Iowa momentum bombshell — Coach Ben McCollum
With just 50 days remaining before Iowa kicks off the 2026 football season, one of the Hawkeyes’ biggest unanswered questions still has no official answer. Head coach Kirk Ferentz continues to keep his starting quarterback decision under wraps, but a new national prediction has reignited debate over who will lead Iowa’s offense when the season begins.
National recruiting and college football outlet On3 has weighed in on the competition, giving Jeremy Hecklinski a slight edge over fellow quarterback Hank Brown. While the projection stops short of calling the race over, it suggests the battle may be leaning in one direction as preseason preparations intensify.
The quarterback competition has remained remarkably even since spring practice concluded. Ferentz has repeatedly avoided naming a starter, describing the contest as essentially “50-50,” leaving fans and analysts searching for clues. With no official announcement expected until fall camp or possibly even closer to Week 1 the suspense surrounding Iowa’s offense continues to grow.
Both Brown and Hecklinski spent last season backing up veteran quarterback Mark Gronowski, but their paths through the season were noticeably different. Brown entered the year as Gronowski’s primary backup before Hecklinski eventually climbed the depth chart and overtook him later in the season.
That late-season promotion appears to be one of the biggest reasons On3 leaned toward Hecklinski in its latest projection of Big Ten starting quarterbacks.
On3’s Pete Nakos noted that Ferentz acknowledged during the spring that he wouldn’t be surprised if Iowa ultimately used both quarterbacks, a comment that reinforced just how competitive the battle remains. Rather than separating themselves during spring practices, both signal-callers reportedly received equal opportunities with the first-team offense and delivered strong performances.
The spring evaluation actually worked in Brown’s favor in one important way.
Reports indicate Brown closed the gap considerably throughout the offseason, making the competition much tighter than it had been entering spring camp. Despite that progress, On3 still believes Hecklinski owns a narrow advantage, largely because of how last season unfolded and how his playing style fits Iowa’s evolving offense.
For many observers, the projection simply confirms what has become obvious throughout the offseason nobody outside Iowa’s coaching staff truly knows which direction Ferentz is leaning.
Each quarterback brings a different skill set to the offense.
Hecklinski has developed a reputation as an aggressive passer who isn’t afraid to stretch defenses vertically and throw while on the move. His confidence outside the pocket complements the offensive system installed by coordinator Tim Lester, which increasingly incorporates quarterback mobility, option concepts, and designed runs.
Brown, meanwhile, offers a different approach. He’s regarded as the more accurate passer with a stronger arm, thriving primarily from inside the pocket. While capable of running when necessary, Brown is generally most effective operating within traditional passing concepts and making quick, precise throws.
Their contrasting styles make the decision even more fascinating.
Brown originally held the backup role because he arrived earlier, joining Iowa as an early transfer during bowl preparations and gaining valuable experience within the system before Hecklinski transferred to the program. That familiarity earned him the No. 2 job entering last season.
His biggest opportunity came late in Iowa’s game against Indiana after Gronowski suffered an injury.
Brown was forced into action but struggled to provide an offensive spark. Following the loss, he openly admitted he hadn’t played his best, an honest assessment that opened the door for Hecklinski to move ahead on the depth chart.
The coaching staff’s confidence in Hecklinski became more evident as the season progressed.
Instead of Brown, it was Hecklinski who entered Iowa’s decisive victory over Wisconsin in Madison, completing his lone pass for two yards during late-game action. He also saw playing time in the Hawkeyes’ convincing win over Minnesota at Kinnick Stadium, where he capped one drive with a rushing touchdown on a well-executed option play.
Those limited appearances may not have produced eye-popping statistics, but they offered valuable evidence of how comfortably Hecklinski fits Lester’s offensive philosophy.
Last season, Iowa expanded its playbook under Gronowski by introducing more quarterback-run concepts, read-option packages, and movement-based passing plays. Hecklinski has already demonstrated he can execute those elements naturally, making him an attractive option if Iowa wants to maintain continuity within the offense.
That doesn’t eliminate Brown from the race.
Insiders continue to report that Brown has made significant progress during offseason workouts and remains firmly in contention. If he continues building momentum throughout preseason camp, the battle could remain undecided until the final days before Iowa opens its season.
Still, many analysts believe the offensive scheme gives Hecklinski an important advantage.
Rather than redesigning large portions of the playbook to better suit Brown’s pocket-passing strengths, Iowa can simply continue developing the system already established around quarterback mobility and versatility if Hecklinski earns the job.
Ferentz has always preferred to wait until he’s completely confident before announcing a starting quarterback, but prolonged uncertainty can create its own challenges. As preseason practices approach, every snap, every drill, and every scrimmage will carry enormous significance.
For now, the competition remains one of the most compelling storylines in the Big Ten. On3 may have given Jeremy Hecklinski the slightest edge, but until Kirk Ferentz officially names his starter, Iowa’s quarterback battle remains very much alive and one strong performance could still change everything.
