While Nebraska football looks set at QB1, Iowa has some intense problems brewing

It feels like it’s been a while since the Nebraska football team was set at quarterback the way it is heading into the 2024 season. Perhaps that’s just getting caught up in the hype of Dylan Raiola. Maybe it’s the real deal, but it feels good. It feels nice to not have to worry about who is under center in the season opener.

What makes knowing that Dylan Raiola is under center for the Huskers this fall even better is that one of NU’s fiercest rivals in the Big Ten are struggling to figure out if they have anyone at all who can handle the job. 

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Iowa Hawkeyes. And as the Nebraska football rival’s fall camp ticks on, it looks like they have a QB1 problem. There’s a real question as to who is going to start for the Hawkeyes. And I’m here for it.

Iowa finds itself in tough waters and Nebraska football fans can enjoy it

Things seemingly ramped up a bit on Saturday after the Hawkeyes staged their first scrimmage of fall camp. Things went poorly enough that Iowa analysts voiced their concerns over the performance of the quarterbacks.

“I watched and charted McNamara’s throws,” Chris Hassel wrote on X, speaking of presumed starting quarterback Cade McNamara. “And it was worse than I thought. Unofficially I had him 7-21, 20 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT (pick 6), 1 sack, 1 fumbled snap.”

According to the CBS Sports writer, it was bad enough that he posted a video of the workout with an “if you dare” disclaimer.

Hassel made it clear he wasn’t all that thrilled about the performance of Iowa’s supposed backup quarterback, Brendan Sullivan. 

Sullivan came over to Kirk Ferentz’s squad from Northwestern hoping to take the starting job for his new team. However, in the same scrimmage where Hassel saw McNamara struggle, he said that others felt the same about Sullivan.

“I didn’t chart Sullivan,” Hassel added. “But the Des Moines Register had him 10-21 for 76 yds…but more of his work was against the 2nd and 3rd team D.”

There’s a ton of time between now and the season. A ton of time between now and the Nebraska football game against Iowa. But things are shaping up to be quite fun this season.