IOWA CITY — Here are a couple quick notes from Kirk Ferentz’s news conference this afternoon, and I’ll be back online later tonight with a full blog post from today:

- Jake Christensen has won the starting quarterback job. Ferentz said Christensen was improved in the spring over last fall and has made great strides since the spring. He did add that Ricky Stanzi also has made a ton of progress and that he expects both to play Saturday against Maine.

- Nate Guillory, a juco transfer who a week ago was listed as Iowa’s No. 2 running back, has left the team and decided to transfer. Ferentz did not say to where Guillory was headed, just saying “somewhere closer to home. Home is Houston. He came to Iowa after two years at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Ferentz said he leaves Iowa in good standing and that he wished him well. Guillory’s a small guy who seemed to have trouble grasping the offense. I suspect, being in the same class as Shonn Greene, who is listed as the starter, probably was a sign to Guillory that he wasn’t going to get many carries over the next two seasons.

- The line that will start Saturday’s game is, left tackle to right, Bryan Bulaga, Andy Keumpel, Rob Bruggeman, Seth Olsen and Kyle Calloway.

- Jacody Coleman and Pat Angerer still are battling it out for the starting linebacker position. Both will log a lot of time Saturday, Ferentz said.

- Four players are out for sure: Tight end Tony Moeaki (foot), receiver Trey Stross (hamstring), lineman Dan Doering (hand) and Mike Sabers (ankle). Weakside linebacker Jeff Tarpinian is questionable with a hamstring injury. He is not listed on the depth chart.

- Neither Daniel Murray nor Trent Mossbrucker have won the kicking job. Murray will handle kickoffs. Ferentz said he isn’t sure who will kick the first field goal or PAT.

- Amari Spievey has won the starting job at right cornerback, beating out sophomore Jordan Bernstine.

- Captains for this week’s game are Mitch King, Matt Kroul, Rob Bruggeman and Gavin McGrath.

- 2,600 tickets remain for Saturday’s game, which means the Hawkeyes streak of 30 straight sellouts in Kinnick Stadium is in jeopardy. 3,400 tickets still are available for the Florida International game Sept. 6.

I’ll be back on tonight after I get my stories typed up for the print edition. Feel free to drop any questions you have in the comment section below, and I’ll get to them later tonight.

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