The Iowa Hawkeyes will host the Utah State Aggies in their season opener on Saturday. But is quarterback Cade McNamara playing? McNamara, who transferred in from Michigan during the offseason, went down with a leg injury two weeks ago when scrambling. Let’s look at the most recent Cade McNamara injury updates as we assess whether he will be available in Week 1.
UPDATE (8/30/23 at 10:35 p.m. ET): Cade McNamara is expected to start Week 1’s Utah State-Iowa game barring any setbacks, per head coach Kirk Ferentz.
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Cade McNamara Injury Update: Is Iowa’s Quarterback Playing Saturday?
Cade McNamara Injury Update
The last few days have been tumultuous for Iowa football fans, but the good news is that the Hawkeyes have what should be an easy Week 1 matchup against a rebuilding Utah State team. Still, Iowa fans may have to wait a week before transfer quarterback Cade McNamara makes his debut.
McNamara went down at Kids’ Day at Kinnick earlier in August. He scrambled downfield and fell awkwardly, landing chest-first, but was able to walk off under his own power. Still, he missed several practices before finally returning on Tuesday.
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Is Cade McNamara Playing for Iowa in Week 1?
So is Cade McNamara playing for Iowa in Week 1? Head coach Kirk Ferentz listed him as QB1 on the team’s depth chart, but that designation is often just a formality for Ferentz. The head coach told reporters that McNamara has been cleared but is “questionable.”
McNamara was noncommittal about his status for Saturday’s opener when interviewed. “My intention and my goal is to play as many games as I possibly can,” he told reporters on Tuesday, adding, “It’s just kinda down to how the coaches feel and how the medical staff feels.”
The betting markets don’t really offer much insight into McNamara’s status. Iowa was trading as a 25.5-point favorite over Utah State on FanDuel Sportsbook as of Tuesday afternoon, which is roughly where the market was over the weekend. Iowa opened as only a 19-point favorite.
Because Feretz has been so noncommital about McNamara’s status, we’ll have to keep a close eye on the news as Saturday’s 12 p.m. kickoff approaches. The Hawkeyes will likely start Deacon Hill if McNamara can’t go. Hill transferred over from Wisconsin in the offseason, where he recorded a single rush for a loss of 10 yards and zero attempts. He was a four-star recruit out of high school and a three-star transfer prospect.
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