'Not good enough': Kirk Ferentz laments Iowa's QB play vs. Minnesota

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'Not good enough': Kirk Ferentz laments Iowa's QB play vs. Minnesota

'Not good enough': Kirk Ferentz laments Iowa's QB play vs. Minnesota

Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire · Hawkeyes Wire

Thu, Oct 29, 2026 ·

2 min read

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For most of this decade, the Iowa football program has suffered from ugly quarterback play. Those issues resurfaced over the weekend.

The Hawkeyes didn't get good quarterback play in their 13-10 loss at Minnesota last Saturday. Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown combined to go 20-of-37 for 198 yards and three interceptions. Each turnover was brutal, taking points off the board and ending drives before they could even get started. Both guys missed open receivers on multiple occasions, leaving big plays on the field.

If Iowa got just average production from its quarterbacks, it probably would have left Minneapolis with the Floyd of Rosedale and a 6-1 record. Instead, the Hawkeyes left with more questions than answers at the most important position in sports. And Kirk Ferentz knows it.

Speaking at his weekly Tuesday press conference, Ferentz was asked for his thoughts on the quarterback play last weekend. He didn't mince words.

"I mean, not good enough," Ferentz said. "Fair to say about our whole team and the coaching staff. We just didn't do enough to get the job done. I've been saying it consistently. We believe in both players. 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.

"There are some things we could have done better, but that's true in every facet. A lot of things we could have done better. Coaching, too. We take ownership in that as well. Probably the most perplexing thing was the loose ball dilemma. Turnovers and loose balls. Turnovers sometimes happen. You are never accepting of that, but loose balls, I just can't remember a game when it's been out that much, and I can't tell you why. That's something we're going to have to get corrected, or we'll pay for that on Saturday if we don't."

Ferentz was honest about how his quarterbacks performed. It wasn't good enough. But, he was also quick to blame himself and the coaching staff for their shortcomings. He also mentioned the turnovers were a big factor in the loss, some of which go beyond the quarterbacks.

Iowa will turn to Brown to start this weekend against Wisconsin . They'll need him to bounce back, or another loss will be a real possibility.

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Iowa football releases Week 9 depth chart vs. Wisconsin

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) and Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) take the field before the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz leads his team onto the field before the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes players huddle during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) runs with the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers linebacker Joey Gerlach (19) celebrates an interception against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) rubs his face with a towel during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Iose Epenesa (97) reacts after sacking Minnesota’s quarterback during a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Minnesota’s Aydan West (5) celebrates with teammates during a Big Ten football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) throws a pass during a Big Ten football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Minnesota’s Matt Kingsbury (49) intercepts a pass meant for Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) during a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) reacts after a pass meant for him is intercepted during a Big Ten football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) reacts after getting a first down against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tony Diaz (14) runs with the football during a Big Ten football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) runs into the end zone to score a touchdown against Minnesota during a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz high-fives Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Zach Ortwerth (48) during a Big Ten football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes runs the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Minnesota’s Darius Taylor (1) runs with the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Zach Lutmer (6) is held during a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Xavier Styles (18) reacts after Minnesota kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired during a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Minnesota cornerback John Nestor (17) talks to Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Zach Lutmer (6) following the Golden Gophers’ 13-10 win over Iowa in a Big Ten football game in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 24, 2026.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oct 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers players celebrate with the Floyd of Rosedale after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 'Not good enough': Kirk Ferentz laments Iowa's QB play vs. Minnesota

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