By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The biggest news on Monday concerning the Iowa football team wasn’t really that big of a deal.

Iowa released its depth chart in preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game against Michigan, and not surprisingly, junior Spencer Petras was listed as the starting quarterback ahead of sophomore Alex Padilla.

At least, it wasn’t a surprise to me.

Based on what Kirk Ferentz said on the field just moments after Iowa’s 28-21 victory over Nebraska last Friday in Lincoln, Nebraska, and how he said it, made it seem as if Petras was on the verge of getting his starting job back.

Iowa trailed Nebraska 14-6 at halftime, and the passing game had struggled in the first two quarters with Padilla at quarterback.

So Kirk Ferentz started Petras in the second half, and while Petras also had his struggles against Nebraska, Iowa came back to win with Petras leading the offense.

Kirk Ferentz called Petras a winner afterwards and said that Petras had practiced like a winner in the previous two weeks while recovering from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss three quarters of the Northwestern game and the Minnesota and Illinois games entirely.

Just the way Ferentz talked about Petras after the Nebraska game, and the fact that he called Petras a winner, convinced that Petras had won his starting job back.

The release of the depth chart on Monday was just further proof that Petras was back in the starting lineup.

Kirk Ferentz will meet with the media on Tuesday, and look for him to confirm that Petras will start against Michigan, but that he also has confidence in Padilla.

Ferentz will likely say that he now has confidence in both quarterbacks, that he is comfortable with both of them running the offense, and how they both perform in practice this week could be a determining factor.

A case could be made for Petras or Padilla to be the starter.

Petras has a big advantage in experience with 17 starts under his belt, and with a 13-4 record as the starter. He also has a firm grasp of the offense and has played in big games, while Padilla still is somewhat new to the spotlight.

Padilla replaced Petras in the first quarter against Northwestern and then led three scoring drives in Iowa’s 17-12 win on Nov. 6 in Evanston, Illinois.

Padilla also played well at times while making his first two starts against Minnesota and Illinois, and Iowa also won both games to his credit.

However, Padilla was far from an offensive force as the passing game sputtered with him behind center much like it has with Petras playing quarterback.

Padilla had a chance to seize the moment against Nebraska, and to strengthen his hold on the starting position, but he failed to do so.

Michigan has used two quarterbacks throughout the season with junior starter Cade McNamara taking most of the snaps, and with heralded freshman J.J. McCarthy contributing off the bench.

McCarthy gives the Wolverines a different look at quarterback, and the way he has been used in spot duty makes it so defenses have to prepare for both quarterbacks.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has figured a way to use both quarterbacks without hurting the chemistry or flow on offense.

It would be nice if Iowa could do the same with Petras and Padilla.

Assuming Petras is back as the starter, that doesn’t mean he has to play from start to finish.

Padilla has gained some valuable experience in the last four games, so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed by the circumstances on Saturday in Indianapolis.

It’s hard to picture Iowa (10-2) defeating Michigan (11-1) without taking some chances on offense, and without thinking outside the box a little on offense.

Kirk Ferentz isn’t a fan of using two quarterbacks in a game, but maybe this one time he should make an exception, especially if Petras struggles and the offense sputters.

One of the biggest concerns with Petras facing Michigan is that few teams pressure the quarterback as well as Michigan does with All-America defensive end Aidan Hutchinson leading the charge.

Petras lacks mobility, so that could play right into Michigan’s hands if Iowa struggles to pass block.

Padilla, on the other hand, is more mobile than Petras and is capable of extending plays by moving the pocket.

My concern is that Kirk Ferentz will talk himself out of using both quarterbacks during the heat of the moment on Saturday because it goes against his philosophy on how best to handle the position.

But if Petras struggles, and if the offensive line struggles to protect him, then it would make sense to give Padilla a chance.

It also would make sense for Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz to devise a game plan that utilizes both quarterbacks, sort of like how Michigan does it with McNamara and McCarthy.

Football isn’t rocket science.

And why not give Michigan something to think about with having to face two quarterbacks whose styles are different?

Petras hasn’t played well enough for Padilla to be benched on a full-time basis. But Padilla also hasn’t played well enough for Petras to be demoted on a full-time basis.

The challenge for Brian Ferentz is to convince his father that using both quarterbacks on Saturday could be beneficial for Iowa, assuming that’s what Brian Ferentz believes.

The concern is that Kirk Ferentz will stick with Petras, even if the offense struggles, and that Michigan will pounce on Iowa’s vulnerabilities.

There is always the chance that Petras will play the game of his life on Saturday and lead Iowa to an upset victory.

Should that happen, then more power to Petras.

But if it doesn’t happen, then Kirk Ferentz and Brian Ferentz will have to make adjustments.

Petras and Padilla both seem highly respected by their teammates and coaches, and they both seem to have a mutual respect for each other.

This doesn’t appear to be a case in which the team is divided by who starts at quarterback.

If Kirk Ferentz truly feels comfortable using both quarterbacks, then prove it against Michigan by using both Petras an Padilla.

It’s time to get creative.