Iowa backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan propels Hawkeyes to victory over Northwestern

Kinnick Stadium is almost empty. Their loyal fans were already celebrating what became a 40-14 victory over Northwestern on Saturday. But Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan was in no mood to take his foot off the gas.

Calm but focused, even with two minutes left in the game, Sullivan didn’t even take off his helmet on the bench. He talked to his coaches and absorbed their advice. He discussed the matter with fellow Northwestern transfer and current Iowa wide receiver Jacob Gill. And he sparked his offense in the pre-huddle with a pep talk before taking the field.

Sullivan, a junior, took over after starting quarterback Cade McNamara struggled early, throwing a pass too short for any receiver that should have been an interception if not for a roughing the passer penalty. But he threw a pick shortly after, resulting in six for the Wildcats.

Hawkeye fans called for his replacement as starting quarterback louder than ever after a 32-20 loss to the Michigan State Spartans last weekend. There, McNamara failed to meet the goals that Division I quarterbacks must achieve. And he threw a painful interception that seemed far from the man he was looking for. Still, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz was reluctant to give Sullivan a chance.

“Probably the most important thing is that it’s easier to talk about putting someone in a game than it is to just do it, especially at that position,” Ferentz said in his midweek news conference after the loss. “I think (McNamara) has done enough good things that we have confidence that he will play well on Saturday… And when Brendan (Sullivan) gets an expanded role, or if he gets an expanded role, I think he’ll do well.”

On the next drive through Iowa after McNamara’s interception, Sullivan took the field to the delight of the 70,000 fans in attendance. After booing Sullivan’s predecessor, Hawkeye fans’ wishes came true and they left that night without any regrets.

“We made the decision during the week that we were going to rotate Brendan a little bit in the third or fourth series,” Ferentz said. “It just worked that way. “He did a really good job.”

Despite a shaky start that saw three straight three-pointers, Sullivan quickly recovered. He composed himself in the pocket to make the right throw, not perfect but smart and conservative, and fought well when he felt pressure.

“I’m really happy he was ready to play,” Iowa offensive lineman Mason Richman said. “I’m sure going up against this team, they probably had a little bit more of an advantage than going up against a different team. I’m very happy for him. “He did a great job there.”

Late in the game, the junior from Davison, Michigan, oversaw 37 points to McNamara’s three, and went 9 of 14 for 79 yards and a 111.7 passer rating, not to mention rushing for 41 yards on eight attempts and one dive. landing on the right pylon.

“(I just have) an extra element to be able to fight,” he said. “I think (that’s important)… just being able to do that and add to the team when things aren’t necessarily going the way we want them to go.”

That included a three-yard flip to tight end Johnny Pascuzzi. While most quarterbacks leave it at that and skip contact, Sullivan hit the jets downfield and blocked everything he could. What was a small throw turned into a 40-yard gain that put the Hawkeyes in scoring territory.

“I do what I have to do to help us be the best we can be,” Sullivan said. “It was a fun play.”

And he stayed on the field much longer than everyone else after the game to greet his former teammates in purple and white, from Wildcats receiver AJ Henning to former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who recruited the quarterback coming out of high school.

Sullivan said he felt like he was in high school when he watched Northwestern film. The players on screen were not anonymous enemies, but lifelong friends and mentors.

“It was strange all week watching film and knowing exactly who these guys are,” Sullivan said. “(I have) nothing but tremendous respect for the guys in front of us.”

With his family in the stands to watch, Sullivan gave Iowa’s coaching staff a lot to think about when putting together the depth chart for Iowa’s upcoming game against Wisconsin.

When asked if he assumed he had the starting job, Sullivan declined to answer. After all, there was no guarantee he’d end up in the Iowa camp in the first place.