Iowa backup QB Brendan Sullivan in spotlight vs. Wisconsin

Field Level Media|published: Wed 30th October, 09:12 2024

Oct 26, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) runs for yardage against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Brendan Sullivan is expected to make his first start at quarterback for Iowa when the Hawkeyes host Wisconsin in Iowa City on Saturday night in a Big Ten matchup of teams with identical records.

Iowa (5-3, 3-2) is coming off a 40-14 victory at home over Northwestern last Saturday. Sullivan replaced injured starter Cade McNamara, helping the Hawkeyes overcome an early 7-3 deficit.

Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2) saw its three-game winning streak snapped with a 28-13 loss at home to third-ranked Penn State after leading 10-7 at the half.

Against Northwestern, Sullivan led the Hawkeyes to 37 consecutive points after replacing McNamara, whose pick-six put Iowa in an early 7-3 hole. Sullivan completed 9 of 14 passes for 80 yards without a touchdown or an interception.

"I thought he did a really good job out there, played with poise, was productive," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday. "He's practicing well so far this week, so off to a good start."

Sullivan, a transfer from Northwestern, is listed as the starter for the Wisconsin game, according to the depth chart released Monday. He has played in six games this season but has attempted only 16 passes in limited time.

McNamara was ruled out for the Wisconsin game due to a concussion, Ferentz said Tuesday.

The Hawkeyes average 347.9 yards per game, allowing 315.9, including just 104.1 on the ground. Wisconsin averages 393.0 yards, giving up 311.1.

"It's going to be a tough, hard-fought football game that in a lot of ways is probably going to come down to the fourth quarter," Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said Monday.

Redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback when Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama on Sept. 14, completed 22 of 44 passes for 217 yards against the Nittany Lions but threw a costly pick-six.

Locke has completed 57.6 percent of his passes (102 of 177), with seven touchdowns and six picks.

Iowa has won the past two meetings vs. Wisconsin, including 15-6 last season. The Hawkeyes have won three of the past four after the Badgers won four in a row. Wisconsin leads the all-time series, which dates to 1894, 49-46-2.

--Field Level Media