Kirk Ferentz didn't wait around to name his starter for No. 24 Iowa's upcoming date against Wisconsin.
The Hawkeyes are starting fourth-year quarterback Hank Brown against the Badgers. It will mark the sixth start this season for the 6-foot-4, 218-pound signal-caller out of Nashville, Tenn.
"Quarterback-wise, I think we listed Brown, Hecklinski, and plan to start Brown. We'll see how the week goes, but right now plan to start him and play it by ear from there," Ferentz said.
On the season, Brown is completing 61.4% of his passes for 968 yards and six touchdowns against three interceptions.
Brown got dinged up late in Iowa's Oct. 3 loss against Ohio State.
That threw Brown's status into limbo heading into the Hawkeyes' road date at Washington. Third-year
quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski wound up starting against the Huskies, and played very well.
Hecklinski completed 14 of 19 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns in Iowa's 41-24 win at Washington on Oct. 9. That earned Hecklinski a second-straight start last week at Minnesota.
But, Hecklinski was benched in favor of Brown after Hecklinski started by completing 9 of 16 passes for just 62 yards with interception. Hecklinski's interception came with Iowa in the red zone, directly taking potential Hawkeye points off the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Brown didn't fare much better. Brown entered on Iowa's sixth offensive series, and finished his day at the Gophers by completing 11 of 21 passes for 136 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Brown did direct a four-play, 98-yard touchdown drive that included a 57-yard connection with Tony Diaz and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Reece Vander Zee.
Hecklinski has completed 61.2% of his passes and thrown for 472 yards and four touchdowns against two picks.
Kickoff between Iowa and Wisconsin is set for 11 a.m. CT with the game airing on Fox. Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" will be on hand leading into the matchup.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football names starting QB vs. Wisconsin
