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Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday he plans to start **Hank Brown** when No. 25 Wisconsin comes to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, but he stopped short of ruling out another switch under center. The Hawkeyes have alternated between Brown and **Jeremy Hecklinski** this season, and Ferentz left room to change course based on how the week unfolds.
Brown to open the game, but the rotation continues
Brown is scheduled to draw the start against the Badgers, Ferentz said: “We’ll see how the week goes, but right now plan to start him and play it by ear from there.” The decision continues a pattern of alternating quarterbacks that has marked Iowa’s season.
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Brown began the year as Iowa’s primary starter, opening the first five games. Hecklinski reclaimed the job for last week’s 13-10 loss at Minnesota but did not finish that game. Hecklinski went 9-of-16 for 62 yards with an interception before Brown replaced him in the second quarter.
Mixed results in Minneapolis
When Brown took over, he completed 11 of 21 passes for 136 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. He later connected with Reece Vander Zee on a 37-yard scoring pass that tied the game in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota kicked a last-second field goal to win 13-10.
Ferentz declined to pin the defeat solely on his quarterbacks. “Not good enough,” he said in evaluating the team’s performance. “Fair to say about our whole team and the coaching staff. We just didn’t do enough to get the job done.”
Why Ferentz is keeping both options active
The coach expressed confidence in both players’ character and potential. “We believe in both players,” Ferentz said. “I think both Hank and Jeremy are good young people, and they’re good young quarterbacks. Neither one of them are really experienced right now.”
Statistically, neither signal-caller has seized the role outright. Brown has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 968 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions this season. Hecklinski is 41-of-67 passing for 472 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Those numbers help explain why Ferentz remains willing to deploy both depending on game flow.
Loss of a key rusher adds pressure
Iowa also announced a significant injury setback Tuesday. Running back Kamari Moulton will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an upper-body injury against Minnesota. Moulton entered the injury with 541 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The absence of the team’s leading rusher raises the stakes for Iowa’s offense against a Wisconsin defense coming off one of its stronger recent performances against USC. Brown will get the first opportunity to lead the offense, but Ferentz made clear the plan could change if the game situation demands it.
