IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – C.J. Beathard threw for 211 yards and a touchdown in his first career start at Kinnick Stadium and Iowa pounded Illinois State 31-14 on Saturday.
Beathard also ran for two touchdowns, and LeShun Daniels, Jr. had 123 yards rushing for the Hawkeyes in their opener.
Iowa held the FCS Redbirds to just 231 yards, roughly half of what they averaged per game last season.
Iowa raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead and pushed it to 31-0 on Beathard’s 1-yard plunge midway through the fourth quarter.
Jake Kolbe had 147 yards passing and two meaningless late TDs for Illinois State.
