Former Iowa football QB finds new transfer portal home story
The Former Iowa football QB finds new transfer portal home story has officially reached its final chapter. After more than two months in the NCAA transfer portal, Jackson Stratton has revealed where he’ll continue his college football journey and the move could significantly shape both his future and Iowa’s quarterback picture heading into 2026.
Stratton, who entered the portal on Nov. 30 as the first Hawkeye to explore transfer options, is headed to the University of San Diego. The Toreros confirmed his addition on Feb. 4 while unveiling updates to their 2026 football roster. With that announcement, Stratton became the final former Iowa player from the 2025 cycle to publicly declare his next destination.
Former Iowa football QB finds new transfer portal home
Stratton’s time in Iowa City may not have spanned multiple seasons as a starter, but it included meaningful moments.
During the 2024 season, the former Hawkeye quarterback appeared in three games and earned two starts and Iowa won both of them. The first came in a 29-13 road victory over Maryland, a game where Stratton handled a tough Big Ten road environment with poise. The second was a gritty 13-10 home win over Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium, a rivalry showdown that closed Iowa’s season on a high note.
Across those three appearances, Stratton completed 21 of 35 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. The stat line may seem modest in today’s pass-heavy era, but context tells the real story. Iowa’s offense didn’t revolve around high-volume passing. Instead, Stratton was tasked with protecting the football, executing the system, and delivering in key moments.
He did exactly that.
Against Maryland, he kept drives alive and avoided costly mistakes. Against Nebraska, he helped guide an offense that controlled tempo and leaned on defense and field position. There were no reckless throws, no panic decisions just clean football when it mattered most.
That kind of reliability earns respect inside a locker room.
Why San Diego Makes Sense
Now, Stratton heads west to join the San Diego Toreros, a Division I program competing in the Pioneer League. San Diego finished the 2025 season with an 8-4 record and remains one of the more consistent programs at its level.
However, Stratton won’t walk into an uncontested quarterback room.
The Toreros return starting quarterback Dom Nankil, who threw for 1,941 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. Nankil’s production gives San Diego stability, but it also creates real competition. Stratton arrives with Big Ten experience something that carries weight.
Facing defenses like Maryland and Nebraska is vastly different from most Pioneer League matchups. The speed, complexity, and physicality of Big Ten football sharpen decision-making. Stratton has already seen that environment. He’s played under the lights, in high-pressure situations, with conference implications on the line.
That experience could give him an edge.
If he adapts quickly to San Diego’s offensive system and expands on his 60% completion rate from Iowa, he’ll have a legitimate shot at pushing Nankil for the starting role in 2026. Even if he begins as a competitor rather than a clear-cut QB1, the addition immediately raises the standard in the quarterback room.
For Stratton, this move is about opportunity. At Iowa, the quarterback battle was tightening with younger talent developing. At San Diego, the path to meaningful snaps feels clearer though still earned, not given.
The Iowa Quarterback Picture Moving Forward
With Stratton’s departure finalized, Iowa’s quarterback situation now narrows to a developing in-house battle.
Junior Hank Brown and sophomore Jeremy Hecklinski are expected to compete for the starting job heading into the 2026 season. Brown brings experience and maturity, while Hecklinski represents long-term upside and developmental promise within the program.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a season that underscored just how critical quarterback stability is in the Big Ten. Games like the 13-10 win over Nebraska demonstrate how thin the margin can be. Every possession matters. Every turnover shifts momentum.
Stratton provided steadiness when called upon. His exit means Iowa will rely fully on Brown and Hecklinski to provide that same control and perhaps elevate the offensive ceiling even further.
Spring practice and fall camp will now carry heightened importance. Without Stratton as a depth option, every rep becomes magnified.
A Transfer That Feels Mutually Beneficial
The modern transfer portal has changed college football’s landscape. Players evaluate depth charts, development paths, and realistic playing opportunities more aggressively than ever. Stratton’s move reflects that reality.
At Iowa, he proved he could win games in relief and short-term starting duty. At San Diego, he’ll aim to prove he can lead a program for an entire season.
From San Diego’s perspective, adding a quarterback with Power Five experience is a strategic win. Even if Stratton ultimately shares time or pushes competition deeper into camp, the Toreros benefit from a player who’s navigated Big Ten defenses and high-pressure rivalry environments.
For Stratton, the West Coast offers a fresh start new teammates, new system, new expectations.
Sometimes a quarterback doesn’t need a complete reinvention. Sometimes he just needs a different stage.
The Bigger Picture
Stratton’s departure also officially closes the transfer cycle chapter for Iowa’s outgoing players this offseason. Every former Hawkeye who entered the portal has now identified a new destination.
The storyline surrounding the Former Iowa football QB finds new transfer portal home headline may center on one player, but it also reflects the evolving nature of roster construction in college football. Programs must constantly evaluate depth while preparing for unexpected departures.
Stratton leaves Iowa with a 2-0 record as a starter and a reputation for steady decision-making. That’s not insignificant. Quarterbacks are often remembered not just for yardage totals but for whether they won when given the opportunity.
He did.
Now the focus shifts to 2026. Can he leverage Big Ten experience into a starting job at San Diego? Can Iowa’s next quarterback emerge as a long-term answer?
Those answers will unfold in time.
For now, the portal process is complete. Jackson Stratton’s next chapter begins in San Diego, while Iowa turns its full attention to an in-house quarterback battle that could define its upcoming season.
In today’s college football world, movement is constant. But opportunity when it aligns with preparation can change everything.
