After a much-needed bye week, Iowa football is gearing up for the final stretch of the regular season with two crucial games ahead. This journey begins with their trip to Maryland this Saturday. There are numerous talking points surrounding this matchup, including the uncertainty at the quarterback position and the family aspect of facing former Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who is now an analyst at Maryland. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz met with the media on Tuesday to shed some light on these topics and more. Let's take a closer look at what stood out.Extensive Injury Update with Limited Clarity
Ferentz provided an injury update, stating that Brendan Sullivan and Reece Vander Zee will not be playing. He added that Luke Lachey and Addison Ostrenga have been cleared to practice and will be back. Marco Lainez is also expected to return. However, there are still some uncertainties regarding other players. "It's a bit cloudy right now," Ferentz said. This situation adds an element of unpredictability to Iowa's lineup as they prepare for the upcoming games.Quarterback Situation Remains Unsettled
Cade McNamara's status for the game against Maryland is in doubt. Ferentz mentioned that McNamara practiced on Sunday but that everything is still up in the air. "He's still processing back and has been cleared to play, but we'll see how he performs during the week. We're prepared for any scenario," Ferentz said. If McNamara is unable to start, it will likely be Jackson Stratton taking the helm. "If we were playing right now, it would be Jackson. I'll know for sure by Friday," Ferentz assured. He also noted that Stratton has shown improvement since the UCLA game and is more comfortable in his role.Brendan Sullivan's Bowl Game Return in Doubt
Regarding Brendan Sullivan's potential return in a bowl game after his ankle injury at UCLA, Ferentz was cautious. "He's out this week, and we'll see what next week brings. I'm not overly optimistic, but it's possible he could return for a bowl game. There's no broken bone, so that's a positive sign," Ferentz said. The team will have to wait and see how his recovery progresses.Facing His Son on the Opposing Sideline
Kirk Ferentz will face his son Brian Ferentz, who is now an offensive analyst at Maryland. This presents a unique situation for the coach. "It's a strange dynamic. I've worked with many coaches over the years, and this is a new experience. But on gameday, it's all about the game. We both know what we need to do, and we'll see how it unfolds," Ferentz said. As a parent, he is happy that his son is in a good environment.Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter who covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. You can reach him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
