There’s zero doubt that Iowa has had a massive edge in the rivalry series against Nebraska. Could that edge take a hit this season? The Hawkeyes are in trouble at a position they’ve been in before and managed to crawl out of it. However, things seem a bit more up in the air at the quarterback position than they have in the past.
Speaking during his appearance at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, head coach Kirk Ferentz made it clear that at the moment, he simply does not know who will be under center when the season kicks off. He also made it clear that the starting quarterback in September isn’t guaranteed to be the starting quarterback in October or November.
Iowa's inability to settle on a quarterback this season can only be music to Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule’s ears. Last season, Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski hurt the Huskers on the ground and through the air. He passed for 166 yards and a touchdown in Iowa’s 40-16 win and ran 13 times for 64 yards and another two scores.
Gronowski is now gone, and Ferentz doesn’t have the name of the guy who is going to replace him.
Nebraska football could benefit from Iowa’s unsettled quarterback battle
“First question obviously is going to be the quarterback position. Bottom line is this: right now we don't know the answer. I can only tell you we'll know the answer when we know it. Hopefully sometime in August that will become apparent. It may be in-season. Can't rule out any possibilities.”
It’s worth noting that Ferentz was not asked a question about this position battle. This quote came from his opening comment at Big Ten Media Days. He likely knew that question would come at some point this week, but he went out of his way to bring up that Iowa has question marks under center right now.
“The bottom line is we don't really know who our starter is at this point, but we're really pleased with the guys that are competing and the growth they've shown in the program now a year-plus. That part's good.”
That all sounds like coach speak for “no one has come close to stepping up.” Granted, the Nebraska rival hasn’t seen any of the contenders since spring practice so things could sort themselves out when fall camp begins.
Hank Brown, who transferred over from Auburn last year. Jeremy Hecklinski, Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald are battling for the starting spot. Coming into the spring, most thought that when Nebraska takes on Iowa in November, it would be Hank Brown at quarterback for the Hawkeyes. That appears to be a bit up in the air for now.
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