Kirk Ferentz still among the best in the country as a top 25 coach

Say what you want and get mad about things, it doesn’t change the fact that Kirk Ferentz is the top college football coach in America. He has turned the Iowa Hawkeyes into a model of consistency, success and great men that almost every fan base in America would gladly embrace if asked.

As doom and gloom as many painted last year, Ferentz still led the Hawkeyes to eight wins and a postseason bowl. That’s as many wins as or more than nine Big Ten teams last year. Success among the best conferences in college football, if you ask me.

With last year’s work, Ferentz has found himself among the crowd The Athletic’s (paid subscription) Top 25 College Football Coaching List before 2023. Ferentz sees himself on the list at No. 22 in 2023, up from No. 18 in 2022.

An 8-5 season isn’t terrible, but it felt like such a mess because of the problems floating around Hawkeyes surround Ferentz by holding his son Brian responsible for the insane offense and scouting talented skill players, especially Charlie Jones, leave Iowa City for better situations. Still, Ferentz finds and develops talent as well as anyone. The 67-year-old is a really, really good football coach, going 43-18 over the past five years. —Feldman, The Athletic

Among the top 25 are e.g of Michigan Jim Harbaugh at No. 4, Penn State’s James Franklin at No. 5, at Ohio State Ryan Day at No. 6, of Wisconsin Luke Fickell in #11, of Nebraska Matt Rhule at No. 15 and Illinois’ Bret Bielema at No. 24.

Looking ahead to the 2023 season with a make-or-break feel will test Ferentz and his staff as they have a lot of questions to answer. They need to improve on offense, have a schedule breaking their way before the rebuild begins, and have a real chance to make a run.

So, as it stands, most will count Ferentz and the Hawkeyes out if things take one turn south. It’s right when he does his best and gets the most out of his teams.

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