Iowa’s 2024 college football season closed on Monday with a 27-24 loss against the Missouri Tigers in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. With the defeat, Iowa ends its campaign with an 8-5 record overall.
Like two other instances this season, Iowa coughed up a 10-point lead in the loss.
Afterwards, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz broke down his thoughts on junior quarterback Brendan Sullivan’s performance.
Ferentz was asked how he would evaluate Sullivan’s performance after Sullivan began his day 6-of-6 passing with a touchdown before Iowa’s offense stalled after halftime.
“You probably said it right there in a nutshell. I thought he played really well in the first half. We had a rhythm. He had a rhythm.
“I don’t mean this in a critical way. One of Brendan’s strengths is his competitiveness. He really cares. Not suggesting other quarterbacks don’t or our other ones that we’ve had don’t, but he’s really wound tight.
“So part of the challenge for him playing—this is not just quarterbacks, but anybody—you know, you have to be able to bridle that enthusiasm and the energy sometimes and make it work for you and not against you. I think when he gets running hot a little bit sometimes, it kind of gets out of whack there a little bit.
“Saw some improvements certainly, some progress. You know, he went out there and just played as hard as he possibly could. He’ll keep improving. We’re optimistic about that, and he’s a tremendous young person,” Ferentz said.
The 6-foot-4, 220 pound quarterback was sharp early but he and the Hawkeyes offense mustered up just three points after halftime. Sullivan ended his day against Missouri 14-of-18 passing for 131 yards with the opening 6-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Washington Jr.
Sullivan could very well be Iowa’s No. 1 quarterback entering the 2025 season. With several new arrivals, a quarterback competition could be on the horizon during the spring and fall as well, though.
Iowa recently added Auburn transfer Hank Brown to join a room that features walk-on Jackson Stratton and 2025 signee Jimmy Sullivan.
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