When the offseason inevitably arrives, the Iowa Football program will have the challenging task of replacing multiple players at key positions.
One of the position groups on everyone's mind is the starting quarterback.
Aside from missing the fourth quarter against Indiana in a 20-15 loss during a home game on September 27, Mark Gronowski was an ironman for the Hawkeyes under center.
Even with an injury that he suffered in the early stages of the fourth quarter against Indiana, Gronowski was under center for the rest of the season, with Iowa's two backups rarely playing.
As the Hawkeyes head into the offseason, four quarterbacks will return next season, and Tradon Bessinger will join as a part of the 2026 recruiting class.
With a full quarterback room, Kirk Ferentz does not plan to dip into the transfer portal to look for another starter in a similar way to Gronowski this season.
Kirk Ferentz continues with the sentiment that Iowa won't look for a QB in the portal. Happy with Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown at this point.
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) December 18, 2025
"Jeremy and Hank are both making strides and making improvements. That's encouraging, certainly. So far so good.
According to 247Sports' Hawkeye insider Eliot Clough, Ferentz remains adamant that the program will not look for a quarterback in the portal, and they are happy with the two guys who are projected to be at the top of the depth chart next season.
Ferentz also added that both quarterbacks have shown that they are improving, and that has encouraged the coaching staff.
We have not seen Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown extensively this season, with Gronowski fully in command of the starting quarterback position. Still, Ferentz has made it clear they will look internally for next year's starter.
Hecklinski passed Brown on the depth chart during the latter portion of the regular season, but the starting job is very much in question before next season.
Iowa fans are split on whether the program should go into the transfer portal or develop one of the quarterbacks already on the roster, and Ferentz's reluctance to use the portal may have already given us a glimpse of where they are leaning.
The program should not rule out anything and needs to do its due diligence before shutting down one option or the other.