Jeff Linder

The 2023-24 Iowa women’s basketball season tips off (kicks off?) with the Crossover at Kinnick, a 2 p.m. scrimmage Sunday with DePaul. A crowd of more than 50,000 — “That’s my personal goal,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said — is expected.

Class 4A top-ranked Clear Creek Amana dropped their first match of bracket play at the Wamac Conference volleyball tournament Thursday night at Marion High School, then proceeded to win six straight.

It’s getting down to crunch time on the Prep Football Huddle podcast. This week’s show delves into eye-opening Week 7 wins from Solon, Marion and more, the updated playoff picture and Week 8 games to watch.

You would think, as a divisional champion, a No. 1-ranked team and the owner of a 40-0 record, Clear Creek Amana would get a lollipop in the first round of the Wamac Conference volleyball tournament. No such luck.

Two weeks remain, and so do dozens of scenarios. Such is life in trying to project the Class 5A playoff field. Here is a rundown on the 20 teams have a plausible path to playing Oct. 27.

Here is a primer of area playoff races as the Iowa high school football season heads into its final week in Class 2A, 1A, A and 8-Player.

In a much-anticipated showdown with two-time defending state champion Noelle Steines of Calamus-Wheatland, North Linn’s Meghan Wheatley ran to the front early and rolled to the individual girls’ title at the Tri-Rivers Conference cross country meet Tuesday afternoon at Little Bear Country Club.

Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford answer more high school football questions. Bears bear, bees bee and sports writers discuss what teams must win, dominant units, consistent performers and post-game celebrations.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have released assignments for next week’s state-qualifying meets.

Women’s basketball: State Farm announces partnership with Iowa star Caitlin Clark.

The Gazette’s 2023 post-Week 7 Iowa high school football poll: Creston (3A), Winfield-Mount Union (8-Player) are newly minted No. 1 teams; Central Lyon-GLR joins Van Meter atop 2A heading into its county showdown.

Prep cross country: Rested and refueled, North Linn’s Meghan Wheatley is at her best ever. She and Washington’s Micah Rees are individual champions at the North Linn Invitational.

Operating with one good eye and two strong legs, Lance McShane scored the winning touchdown on fourth down with 4:04 left to send Maquoketa Valley past North Linn, 22-15.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy and West Branch started the 2023 Iowa high school football season 0-2 against tough schedules but have won every game since, including a pair of eye-openers last week. The Prep Football Huddle podcast discusses those teams and more noteworthy resurgences this week.

Led by individual champion Adam Gray, Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s boys’ cross country team earned its first MVC Super meet title in school history Thursday at Birdsall Park. The Cougars placed all five scorers in the top 17 and upset Class 4A top-ranked, short-handed Cedar Falls.