Iowa football news: Hawkeyes' QB situation still a mystery days before 2026 opener

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Iowa’s quarterback competition remains unresolved less than a week before the Hawkeyes open the 2026 season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5 at Kinnick Stadium.

Third-year quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski and fourth-year signal-caller Hank Brown have remained close throughout fall camp, according to head coach Kirk Ferentz. The competition is expected to continue through the team’s season opener, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported Sunday, although Ferentz indicated that a decision will need to be made during game week about which quarterback receives the majority of first-team repetitions.

Hecklinski generated plenty of attention during the Hawkeyes’ Kids Day practice on Aug. 15, when he threw four touchdown passes in approximately 45 minutes and clearly outperformed Brown. However, Ferentz cautioned against placing too much importance on one practice, stressing that the staff must evaluate the entire body of work from camp.

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Offensive coordinator Tim Lester, entering his third season in that role, has also said the competition could continue into the season. Ferentz acknowledged that determining the starter could ultimately involve his personal judgment. Lester brings quarterback experience to the evaluation after throwing for more than 13,000 yards at Western Michigan.

Neither candidate has started a Big Ten game. Brown is the only Iowa quarterback currently on the roster with previous college starts, making two for Auburn in 2024. He also appeared in three games for the Hawkeyes last season and completed 5 of 13 passes for 48 yards with one interception after taking over late against eventual national champion Indiana in a 20-15 loss.

Hecklinski played in two games for Iowa last season and previously took three snaps for Wake Forest as a true freshman. Third-team quarterback Jimmy Sullivan has also received limited work during camp.

The uncertainty comes after five seasons in which the Hawkeyes’ passing production averaged 146.0 yards per game, a 56.9% completion rate, 10 touchdown passes and nine interceptions per season from 2021 through 2025. Iowa still averaged nine wins per season during that period.

The Hawkeyes’ ground attack averaged 141.7 yards per game and 3.87 yards per carry across those five seasons, while producing an average of 19.8 rushing touchdowns. The running game improved immensely in 2024 and 2025, averaging 197.2 and 176.9 yards per game, respectively.

Elsewhere on the depth chart, Cael Winter has secured the starting center job, allowing preseason All-American Kade Pieper to return to right guard, where he started all 13 games last season and earned third-team All-Big Ten recognition.

Iowa is also still sorting out competitions at punter and kicker as the opener approaches.

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Iowa football news: Hawkeyes' QB situation still a mystery days before 2026 opener

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