Iowa band member taken off life support after collapsing at game

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  Adam RittenbergSep 8, 2026, 01:01 PM ET

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  College football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.

A University of Iowa band member has been taken off of life support after collapsing Saturday in the heat during the season-opening football game against Northern Illinois.

Derek Phillips, a third-year student from Dubuque, Iowa, suffered a "sudden cardiac arrest" Saturday shortly before the band was set to perform its halftime show, according to a message posted to his Instagram account by his family. The post stated that Phillips was taken to nearby University of Iowa hospital, but "the damage to his brain was too severe, and we have made the heartbreaking decision to remove life support."

Temperatures rose to 94 degrees Saturday in Iowa City, and Iowa adjusted the start times for several athletic events during the weekend because of forecasted high temperatures in the area. The football game kicked off as scheduled with a gametime temperature of 90 degrees.

"The entire Hawkeye Marching Band family is thinking of Derek Phillips and his loved ones," the university said in a statement. "We are grateful to his parents for providing regular updates to the students who love Derek. This is heartbreaking for everyone who cares for him. The university is in close contact and is offering support."

The Iowa marching band did not perform its halftime show Saturday, and posted on X, "The health and safety of our students, staff, and fans are our top priority. Due to the heat, HMB will forego our halftime performance today."

Phillips played horn in the band and studied business analytics and information systems at Iowa. The Instagram post from his family described him as a "phenomenal musician -- whether he was playing jazz, singing his heart out, or marching under the lights, music was the language of his soul."