After a lifeless first half performance against Michigan State offensively, questions have emerged surrounding Iowa’s decision to stick with graduate quarterback Cade McNamara as its starter.
McNamara completed just 3-of-9 passes for 30 yards in the first half in East Lansing and the Hawkeyes punted on four of their five first-half possessions. Iowa gained just five yards and junior kicker Drew Stevens missed a 58-yard field goal on their fifth possession of the first half.
That was a wasted possession and opportunity after redshirt sophomore defensive back Koen Entringer had intercepted Michigan State sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles. It was Iowa’s lone takeaway on the night.
McNamara did complete 8-of-14 passes in the second half for 120 yards with an 18-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Reece Vander Zee. The 6-foot-1, 210 pound quarterback threw a fourth quarter interception that stymied Iowa’s second-half momentum though, too.
Junior quarterback Brendan Sullivan has been used in red zone and goal line situations for Iowa over the course of the season. Sullivan, a 6-foot-4, 220 pound signal-caller, saw a pair of snaps against the Spartans. The Davison, Mich., product delivered a 2-yard rushing touchdown on one of them.
In his weekly press conference to preview Iowa’s opponent this week, Northwestern, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was asked what is holding him back from giving Sullivan a more extended look as the Hawkeyes’ quarterback.
“I think probably the biggest thing is it’s easier to talk about putting somebody in a game than just doing it, especially at that position. We’ve seen enough good things out of Cade to feel like he gives us our best chance out there. It’s like any position, although obviously there’s more eyes on this position.
“I think he’s done enough good things where we have confidence that he’ll play well Saturday, but we’ll also keep an open mind. You have to. We have to do better than we did the first 30 minutes the other night. We can’t wait until the second half to start going here.
“We’ll keep an open mind, but I have confidence in both of them, quite frankly, and when Brendan gets an expanded role or if he gets an expanded role, I think he’ll do well,” Ferentz said.
Kirk Ferentz on why Brendan Sullivan isn’t getting an extended opportunity: “We’ve seen enough, I think, good things out of Cade to feel like he gives us our best chance out there…. I think he’s done enough good things where we have confidence in he’ll play well Saturday. But… pic.twitter.com/29HcUXMVPF
— Tyler Tachman (@Tyler_T15) October 22, 2024
Iowa had a pair of short-yardage opportunities on third down in the first half outside of the red zone. The Hawkeyes faced a 3rd-and-2 from their own 35-yard line on their second series of the game.
Then, on its final series of the first half, Iowa faced a 3rd-and-1 at its own 26-yard line. Iowa had McNamara on the field in both instances and on both third down conversion tries the Hawkeyes handed off to junior running back Kaleb Johnson. Johnson was limited to a 1-yard gain on the first carry and to no gain on the second. Iowa punted on both series.
Ferentz was asked why Iowa didn’t think about employing the Sullivan package in those two third-and-short situations.
“Yeah, you could make that argument, treat it like what we’ve done with the red zone. You could make that argument. You could make it both ways. It’s a little bit unsettling maybe bringing a guy in… But yeah, that’s something you could consider for sure. Maybe it is something we need to look at,” Ferentz said.
The first question that Ferentz fielded in his Northwestern press conference was about the two quarterbacks. Ferentz was asked what he’s seen from McNamara in practice that he isn’t seeing from Sullivan and where the opportunity for growth is for Sullivan.
“Yeah, I think they’re both doing a good job in practice. Game competition factors in. The guys that are playing, obviously you have concrete examples, and then guys that aren’t out there, you’re projecting a little bit, and that’s part of the deal. There’s never 100 percent answer typically at least.
“But I think they’re both doing a good job, and Cade has to play better, certainly the first half in particular. Really nothing on offense was good enough for us to be, we dug a hole that was too deep, quite frankly, and everybody had a hand in it, but offense certainly has responsibility.
“Cade is going to have to throw the ball a little bit more accurately. I mentioned about the makeables, whether it’s him or anybody else, if he’s got a chance to give us better production, that’s what we need. We’ll keep pushing forward here and see what happens,” Ferentz said.
Iowa returns to action by hosting Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday from inside Kinnick Stadium with the game set to broadcast on Big Ten Network.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.
Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
