Iowa assesses quarterback play after defeating Northern Illinois 40-0

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 2:52 AM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Iowa assesses quarterback play after defeating Northern Illinois 40-0

Summary

Iowa opened its football season with a 40-0 victory over Northern Illinois. Head coach Kirk Ferentz utilized both Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, with each playing five drives during the win. Brown completed 12 of 20 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown to Tony Diaz. Hecklinski finished seven of 16 attempts, recording one touchdown pass to Xavier Williams alongside an interception. Following the game, Ferentz did not identify a permanent starter for the upcoming week. The coaching staff indicated that a decision will be finalized only when the choice becomes clear, emphasizing that the team will avoid making a premature move that could negatively impact performance.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Iowa defeated Northern Illinois 40-0 in the season opener.
•Hank Brown threw for 129 yards and one touchdown across five drives.
•Jeremy Hecklinski completed seven of 16 passes with one touchdown and one interception.
•Kirk Ferentz has not named a starting quarterback for the next game.

Latest Updates

2:52 AMYahoo Sports — Breaking down Iowa’s QB play against NIU

What they're saying

"
Just a few short weeks ago at Kids’ Day, it was Jeremy Hecklinski who walked off the field with the confidence that he could be the starting quarterback. Now after the season opener, a 40-0 win versus Northern Illinois, it’s Hank Brown who had the better line. Brown completed 12 out of 20 passes, including […]
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Football