Iowa Football publishes Week 1 depth chart, leaving the QB job split between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski

Iowa football has released its first Week 1 depth chart of the 2026 season, and it does not fully settle the competition that has defined early camp. Ahead of the Hawkeyes’ game with Northern Illinois, the quarterback spot remains a shared listing, with the starter indicated as Hank Brown OR Jeremy Hecklinski on the team’s published chart.

The move matters because Iowa’s offense typically organizes its week-to-week preparation around a defined starter, even when additional quarterbacks are involved. When the depth chart itself does not commit to a single name at the top of the depth chart, it indicates the coaching staff is still treating the job as live. It also means fans and media should expect game-week decisions, including who receives first-team reps for the majority of practice leading into kickoff.

The chart does, however, provide clarity elsewhere. On the offensive side, Iowa’s running-back depth includes a listed starter amid what the report describes as an intense battle. The competition is centered on Kamari Moulton and L.J. Phillips, with the published depth chart reflecting that Iowa has picked a first option while maintaining a tight contest for the role behind or alongside the starter.

Defensively, the same release points to a more certain outlook up front. The defensive line is described as “new-look” in the lead-in to the depth chart coverage, and the chart’s structure indicates Iowa has identified which linemen will anchor the rotation for Week 1. For a team that often relies on defensive front consistency to set the tone, the act of naming first-game roles can be a meaningful early-season indicator, even while secondary positions and in-game substitutions still evolve.

Depth charts also function as a public snapshot of what coaches believe each player can do most effectively right now. Even when competitions remain open, the second-team and position-by-position breakdown generally shows who Iowa trusts in key situations, such as early downs, pass protection packages, and situational snaps. With quarterback listed as a two-name starter, the rest of the roster becomes even more important as a potential stabilizer for Iowa’s weekly plan.

From here, the key watch is whether the QB listing narrows to one name as game preparation tightens. If the chart continues to reflect a split, Iowa’s staff may be indicating a tactical approach that uses both quarterbacks based on personnel groupings or specific game plans. If it changes before kickoff, it will be a strong indication that one report is winning out in practice.

The same applies to the running-back and defensive-line roles. The chart’s identification of a starter for the backfield and roles for the defensive line suggests Iowa is trying to reduce uncertainty in the parts of the game that require the most timing and coordination, particularly early in the season. Still, given how close camp battles can be, the first half of the season will likely reveal whether the Week 1 chart aligns with who plays most in key drives and third-down situations.

Ultimately, this depth chart sets the baseline for Iowa’s first opponent-specific work against Northern Illinois. The quarterback question is the headline, but the rest of the chart shows what the Hawkeyes consider their most ready building blocks. As Iowa moves toward kickoff, the primary storyline will be whether the quarterback competition resolves and how that decision shapes the offense’s rhythm in live-game situations.