Iowa QB starting projections 2024: Who will be Kirk Ferentz's QB1

The Iowa Hawkeyes will have a competition at quarterback in 2024. As per Kirk Ferentz's latest speech at Big Ten Media days, Cade McNamara will likely start for the team.

The Hawkeyes are returning one quarterback while the school landed another in the transfer portal as it is a two-way battle for the starting job. Now they have Cade McNamara back while the school landed Brendan Sullivan in the transfer portal.

Who will be Kirk Ferentz's QB1 at Iowa in 2024?

There appears to be no controversy at Iowa, as Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz has said Cade McNamara is the starting quarterback entering the 2024 season.

“If he’s healthy, he’s our starter,” Ferentz said back in May, via The Athletic. “There’s no delusion there, no misconception about that. And there’s no reason to think he won’t be healthy in August. Then if somebody beats him out, great. ...

“We expect him to be fully healthy. He couldn’t participate this spring, but he was in tune mentally. And he’s an experienced guy — he’s going to be like, 28 now (actually 24 later this month) — so he’s been around for a while.”

Ferentz reaffirmed his statement at Big Ten Media 2024 showing full support to McNamara.

No doubt, there are legit injury concerns because McNamara couldn't participate in spring practices. He's also coming off a torn ACL on Sept. 30, so whether or not he will be healthy for the first game of the season is uncertain.

McNamara began his college career at Michigan and transferred to Iowa last season. Before the injury, McNamara went 46-for-90 for 505 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He played three years at Michigan and led the Wolverines to the college football playoff in 2021.

Iowa's QB depth chart

The Iowa Hawkeyes' backup quarterback is Brendan Sullivan who transferred from Northwestern.

Sullivan played two years at Northwestern, and last season, he went 63-for-99 for 714 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. If McNamara is not healthy for the first game, Sullivan will likely be the starter.

Behind Sullivan as the third-stringer is redshirt freshman is Marco Lainez who was a three-star recruit in the class of 2022.

Iowa will open the 2024 season at home on Aug. 31 against Illinois State.