Hank Brown’s first start at Iowa didn’t settle the quarterback race, but it did give him something valuable: momentum.
Brown opened last weekend against Northern Illinois, with Jeremy Hecklinski coming in second, and the competition remains unresolved heading into the Cy-Hawk game against Iowa State. The official week two depth chart still lists the two with an “OR” between them, which lines up with how long this battle has already dragged on. For now, the Hawkeyes are still sorting it out.
Brown’s showing against Northern Illinois was enough to turn heads, even if the opponent wasn’t the kind that reveals everything. He made the most of his “pitch count” and gave the staff a reason to keep believing the offseason confidence in him was justified. After that performance, he picked up an unlikely endorsement from a familiar Iowa voice.
Recently on the Pat McAfee Show, University of Iowa graduate and Hawkeye fan Ty Schmit said the program is “all the way back..” and made it clear where he stands now. Schmit, who had previously been on the Hecklinski hype train, shifted after Brown’s outing and said, “I'm a Hank Brown guy and I want him in there moving forward” ~ @tyschmit #PMSLive https://t.co/52rfTkVre2 pic.twitter.com/dH6FhuZC2m
He also joked, “What can Brown do for you?” and said the “Hecklinski era” was fun, but it should be over.
That doesn’t mean Brown has locked up the job. Northern Illinois was not a final exam, just the first step.
Hecklinski is still very much in the picture, and the real pressure point comes this weekend against Iowa State. Both quarterbacks have now gotten their first taste of action, and the rivalry game should go a long way toward clarifying who takes the next snap as the starter.
There was plenty of early buzz around Hecklinski after his Kids Day performance, but Kirk Ferentz has kept the competition open for a reason. He used game one as a test and is carrying the evaluation into week two. That approach has kept Iowa from rushing into a decision, even if it means the battle is still unresolved.
Brown did have the stronger week one performance, but that came against a weaker opponent, so the comparison only tells so much. Iowa State comes in in full rebuild mode and faces a difficult road trip to Kinnick Stadium, but rivalry games rarely care about the paper argument.
The Cyclones will fight, and the quarterback who plays better should earn the nod before week three. That would leave one full game against Northern Iowa before a tough road opener against Michigan to begin Big Ten play.
Brown made a strong first impression. He just hasn’t earned the keys yet. If Iowa still doesn’t have an answer after next weekend, the quarterback situation will be in far worse shape than it should be.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Sent A Telling Message Before The Cy-Hawk Game
Iowa heads into the Cy-Hawk game with a depth chart that says plenty about how the Hawkeyes are approaching Week 2. The most notable detail is the quarterback spot, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are both listed with an OR designation, a sign the staff is keeping the door open to shared playing time as it sorts through the position. At running back, the backfield will be thinner than expected with L.J. Phillips Jr. out because of a high-ankle sprain, leaving Nathan McNeil and Xavier Williams as the main options behind him.
There was also a small wrinkle on special teams that stood out after Week 1. Evan James, who had the kind of punt return performance that usually earns a bigger role, is still listed behind Reece Vander Zee on the depth chart. For a rivalry game that often turns on field position and a few timely snaps, those decisions suggest Iowa is still calibrating key spots even as the rivalry week pressure ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Keeps One Big Week 2 Decision Alive Before Iowa State
Iowas official Week 2 depth chart keeps the most interesting quarterback question intact heading into the Iowa State game. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are still both listed as starters, which means the Hawkeyes are carrying the competition forward for at least another week while leaving the rest of the offense largely unchanged. Theres also continuity up front on both the offensive and defensive lines, a sign the staff is comfortable with the foundation even as one of the teams biggest decisions remains open.
Elsewhere on the chart, Kamari Moulton sits atop the running back spot with backups behind him, while L.J. Phillips Jr. is absent because of a lower-body injury. Tight end is listed with four players in starter or backup roles, giving Iowa some flexibility there, and Evan James shows up as the backup punt returner behind Reece Vander Zee. But all the attention still circles back to quarterback, where Iowa has made clear it is not ready to close the book before facing its in-state rival. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Backfield Suddenly Faces Pressure Before A Huge Iowa State Test
Iowas win over Northern Illinois came with a cost that could shape the next week of preparation, especially in the backfield. Offensive linemen Cael Winter and Kade Pieper both dealt with heat-related issues during the game, and running back L.J. Phillips Jr. came away with a high-ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out against Iowa State.
The Hawkeyes have built enough depth at running back to absorb the loss, but the timing is still less than ideal with a rivalry test looming. Any reshuffling behind the line will only add to the challenge of getting the offense settled before a matchup that already carries plenty of pressure for both sides. [Read more 🡒]