Iowa 42, Wisconsin 10: No Denying Brendan Sullivan as QB1

IOWA CITY — If last week's game was new QB1 Brendan Sullivan making a statement, then Iowa's 42-10 win over Wisconsin on Saturday night was an undeniable exclamation point.

In his first start as a Hawkeye, Sullivan threw for 93 yards on 7 of 10 passes and rushed for 58 yards and a score in the win – not dominant numbers per se, but exactly what Iowa needed to help Kaleb Johnson unlock the power run game.

The Hawkeyes totaled 329 yards and five touchdowns in the win, both season highs for the resurgent ground attack. Those stats include “just” 132 yards and three scores for Johnson, as he tied Iowa’s single-season touchdown record with three more trips to the end zone on Saturday.

READ MORE: Hawkeyes punish the Badgers on the ground

Johnson praised Sullivan's athleticism for adding another dimension to the Hawkeye offense.

“Brendan has the ability to run the ball and is a threat anywhere,” Johnson said.

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Sullivan's only touchdown throw of the game was particularly significant for him, a simple 12-yard pitch-and-catch to WR Jacob Gill, a fellow transfer from Northwestern. The third-quarter touchdown was the first the two scored — not just as Hawkeyes, but during their college careers.

“This is something we have been praying about and talking about since we arrived at Northwestern,” Sullivan said. “To be able to do that with him, a man I’ve lived with since I was in college, was really special.”

After the game, head coach Kirk Ferentz praised his signalman's preparation for his first start as a Hawkeye.

“I thought he played well,” Ferentz said. “I was in a hurry a few times. Maybe it would have been a little better for him if he had slowed down. This is due to the lack of playing time, the lack of presence. He trained well all week. I thought he really nailed it.” good job. I'm happy for him.

If there were any seams in the transition from injured (and, well, struggling) Cade McNamara to Sullivan in the QB1 leadership role, it was barely noticeable to his teammates.

“(Sullivan) has always been that guy,” Gill said. “Maybe a little behind the scenes when Cade was there, but he's progressed well. He’s always been a natural leader, so it was easy.”

Sullivan made several plays Saturday night that simply weren't available to Iowa's QBs in the past CJ Beathardif not further.

“The most obvious dimension right now is his running ability,” Ferentz said. “That came in handy tonight. It affects the defense a little bit and helps the flow of the game, especially when they have to have a little more respect.”

“He’s an incredible athlete,” Gill said. “Coach Lester’s offense does a good job of opening up the defense, but the additional running ability that Brendan brings just makes us a lot more explosive.”

Perhaps no play from Sullivan stood out more Saturday night than an oh-no-oh-yeah juke he gave to Wisconsin LB John Pius that led to a 19-yard gain and a first down on Iowa's first drive of the second Halftime led to a decisive 10-play march across the field:

Four plays later, Iowa scored on a 9-yard rush by Johnson to extend the lead to 21-3, and the game was functionally and mentally over.

Ferentz declined to mention anything beyond “wait and see what happens” regarding McNamara's return to practice following last week's concussion, which is the most prudent approach.

But the right question is not When Ferentz returns McNamara to the top of the QB depth chart, or even If he does. It is Howor Why He would get there with two standout performances from Sullivan in the books, and Iowa would be eligible to bowl again after an unexpectedly shaky first half of the season.

It's remarkable for a team to lose its senior captain quarterback and not only rally around his replacement, but also support him thrive in his place on offense, but that's exactly what Sullivan delivered to Iowa City.

“It's just that (Sullivan) always works hard and always puts himself aside,” Johnson said. “You know, I’m just working.”

As long as Sullivan works, the offense works, and Iowa certainly can't ask for much more.