ISU hopes trying Cajuns won’t lead to heart burn

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE AT NO. 23 IOWA STATE 11 a.m. Saturday • ESPN Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa

Brock Purdy will begin his second full season as starting quarterback after leading the Cyclones to one of their best offensive years in program history. The owner of 21 school records threw for almost 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, and his 306.3 yards per game ranked fourth nationally.

This matchup wasn’t announced until Aug. 12.

“There’s a little bit different feel in the air this week,” Napier said. “Lots of us were uncertain whether this was ever going to happen. We’re excited about the opportunity to compete and proud of our young men and the work they’ve put in to getting prepared for this moment.”

No fans will be allowed in the stadium as a precaution against coronavirus spread. “I don’t really know what the environment is going to be like,” Cyclones tight end Dylan Soehner said. “I’d assume it will be somewhat of a really intense practice feel. We don’t have to do anything special to prepare for that. We always make a joke that we could show up and play on the side of the highway, and that’s basically what we’re doing.”

Iowa State will wear a uniform patch honoring Trice, the school’s first Black athlete who died from injuries suffered in his second football game in 1923. Trice is the first Black man to have a stadium named in his honor.