COLLEGE FOOTBALL | IOWA No starter named at quarterback as Iowa readies for 2026 opener ethan.petrik Aug 31, 2026 Aug 31, 2026 Updated 35 mins ago 0 × Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz meets with media on Aug. 26, 2026. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save IOWA CITY — Iowa did not name a starting quarterback on Monday with the 2026 season opener five days away. Iowa's Jeremy Hecklinski enters the field at Kinnick Stadium ahead of the Hawkeyes' Kids' Day open practice in Iowa City on Saturday, August 15. ETHAN PETRIK, Quad-City Times kAm%96 w2H<6J6D C6=62D65 E96:C 7:CDE 56AE9 492CE @7 a_ae[ 2?5 3@E9 y6C6>J w64<=:?D<: 2?5 w2?< qC@H? H6C6 2E@A E96 BF2CE6C324< 9:6C2C49J] u@==@H:?8 2 4@>A6E:E:@? E92E =2DE65 E96 H9@=6 @77D62D@?[ qC@H? 2?5 w64<=:?D<: 6?E6C E96 a_ae D62D@? D92C:?8 E96 E@A =:?6 @? E96 56AE9 492CE H:E9 2? Q~#Q D6A2C2E:?8 E96 EH@] qC@H? 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Church closures mount in rural communities AJ Pritchard wins over Shirley Ballas on ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’ The pillars of Iowa State football that have withstood change If the Chicago Bears are going to Indiana, then go already Corporate political donations shatter record at $646M Four Iowa nurses are accused of putting patients at risk After two years of learning, Jenna Meitzler is ready to lead Iowa volleyball’s offense Missouri grandma cooks free breakfast for neighbors. County tells her to stop Iowa football faces rare overhaul on special teams in 2026 Iowa State lineman explains woodworking hobby, custom locker Crawford County girl gets Outstanding Leadership Award in Iowa State Fair queen competition kAm“x E9:?< 3@E9 8FJD 2C6 C62==J 8@@5 A=2J6CD[” u6C6?EK D2:5] “%96J’C6 5@:?8 2 8@@5 ;@3] … q@E9 BF2CE6C324<D 92G6 366? 96C6 2 J62C ?@H] *@F 42? 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'2? z6<6C:I :? =:?6 7@C 3:886C C@=6 2E x@H2k^2mk^Am Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at ethan.petrik@wcfcourier.com. 0 Comments ethan.petrik Author email Follow ethan.petrik Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Kirk Ferentz updates Iowa football’s QB competition, key developments ahead of 2026 season Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz meets with media on Aug. 26, 2026. How did freshman quarterback Tradon Bessinger land at Iowa and why is he turning heads Tradon Bessinger knew Iowa’s offense would be challenging. The freshman quarterback is already earning praise for how he’s attacking it. Rock Valley alum Landyn Van Kekerix in line for bigger role at Iowa Landyn Van Kekerix spent years learning behind Iowa’s standout linebackers. In his final season, the veteran appears positioned for a bigger r… Former Quad-City Times reporter Steve Batterson named to Kinnick Media Wall of Fame Steve Batterson spent 38 years chronicling Iowa sports and the Quad-Cities. His career will now be honored on the Kinnick Media Wall of Fame. Kirk Ferentz: Iowa QB battle ‘really dead even’ with week to go before season opener Iowa still has no clear starting quarterback, with Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski remaining deadlocked little more than a week before the se… Waterloo West alum, Carson Nielsen settles in at Iowa after growing up a Hawkeye fan Seeing “NIELSEN” across the back of an Iowa jersey meant something extra to Carson Nielsen. The lifelong Hawkeye fan is finally beginning his … Iowa football faces rare overhaul on special teams in 2026 Kirk Ferentz can’t remember another season when Iowa had to replace all four specialists. That’s the challenge facing the Hawkeyes in 2026. Why Iowa’s running back room will be a strength again in 2026 Iowa felt good about its running back depth last season. With three productive returners and South Dakota transfer LJ Phillips, that confidenc… Cedar Falls native in the “thick of things” as Iowa looks for new defensive line stars The game has slowed down for Drew Campbell entering year three. His opportunity is speeding up as Iowa rebuilds its defensive front. What new 5-for-5 eligibility model means for Iowa football The NCAA’s new eligibility model gives athletes five seasons within five years. For Iowa, that could mean more freshmen getting early opportunities. Thomas Meyer was the ‘most advanced freshman’ Abdul Hodge has seen, now he’s ready for year two Thomas Meyer impressed Iowa coaches with his maturity from the moment he arrived. A year later, the tight end is ready for more. How Iowa prepared transfer wide receivers for Big Ten play Tony Diaz and Evan James arrived at Iowa undersized for Big Ten play. Eight months later, Tim Lester says both have added about 20 pounds. The Iowa QB battle wasn’t decided on Saturday. Here’s how it will be Jeremy Hecklinski threw five touchdowns at Kids’ Day, but Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz cautioned against reading too much into one practice in… How much is Iowa paying Northern Iowa, Northern Illinois for 2026 football matchups? Iowa football will pay Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa a combined $2.3 million for their 2026 visits to Kinnick Stadium. Three-star offensive lineman, son of Iowa coach, commits to Hawkeyes Staying home. Iowa City West offensive lineman James Barnett committed to the Hawkeyes, becoming Iowa's second 2028 pledge. What Kirk Ferentz, Iowa football players told us at Big Ten Media Days The Iowa football program, represented by head coach Kirk Ferentz, defensive back Zach Lutmer, linebacker Jayden Montgomery and tight end Addi… Why Kirk Ferentz made special teams a priority at Iowa In the 1980s, then offensive line coach Kirk Ferentz hated coaching the Hawkeyes' punt team. Now, Iowa is the gold standard for special teams.… Which Hawkeye legends did Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz classify Tony Diaz alongside? Tony Diaz has generated buzz all offseason. Kirk Ferentz just added even more fuel to the conversation with his comments at Big Ten Media Days. Why Iowa star defensive back hopes to be Hawkeyes’ Kaden Wetjen replacement Kirk Ferentz says he’s never coached a returner like Kaden Wetjen. Zach Lutmer hopes to be next in line. What we learned at Big Ten Football Media Days Could Iowa sport a jersey patch? Is the playoff expanding to 24 teams? Here's the latest from Big Ten football media days from Chicago. Watch Now: Related Video Jim Barnes | Iowa Volleyball | Aug. 31 Exploring the Rams' Comprehensive Roster Improvements Exploring the Rams' Comprehensive Roster Improvements Debating Odell Beckham Jr.'s Impact on the New York Giants Debating Odell Beckham Jr.'s Impact on the New York Giants PREDICTING what happens with these NFL Plays | Guess The Play 2.0 PREDICTING what happens with these NFL Plays | Guess The Play 2.0 Recommended for you
ethan.petrik Author email Follow ethan.petrik Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Kirk Ferentz updates Iowa football’s QB competition, key developments ahead of 2026 season Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz meets with media on Aug. 26, 2026.
How did freshman quarterback Tradon Bessinger land at Iowa and why is he turning heads Tradon Bessinger knew Iowa’s offense would be challenging. The freshman quarterback is already earning praise for how he’s attacking it.
Rock Valley alum Landyn Van Kekerix in line for bigger role at Iowa Landyn Van Kekerix spent years learning behind Iowa’s standout linebackers. In his final season, the veteran appears positioned for a bigger r…
Former Quad-City Times reporter Steve Batterson named to Kinnick Media Wall of Fame Steve Batterson spent 38 years chronicling Iowa sports and the Quad-Cities. His career will now be honored on the Kinnick Media Wall of Fame.
Kirk Ferentz: Iowa QB battle ‘really dead even’ with week to go before season opener Iowa still has no clear starting quarterback, with Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski remaining deadlocked little more than a week before the se…
Waterloo West alum, Carson Nielsen settles in at Iowa after growing up a Hawkeye fan Seeing “NIELSEN” across the back of an Iowa jersey meant something extra to Carson Nielsen. The lifelong Hawkeye fan is finally beginning his …
Iowa football faces rare overhaul on special teams in 2026 Kirk Ferentz can’t remember another season when Iowa had to replace all four specialists. That’s the challenge facing the Hawkeyes in 2026.
Why Iowa’s running back room will be a strength again in 2026 Iowa felt good about its running back depth last season. With three productive returners and South Dakota transfer LJ Phillips, that confidenc…
Cedar Falls native in the “thick of things” as Iowa looks for new defensive line stars The game has slowed down for Drew Campbell entering year three. His opportunity is speeding up as Iowa rebuilds its defensive front.
What new 5-for-5 eligibility model means for Iowa football The NCAA’s new eligibility model gives athletes five seasons within five years. For Iowa, that could mean more freshmen getting early opportunities.
Thomas Meyer was the ‘most advanced freshman’ Abdul Hodge has seen, now he’s ready for year two Thomas Meyer impressed Iowa coaches with his maturity from the moment he arrived. A year later, the tight end is ready for more.
How Iowa prepared transfer wide receivers for Big Ten play Tony Diaz and Evan James arrived at Iowa undersized for Big Ten play. Eight months later, Tim Lester says both have added about 20 pounds.
The Iowa QB battle wasn’t decided on Saturday. Here’s how it will be Jeremy Hecklinski threw five touchdowns at Kids’ Day, but Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz cautioned against reading too much into one practice in…
How much is Iowa paying Northern Iowa, Northern Illinois for 2026 football matchups? Iowa football will pay Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa a combined $2.3 million for their 2026 visits to Kinnick Stadium.
Three-star offensive lineman, son of Iowa coach, commits to Hawkeyes Staying home. Iowa City West offensive lineman James Barnett committed to the Hawkeyes, becoming Iowa's second 2028 pledge.
What Kirk Ferentz, Iowa football players told us at Big Ten Media Days The Iowa football program, represented by head coach Kirk Ferentz, defensive back Zach Lutmer, linebacker Jayden Montgomery and tight end Addi…
Why Kirk Ferentz made special teams a priority at Iowa In the 1980s, then offensive line coach Kirk Ferentz hated coaching the Hawkeyes' punt team. Now, Iowa is the gold standard for special teams.…
Which Hawkeye legends did Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz classify Tony Diaz alongside? Tony Diaz has generated buzz all offseason. Kirk Ferentz just added even more fuel to the conversation with his comments at Big Ten Media Days.
Why Iowa star defensive back hopes to be Hawkeyes’ Kaden Wetjen replacement Kirk Ferentz says he’s never coached a returner like Kaden Wetjen. Zach Lutmer hopes to be next in line.
What we learned at Big Ten Football Media Days Could Iowa sport a jersey patch? Is the playoff expanding to 24 teams? Here's the latest from Big Ten football media days from Chicago.
