Iowa names Cade McNamara starting QB: Hawkeyes tap veteran signal-caller after fall camp battle

Iowa has named Cade McNamara its starting quarterback, according to the team depth chart released on Monday ahead of the opener against Illinois State on Saturday. The former Michigan signal caller started the first five games of the 2023 season for the Hawkeyes before suffering a torn ACL against Michigan State on Sept. 30 that ended his season prematurely. McNamara beat out Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan for the starting job.

The Hawkeyes' quarterback competition stretched deep into fall camp due to McNamara's rust coming back from injury, highlighted by a lackluster 8-of-24, 20-yard passing performance during an open scrimmage earlier this month. McNamara will enter as a Week 1 starter for the fourth time in his career after opening as Michigan's Week 1 starter during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

McNamara finished the 2023 campaign with 505 yards passing and four touchdowns to three interceptions. For his career, McNamara has completed 61% of his attempts for 3,686 yards and 25 touchdowns.

McNamara will be working closely this season with new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, whom the team hired away from his post with the Green Bay Packers to replace former offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz -- the son of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Under Ferentz, Iowa ranked near the bottom among all FBS teams in points (15.4), yards (235.4) and yards per pass (4.8).

No. 25 Iowa will be without Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr for Saturday's opener due to a university-imposed, one-game suspension for breaking NCAA rules by contacting a player before he was in the transfer portal. The suspension is related to the recruitment of McNamara, according to 247Sports.