Iowa's offensive explosion was a welcome sight for many Hawkeye fans, something they haven't seen much of in the past.
The Hawkeyes started the season tallying 507 total yards against Northern Illinois and followed that up with a 640-yard explosion in week three. The running game did most of the damage, posting 422 yards, but the passing game also helped. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski combined for 218 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, and one earned high marks for putting up a perfect day.
Hank Brown was one of the higest-graded quarterbacks in week three
Although the starting quarterback dilemma was becoming a nuisance, Brown showed why he should start. Brown earned his third straight start against UNI and was one of the top- performing quarterbacks in week three.
Highest Graded Quarterbacks from Week 3🎯 pic.twitter.com/CRoIn8i422
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 21, 2026
Brown threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns on a perfect 12/12, earning him a 91.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF). Brown's rare perfect day was a treat for the fans, and those don't come around often. The Iowa offense has been the butt of numerous jokes over the years, but it finally looks like it is turning a corner. Although it was against an FCS squad, Brown showed what he can do as the full-time starter and earned the job after Iowa's week three beatdown of UNI.
Brown and Hecklinski got one more chance to prove themselves last weekend, with Brown finally ending the competition. Iowa's week four depth chart removed the "OR" designation from the quarterbacks, ushering in the Hank Brown era at quarterback. Jeremy Hecklinski fought hard all offseason, but didn't do enough to supplant Brown as the starter after two pedestrian performances. For anyone who watched the first three games, it was obvious by week three who should be the starter, and now we have enough evidence to back it up.
PFF ranked Brown the No. 6 highest-graded quarterback from week three, and if he had played the whole game, he would have easily pushed for the No. 1 spot. The squad didn't need Brown to do very much, given how dominant the running game was, but he still notched a perfect day. Brown was accurate, efficient, and calculated with his throws, and completing 12/12 passes isn't something to sneeze at.
Brown's week 3 grade isn't surprising after all the progress he has made
Everyone quickly wrote off Brown after his poor performance against Indiana last season, and that continued into the offseason. People were drawn to Hecklinski's gunslinger mentality and fearlessness in the pocket, and failed to appreciate what Brown brings to the table. Brown won't force the ball downfield as much, but he is more efficient and, more importantly, doesn't hurt the team. Hecklinski will put the ball into harm's way more often, showcasing his big arm, and although Brown also has a big arm, he isn't afraid to check the ball down.
A big knock on Brown was his tendency to crumble under pressure when the spotlight is on him, but he showed during the Iowa State game that he can handle the heat. Everyone forgot that he started only two games with Auburn and didn't start a game with Iowa until this season. He didn't have time to grow, and now that he's been given a chance, he's shown what he can do. Brown might not chuck the ball downfield as much or attempt to wow everyone with big plays, but that's ok. We all owe him an apology for writing him off, and wish him nothing but the best as he fully takes the reins of the offense.
Sorry Hank, we were wrong.
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