IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Hawkeyes will be without their starting quarterback, Cade McNamara, as he has entered concussion protocol and is set to miss the upcoming game against Wisconsin, as confirmed by head coach Kirk Ferentz on Tuesday.

In light of McNamara’s absence, Brendan Sullivan will step up as the starting quarterback. Sullivan took over the reins in the second half during last week’s game against Northwestern after McNamara was sidelined.

The exact moment McNamara suffered his injury remains unclear. Coach Ferentz mentioned that McNamara took a significant hit during the second quarter and also endured a roughing-the-passer penalty at the end of the first quarter.

Ferentz expressed optimism regarding McNamara’s availability for the game against UCLA scheduled for November 8.

McNamara has been a vital part of the Hawkeyes’ offense, starting all eight games this season. The quarterback transferred from Michigan two years ago and faced considerable challenges, including a leg injury that limited his participation in a large portion of the fall training camp this year. His season was cut short in the fifth game due to a torn ACL in his left knee. This followed a previous knee injury that also ended his season at Michigan after just three games in 2022.

“I feel for him because he has had an incredibly challenging two and a half years,” Ferentz remarked. “I’ve mentioned before, and it’s something I’ve probably reiterated countless times, the most difficult aspect of coaching is dealing with injuries. It’s a reality that no one wishes to confront, and he’s certainly had more than his fair share of misfortune. I genuinely feel sorry for him, but I’m hopeful we’ll see him back on the field soon and back to his best.”