Saturday in Kinnick Stadium the Iowa Hawkeyes' national title hopes were crushed as they lost starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi and their first game of the season at the hands of the Northwestern Wildcats.

Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter on a play that saw the Wildcats score their first touchdown of the game and would also end the Hawkeyes ability to move the ball on offense.

Iowa's junior quarterback underwent right ankle surgery earlier this week and remains extremely doubtful for the team's final two regular-season games.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed Stanzi's surgery on Tuesday but remains hopeful that Stanzi could return for the Hawkeyes' bowl game. Stanzi suffered a severe ankle sprain when Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton sacked him in the end zone.

"It is correct that he had surgery," Ferentz said. "We think he's going to be just fine. It's very, very doubtful that he'll play the next two weeks, but we're very, very confident that he'll return shortly thereafter."

Stanzi has thrown for 2,186 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season. The Haweyes had won 13 consecutive games with Stanzi under center before his injury.

Stanzi's back-up James Vandenberg is expected to make the start for the Hawkeyes this Saturday. The Redshirt freshman will have to face-off against the Ohio State Buckeyes with the Big Ten Title on the line.

Ferentz said there's "a good chance" Stanzi will return for a bowl game.