Gronkowski goes off with a career-high total of receiving yards (162) and closes in loud fashion, picking up a taunting penalty in the fourth quarter when things get chippy after he barks at the Bengals bench. The play: Gronkowski is penalized for taunting and gets an earful from Bill Belichick. Its a brief visit to the bench -- a single play. He gets loud cheers as he returns to the field with the Patriots leading 35-17.Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports.Brandin CooksSaints vs. Panthers ? Cooks goes for 87 yardsThe situation: Third-and-4 from the Saints 13-yard line with 2:31 left in the first quarter and New Orleans leading 7-0 The play: Out of the shotgun, Saints quarterback Drew Brees steps into a pass that Brandin Cooks hauls in at about the 50-yard line, and the speedy receiver does the rest, outracing the Panthers defense all the way to the end zone for an 87-yard TD and a 14-0 lead. Cooks, who also had a 98-yard TD catch in Week 1, follows the score with an abbreviated version of his bow-and-arrow touchdown celebration thanks to the NFLs recent crackdown on the move. Brees says if you can hit Cooks in stride, its over.AP Photo/Bill Feig.Kendall WrightTitans vs. Browns ? Wright fights for final yardsThe situation: First-and-10 from the Browns 48-yard line with 11:51 remaining in the second quarter and the Titans leading 7-6 The play: After using play-action, Marcus Mariota steps up in the pocket and slings a deep pass to a diving and wide-open Kendall Wright. The Titans receiver hauls it in and gets up just in time to be tackled into the end zone by two Browns defenders for his first touchdown catch since Oct. 25, 2015. That was the second deep pass connection on the day for the typically big-play-challenged Titans, who also got a 43-yard reception by Rishard Matthews. Mariota says thats the expectation for Wright.AP Photo/James Kenney.Darrius Heyward-BeySteelers vs. Dolphins ? Darrius takes offThe situation: First-and-10 at the Steelers 40 with 5:39 left in the first quarter and the Dolphins leading 3-0. The play: Darrius Heyward-Bey, who had the fastest 40 time at the 2009 combine (4.30 seconds), lines up at receiver, takes the handoff on the reverse and shows his speed by racing 60 yards for the touchdown. The Steelers convert the two-point conversion but could do little else in the 30-15 loss to the Dolphins.Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports.Wendell SmallwoodEagles vs. Redskins ? First of the yearThe situation: The Eagles are down 14-0, and are set to receive the kick following a Kirk Cousins touchdown pass to Vernon Davis with 7:48 remaining in the second quarter.ddddddddddddDavis is flagged for celebrating the TD by shooting the ball over the goalpost like a basketball. The penalty is assessed on the kickoff. The play: Rookie Wendell Smallwood takes advantage. Fielding the kickoff at the 14-yard line, he finds a lane down the left sideline and races for an 86-yard touchdown to pull the Eagles within seven. It is the first kickoff return touchdown in the NFL this season.Patrick Smith/Getty Images.Kenny BrittRams vs. Lions ? Britt stretchesThe situation: First-and-10, ball on the Rams 25 with 9:50 left in the third quarter and the Lions leading 21-14. The play: Rams receiver Kenny Britt beats Lions corner Johnson Bademosi over the top and hauls in a 47-yard catch with one hand, trapping it with his legs to keep it from hitting the ground. The Rams ended the drive with a touchdown.Leon Halip/Getty Images.Arrelious BennBears vs. Jaguars ? Benn for the leadThe situation: Second-and-10 from the Jaguars 49 with Chicago leading 16-10 and 2:49 left in the game The play: Arrelious Benn runs a slant and hauls in a pass from Blake Bortles only to slip on the Soldier Field turf. Luckily for the Jaguars, Benns defender, Tracy Porter, slips as well, allowing Benn to get back up and race another 36 yards for the touchdown, his first since 2010 and only his third catch since 2012. Benn, who says he thought about quitting as he dealt with injuries over the years, gives Jacksonville just its second road victory in its past 19 tries. Coach Gus Bradley describes it as great presence to get up and go. Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire.Dak PrescottCowboys vs. Packers ? Prescotts recordThe situation: Rookie QB Dak Prescott dismisses the Cowboys history at Lambeau Field (four-game losing streak) while making his first start in Green Bay and leading the Cowboys to another victory.The play: With 2:45 to play in the first quarter, Prescott sets an NFL record with a 15-yard completion to Terrance Williams. It is his 163rd pass of the season without an interception, the most to start a career. Alas, the streak ends in the second half at 177 passes when he misses Jason Witten, leading to a Morgan Burnett interception.Dylan Buell/Getty Images.Dontari PoeChiefs vs. Raiders ? Big-man TDThe situation: Third-and-goal from the Oakland 1-yard line, with 11:41 left in the third quarter and the Chiefs leading 13-10. The play: Dontari Poe, a 345-pound nose tackle, enters the game, in theory as a blocker. But he lines up in the slot, takes a pass from Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and bulls his way into the end zone. The play is ruled a lateral and its a 1-yard touchdown run for Poe. AP Photo/Ben Margot.Julio JonesFalcons vs. Seahawks ? Breaking up Falcons last chanceThe situation: Fourth-and-10 at the Falcons 25-yard line with 1:38 remaining in the game and Seattle leading 26-24 The play: The Falcons have one last chance to get into field goal range. Matt Ryan throws a deep pass down the center of the field to Julio Jones, who leaps for the ball with Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas III. Sherman makes contact with Jones and grabs his right arm as the Falcons receiver reaches up for the ball with his left arm. The pass falls incomplete with no flags, sending the Falcons back to Atlanta from their two-week stay out west one call away from potentially being 5-1. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson ' ' '