Kirk Ferentz has spent nearly three decades turning Iowa football into one of the Big Ten’s most dependable programs, and that kind of staying power still carries real weight when the conference’s head coaches are ranked.
Ferentz is entering his 28th season with the Hawkeyes, and the article frames him as the kind of coach who has managed to keep pace with a sport that has changed everywhere around him. Recruiting never stops, NIL reshaped the landscape, and yet Ferentz has continued to adapt while keeping Iowa winning.
That track record is the backbone of his case. Iowa has not operated with the same resources as Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, or now Indiana, but Ferentz has still found a way to deliver at least eight wins per year. The point is simple: he has done more with less than anyone else in the Big Ten.
In the rankings, Curt Cignetti sits at No. 1 after transforming Indiana in a way few saw coming. Ryan Day is No. 2, with Dan Lanning right behind him at No. 3, a pair of coaches whose teams are consistently in the mix.
Kyle Whittingham comes in at No. 4, and Ferentz is placed just behind him. Lincoln Riley is next, and the piece notes that his time at USC has reached a stage where results need to come soon given the resources and talent available to him.
Ferentz’s Iowa résumé remains the clearest argument for his place near the top. His record with the Hawkeyes is 209-128, and the article points to the sustained success he has produced as something few programs in the country can match.
There is also a broader divide in the conference rankings. Ferentz belongs in the top tier, but after him comes a group that still has something to prove. Bret Bielema at Illinois and Jedd Fisch at Washington need more longevity to climb, while Matt Campbell, Matt Rhule, and PJ Fleck are grouped together in a logjam of coaches who have yet to turn the corner.
In Other News...
Iowa Taking Extra Precautions For Bananas Crowd At Kinnick
With two sold-out Savannah Bananas games set for Kinnick Stadium on July 3 and 4, Iowa is treating the summer showcase like more than just a novelty act. The university is putting extra heat-relief measures in place for the late-night starts, including hydration stations, shaded areas, cooling stations and an air-conditioned first-aid tent, while also allowing fans to bring one sealed water bottle or one empty refillable bottle into the stadium.
The planning goes beyond convenience, with Johnson County Ambulance Services staging two UTVs and UI Health Care and Carver College of Medicine personnel on site, including physicians, nurses, athletic trainers and medical students. Iowa is also urging fans to pre-hydrate, dress for the weather, seek shade when they can and watch for signs of heat-related illness, a reminder that even a party atmosphere at Kinnick still comes with the realities of a Midwestern July. [Read more 🡒]
Ben McCollum Just Made An Aggressive Move For Elite Size
Ben McCollum is already putting a clear stamp on Iowas recruiting approach, and it starts with size. The Hawkeyes have extended a scholarship offer to Bentley Lusakueno, a 6-foot-10 center from Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, giving the program a foothold with one of the most intriguing young big men in the country. Lusakueno is still early in his high school career, but his profile has been building quickly, and his place among the top prospects in the 2028 class reflects how much attention he is already drawing.
The offer matters because Iowa is not entering a quiet race. Lusakueno already has multiple Division I suitors, and the list includes several programs with strong national recruiting reputations. He also has USA Basketball experience on his rsum, which only adds to the sense that this is the kind of prospect whose recruitment could keep expanding. For McCollum and the Hawkeyes, getting involved now is the aggressive part. The harder part is figuring out how much traction they can build from here. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa May Have Found Another Cooper DeJean In Zach Lutmer
Zach Lutmer has quietly become one of the more intriguing defenders on Iowas roster, and the reason is easy to understand. In 2025, the Hawkeyes found a defensive back whose size and production naturally invite the Cooper DeJean comparison, even if the path to getting there looks a little different. Lutmer has shown the kind of flexibility Iowa has long valued, handling multiple jobs in the secondary and giving the defense a piece it can move around rather than a player locked into one lane.
What makes Lutmer especially interesting is that his value may come from that versatility as much as from any one standout trait. He can line up at corner, safety, or in a hybrid role, and that gives Iowa a different kind of weapon than the pure lockdown corner DeJean was. If Lutmer keeps developing at this pace, the Hawkeyes may not just have found a familiar name to compare him to, but a player capable of building a legacy that belongs entirely to him. [Read more 🡒]