The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ permanent change from Cade McNamara to Brendan Sullivan at quarterback looks more and more likely.
The team’s game-week depth chart for its Week 10 matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers lists Sullivan as the starter, with redshirt freshman Marco Lainez listed as the backup.
Related: Wisconsin releases updated two-deep depth chart for Week 10 game vs. Iowa
This update comes after Iowa made an in-game switch from McNamara to Sullivan during its win over Northwestern. The team trailed 7-3 at the time of the change. Sullivan helped lead the Hawkeyes to score 37 unanswered points in the eventual 40-14 victory.
Sullivan, a former Northwestern transfer, finished the contest with 14 passing for 79 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a QBR of 74.8, while also adding 41 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz did not commit to a long-term change while speaking with the media postgame, saying “we’ll see on that” and “‘permanent’ is a strong word.”
The program’s updated depth chart, however, points to that change being made entering Saturday’s important game against the Badgers.
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1850976877738889384
McNamara, a former Michigan transfer, was just 104 of 172 passing for 1,017 yards (127 yards per game), six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 37.1 QBR in 2024. The offense was much-improved over its struggles under former coordinator Brian Ferentz, but much of that can be attributed to the breakout of star RB Kaleb Johnson.
McNamara not presenting a threat in the passing game hurt the team in its blowout loss to Ohio State and road loss to Michigan State. Sullivan’s insertion into the lineup, meanwhile, gave the offense life it hasn’t had in five years.
Wisconsin’s task of stopping Iowa’s offense, let alone winning in a tough road environment, gets tougher with this news. Sullivan’s profile is similar to Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula, who gave the Badgers defense fits in the second half of the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win.
The Badgers will need a dominant effort on both sides of the football for a win to become a possibility.
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