Iowa announced earlier this week that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz would not return for the 2024 season.
Ferentz, the son of longtime Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz, has faced regular criticism and scrutiny for the ineffectiveness of Iowa’s offense. Last year, the team averaged 17.7 points per game. That poor scoring output consistently wasted excellent performances by Iowa’s defense.
Before this season, Ferentz agreed to a revised one-year contract that reduced his salary by $50,000 and included mandates for the Hawkeyes to win seven games and average 25 points per game. If Iowa failed to meet either of those incentives, Ferentz’s contract would not be renewed.
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The scoring mandate (which includes points contributed by defense and special teams) was dubbed the “Drive to 325” by Hawkeyes fans. After eight games, Iowa (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) is far short of that, averaging 19.5 points per game.
However, the Big Ten’s entire West division is currently on pace to fall short of Iowa’s directive for Ferentz, as pointed out by Bud Elliott of 247 Sports. Indiana and Michigan State from the Big Ten East also are poised to land shy of 325.
After eight games, Wisconsin is very close with an average of 24.8 points per game. Northwestern and Purdue are averaging 21.9 points. Minnesota has a 21.1 average. Illinois has tallied 20.4 points per game, and Nebraska is averaging 20.3.
In the Big Ten East, Michigan State (18.0) and Indiana (18.6) are even worse.
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Fortunately for those other eight offensive coordinators, their contracts don’t include a scoring mandate as far as we know.
The “Drive to 325” made Iowa a national college football punchline. But it did provide Iowa’s athletic department with the necessary justification to make a change.
