Former Auburn quarterback Hank Brown solidified his position as Iowa's starting quarterback in Week 4. Brown threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Reece Vander Zee as time expired to knock off Michigan 20-19.
This was Brown's first career start on the road after getting the nod as QB1 from Hugh Freeze during the 2024 season. Brown started against New Mexico and Arkansas, but was pulled for Payton Thorne during a 24-14 loss to the Razorbacks that September.
Brown had 227 passing yards and two touchdown passes against the Wolverines at the "Big House," completing 21-of-35 pass attempts.
In 2025, in Brown's first season with the Hawkeyes, the gunslinger had 34 offensive snaps. 18 of those were against Indiana. The other 16 came against UAlbany.
Brown was part of a 2024 quarterback room that was gone by the 2025 season on the Plains.
Now, he's a bona fide starter in the Big Ten's upper echelon.
Hank Brown showed QB1 promise during the 2023 Music City Bowl
Tiger fans first saw glimpses of Brown as a potential QB1 in Nashville during the 2023 Music City Bowl.
While Thorne struggled mightily, Brown's late-game snaps provided the Auburn family hope for 2024.
Brown completed 7 of 9 passes for 132 yards against Maryland at Nissan Stadium in late December of 2023.
On a cold and snowy day in the Music City, Brown gave Tiger fans who traveled to the game something to go home happy about. Auburn lost that game 31-13.
Obviously, Thorne ended up outplaying Brown and taking the starting spot after Brown's two early-season starts.
Still, it's clear that Brown has made the most of his post-Freeze career in Iowa City. The first quarterback Freeze ever recruited to the Tigers is making a name for himself away from Auburn.
What's next for Hank Brown and Iowa?
Any Auburn fans who want to hurt their own feelings by watching Brown's next steps after likely elevating Iowa into at least the top 15 of the AP Poll could check out his Hawkeyes against Ohio State next week.
While the Buckeyes' defense has been underwhelming by OSU's standards, they will be by far the biggest challenge Brown has ever faced.
We'll see if Brown has more magic up his sleeve in the biggest game of his life next weekend at Kinnick Stadium.
Beating both rivals from "The Game" in consecutive weeks would be quite the accomplishment.
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