Week 3 should give Iowa football a chance to settle a few things before the Big Ten schedule starts to bite.
The Hawkeyes are 2-0, but that record tells only part of the story. Week 1 was a blowout.
Week 2 was a grind that ended with a late game-winning field goal. Now Northern Iowa comes to Kinnick Stadium, and this one feels like a useful checkpoint for Iowa more than anything else.
The biggest question is at quarterback. It sure looks like Hank Brown has put himself in position to keep the job after a turnover-free outing against Iowa State, a game in which he also ran for a touchdown and did enough throwing the ball downfield.
He has started the last two games, and I would expect that to continue against Northern Iowa. Jeremy Hecklinski should also get on the field, if only because it would force Michigan to spend time preparing for both next week and because this matchup should allow Iowa to get some players reps.
Even if both quarterbacks play, the more interesting issue is whether Iowa goes back to a rotation to try to recreate some of that early spark. My read is that Brown has done enough to be considered the starter, even if the Hawkeyes decide to mix things up again on Saturday.
There is also the matter of the banged-up players. Kamari Moulton and L.J.
Phillips Jr. are dealing with injuries, and Tyler Brown, the safety transfer from James Madison, is still working through a soft-tissue issue. In a game that should tilt heavily in Iowa’s favor early, the coaching staff has to decide whether to ease those players back in or keep them on the shelf for bigger tests ahead.
I would lean toward holding them out. Xavier Williams and Nathan McNeil should get the work at running back, and it is not hard to imagine both being needed in Big Ten play if injuries start to pile up.
Tyler Brown is a slightly different case. If he is ready, I’d give him a quarter so he can get back into game speed and settle into the rhythm, but I would keep the leash short.
That is the balancing act here. Northern Iowa is an FCS opponent, and this game is likely to be decided early. Iowa is heavily favored and should be aiming for 3-0, though that is still something that has to be earned.
But the bigger picture is obvious. Michigan waits on the other side of this one, and Iowa is absolutely peeking ahead.
The Hawkeyes do not need to show everything against Northern Iowa, but they do need to look crisp, build some confidence, and put enough on film to make the Wolverines think twice. New formations, new wrinkles, different looks - all of that matters here, because the next game will demand a lot more than survival.
In Other News...
Iowa Escaped Cy-Hawk Trouble But One Concern Just Got Louder
Iowa left the Cy-Hawk game with a win, but the margin did little to soften the familiar concerns that followed it out of the stadium. A game-winning field goal was enough to settle a tense afternoon, yet the broader picture still pointed back to an offense that struggled to find rhythm for long stretches, even as the defense supplied the kind of steady work Iowa fans have come to expect in rivalry games.
Special teams again played a central role in the outcome, and the defense had plenty of moments worth spotlighting, including strong showings from a few key players who helped keep Iowa State from taking control. Still, the most lasting takeaway may be how loudly the offensive issues now stand out, especially after a game in which the Hawkeyes needed every bit of their edge in field position, defense and composure just to survive a competitive Cyclone team. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Beat Iowa State But One Offensive Concern Isnt Going Away
Iowas win over Iowa State came with the kind of grind-it-out feel these rivalry games often deliver, and the Hawkeyes found just enough offense to leave with a 16-13 victory. Caden Buhr supplied the game-winner, while Hank Brown handled the passing game cleanly, completing 21 of 30 throws and avoiding any sacks behind an offensive line that held up well overall.
Still, the same concern that has followed Iowa at times did not disappear. The rushing attack never found much room, finishing at 93 yards on 29 carries, and the offense also sputtered on third down by converting only 5 of 15 chances. For a team that can lean on defense and field position, that kind of inconsistency is the sort of thing that tends to linger even after a rivalry win. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Week 3 Depth Chart Keeps One Big Offensive Question Alive
The Week 3 depth chart gave Iowa some clarity before its matchup with Northern Iowa, and Kamari Moulton is set to remain part of the plan after leaving the previous game late in the fourth quarter. Kirk Ferentz said Moulton is expected to play, which matters for an offense that wants to establish some stability early in the season.
The biggest question, though, still sits at quarterback, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski remain listed without a decision made public. Elsewhere, the special teams picture stayed the same, with Reece Vander Zee holding the punt return job and Zach Lutmer behind him, but the Hawkeyes still have one notable offensive spot that has yet to settle into place. [Read more 🡒]