Iowa’s 40-0 win over Northern Illinois answered plenty in Week 1, but it didn’t clear the board. Not even close. With Iowa State coming to town, the Hawkeyes are still carrying a few real questions into Week 2 - and the next game should sharpen the picture.
One of the biggest is at quarterback. After Iowa split reps and series fairly evenly in the opener, there’s a strong case for Hank Brown to get the first crack again against the Cyclones.
The offense looked steady with him in charge, and Iowa scored on its first three drives with Brown under center. He was a touch better than Jeremy Hecklinski on paper, though drops and game flow are part of that story too.
Looking only at the box score doesn’t tell the full tale.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Iowa didn’t name a starter at all this week. Still, based on the feel of the game and what showed up on film, Brown looks like the safer bet to start in Week 2 unless he forces the issue another way.
Kicker is another spot that deserves attention. Caden Buhr won the Week 1 job over Eli Ozick, the North Dakota State transfer, after Kirk Ferentz pointed to consistency as a key factor in the decision.
But Buhr’s opener wasn’t spotless: he missed an extra point and a 53-yard field goal. That matters in this matchup.
Five of the last eight Cy-Hawk games have been decided by three points or less, and Iowa has already been burned by made field goals against Iowa State the last two seasons. In a game that tight, every point has extra weight.
Iowa State’s first game offered some clues too. The Cyclones handled Southeast Missouri State in the way you’d expect, rolling to a 28-0 halftime lead and then cruising from there.
But the numbers still leave some things to chew on. Jaylen Raynor flashed explosiveness, yet his 8-for-16 passing line against that opponent wasn’t exactly clean.
Iowa’s defense figures to make that part of the game even tougher.
What stands out most is the run defense. Iowa State managed just 108 rushing yards on 31 carries, a 3.5-yard average. That opens a door for Iowa if it can shut down early-down runs and force pressure onto Raynor and the passing game.
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 🡒]