Iowa faces a quarterback choice during its bye after Hecklinski's win at Washington

No. 20 Iowa heads into its bye week at 5-1 and now has a real question at quarterback. Jeremy Hecklinski started in place of Hank Brown, who was out with a shoulder problem, and Iowa beat Washington 41-24 in Seattle on Friday night.

The quarterback situation led the latest episode of the Chuck Long Podcast from On3's Hawkeye Report, hosted by Tom Kakert. The show reviewed how well Hecklinski played in Brown's place and asked what Kirk Ferentz should do once Brown is healthy. Kakert called the situation the kind of "good problem to have" in college football. Long, the former Iowa quarterback, explained what he would do, and the hosts predicted which way Ferentz is likely to go. On3 also identified the Washington game as Hecklinski's first career start.

The off week gives Iowa's staff time to settle the question. The Hawkeyes don't have to name a starter right away, but the choice will set the direction for the second half of the season. Iowa has kept winning without its expected starter, so the decision is about who gives the offense its best chance from here, not about patching a hole.

The podcast also looked at the scheme behind the offense. Under offensive coordinator Tim Lester, Iowa has made heavy use of pre-snap motion to put stress on opposing defenses. According to the On3 discussion, that motion has involved Tony Diaz and moving tight ends to open lanes in the running game. That design work helps explain how Iowa scored 41 points on the road with a first-time starter at quarterback.

On defense, the hosts pointed to new pressure looks from coordinator Phil Parker against Washington, with linebackers used more often to get after the quarterback. The show argued Iowa will need more of that as the schedule goes on. The episode also discussed how the Hawkeyes should handle the bye: rest banged-up players or keep up a full workload.

Washington's next test

The loss dropped Washington to 3-3, and the schedule doesn't ease up. The Huskies go on the road to face Purdue, and the market makes the Boilermakers the favorite. Purdue is favored by 3.5 points with a total of 52.5. On Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, Purdue is -156 on the moneyline, and the best sportsbook price on Purdue is -155 at Hard Rock Bet.

So the Huskies are underdogs in the Big Ten coming off a 17-point home loss in which Iowa's defense found new ways to pressure them. Washington is .500 at the midpoint of the season, and a second straight conference loss would make it harder to reach a bowl.

Iowa won't play this weekend. When the Hawkeyes return, the main question will be who starts at quarterback: Brown, if his shoulder allows it, or Hecklinski after his win in Seattle.