It was a massive weekend for the Hawkeyes on an off the field in week two.
The Hawkeyes narrowly escaped with a 16-13 victory in the Cy-Hawk rivalry game against Iowa State thanks to a last-second field goal by Caden Buhr. Iowa battled Iowa State under the lights in prime time in front of nearly 50 prospects, making the game even more important than the final score. With numerous talented prospects in the house, the Hawkeyes got the win and earned a big victory in the 2028 recruiting class.
2028 QB prospect Chase Grove announced his commitment to the program
It was a weekend full of heightened emotions, and in typical Iowa-Iowa State fashion, the game was tight throughout. Iowa State threw the first punch, getting out to an early 10-0 lead before the Hawkeyes came storming back to tie the game at 10 heading into halftime. The game remained tied at 13 heading into the late stages of the game before Buhr drilled the game-winning field goal. While most of the focus was on the field, the coaching staff also kept an eye on the multiple prospects in attendance and got great news about a 2028 quarterback prospect they have been heavily pursuing.
Home. 🏠🐤 @NCHSPanthersFB @CoachFerentz @CoachTimLester @CoachVandeMerkt @TylerBarnesIOWA @Spauldingiowa pic.twitter.com/C3DOhbs1bl
— Chase Grove (@ChaseGrove3) September 13, 2026
Indianapolis native Chase Grove announced on Sunday that he has committed to the Hawkeyes. Grove cited his strong relationship with offensive coordinator Tim Lester and quarterback coach Billy Vandemerkt as big reasons why he decided to commit, and he is now the third commitment in the 2028 recruiting class. Grove was one of the over 30 2028 prospects who attended the Cy-Hawk game, and he made the critical decision to stay in Iowa City.
Rivals currently ranks Grove as a three-star prospect, Indiana's No. 7 overall prospect, and the No. 39 quarterback prospect in the 2028 recruiting class. 247Sports currently ranks Grove as a three-star prospect, Indiana's No. 9 overall prospect, and the No. 43 overall quarterback prospect in the class. Grove had a solid sophomore season for North Central High School, tallying 1,900 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns, while also adding four rushing touchdowns. He is off to a hot start as a junior, including a game against Warren Central in which he threw for 388 yards and six passing touchdowns, completing 74 percent of his passes (28/38).
Grove is a rising star in the 2028 class and has grown as a pro-style quarterback. Under Kirk Ferentz, Iowa has coveted pro-style quarterback prospects, and Grove fits that mold. While he is more of a gunslinger, Grove has also showcased his running ability and isn't afraid to take off when the situation calls for it. Iowa now has quarterback commits in the 2027 and 2028 classes, solidifying the position for years to come.
Iowa is set up for future success with multiple talented QB prospects
Earlier in the spring, Iowa locked up rising dual-threat quarterback prospect Brayden Santibanez, and have now earned the commitment from Grove in the 2028 class. With Tradon Bessinger already in the program, the Hawkeyes have three solind quarterback prospects moving forward. With redshirts no longer a thing after the new NCAA five-for-five rule, it will be interesting to see how Iowa develops their talented quarterbacks, but they are set up for future success if they hang around.
There are no guarantees that players will stick with a program when the transfer portal and the potential for more playing time are on the table, but having multiple talented quarterback prospects in the mix is never a bad thing. Bessinger has already shown his tremendous upside in his short time with the program, and Santibanez has the chance to do the same when he arrives on campus next offseason. Grove also gives the Hawkeyes a more traditional pocket passer to mix in with Santibanez's dual-threat ability, giving the program a different look.
Everything is currently based on projections, but if any of the three quarterback prospects Iowa has locked up live up to their immense potential, we could see multiple starting quarterback battles shaping up when Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski leave the program, or even before. A deep quarterback room is not something we normally see with Iowa, but that could easily change over the next few seasons.
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