Iowa to start freshman QB Vandenberg vs. Ohio State

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg walked into a sporting goods store to shop for a birthday present on Saturday, just hours after the Hawkeyes’ perfect season ended with a 17-10 loss to Northwestern.

As Vandenberg was trying on some hunting waders, someone asked him if he had been at Kinnick Stadium for the game. The relatively unknown redshirt freshman who had seen his first extended action against the Wildcats played along.

“He said ‘Did it look as rough in person as it did on TV?’ And I said, ‘You have no idea,’ ” Vandenberg said.

Vandenberg won’t have to worry about going unrecognized much longer: He is No. 15 Iowa’s starting quarterback now that junior Ricky Stanzi has had surgery to repair a severely sprained right ankle.

Vandenberg, who was 9-of-27 passing for 82 yards and a costly interception against Northwestern, will make his first career start for the Hawkeyes at Ohio State.

No pressure. Just perhaps a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line.

“It’s going to exciting,” Vandenberg said. “It’s kind of what you dream about all growing up, being in a situation like this. And here it is.”

Vandenberg, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder from Keokuk, was arguably the most prolific passer in Iowa prep history, throwing for 7,709 career yards, 93 career touchdowns and 49 touchdown passes as a senior, when he was picked off just seven times in 372 attempts. It didn’t take long for Vandenberg to realize he wasn’t in Keokuk anymore.

His first pass against the Wildcats was thrown straight to linebacker Quentin Davie, whose interception set up what turned out to be the go-ahead touchdown. Vandenberg, who had thrown just three career passes before Saturday, struggled the rest of the way.