Iowa Hawkeyes Coach Kirk Ferentz Addresses Differences Between NFL and College Football

Ferentz, who has been the Hawkeyes' head coach since 1999, is struggling to adjust to the changing landscape of college football.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz, who has been with the program since 1999, admitted he is having a difficult time adjusting to the new era of college football. Ferentz, who previously had six years of NFL coaching experience, said he misses the clarity and consistency of the NFL's rules compared to the "quagmire" of college football's evolving landscape, including the transfer portal and concerns over player compensation.

Why it matters

Ferentz's comments provide insight into the challenges facing long-tenured college football coaches as the sport continues to undergo significant changes, particularly around player movement and compensation. As one of the most experienced and successful coaches in the game, Ferentz's perspective sheds light on the difficulties in maintaining program stability and culture amid the shifting dynamics of modern college football.

The details

Ferentz, who has won 213 games as a head coach dating back to 1990, said he is frustrated by the lack of clarity around transfer portal moves and player compensation, noting that "it's pretty evident that certain programs are bigger than others, and that's frustrating to me." Despite the changes, Ferentz said the Hawkeyes chose not to get involved in the transfer portal at the quarterback position, instead opting to develop the players already in the program.

  • Ferentz has been the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes since 1999.
  • This fall will be Ferentz's 28th season as the head coach in Iowa City.

The players

Kirk Ferentz

The head football coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who has held the position since 1999 and has won 213 games overall throughout his entire head-coaching career dating to 1990.

Hank Brown

One of the two quarterbacks competing to be the primary starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the upcoming season.

Jeremy Hecklinski

One of the two quarterbacks competing to be the primary starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the upcoming season.

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What they’re saying

“Six years of experience in the NFL, and a lot of things I don't miss about the NFL, but one of the things I miss is the clarity in terms of expectations and what the rules are. Basically, all 32 teams operate by the same set of rules. As we've evolved into revenue sharing, which I thought was a worthy and needed step, we're sitting in a quagmire. Just garbage.”

— Kirk Ferentz, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes (On3)

“I don't know what's real. Quite frankly, I hear about what people's payrolls are, but nobody can document that or prove it. It's pretty evident that certain programs are bigger than others, and that's frustrating to me.”

— Kirk Ferentz, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes (On3)

“We chose not to get active in the portal at that position [QB] intentionally. We made the assessment that what we have in our building right now and what we've recruited, we feel pretty good about. It's really going to get down to what happens between now and September and potentially, even into the season.”

— Kirk Ferentz, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes (On3)

What’s next

Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes will continue to evaluate their quarterback competition between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski leading up to the start of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Ferentz's comments highlight the challenges facing long-tenured college football coaches as the sport undergoes significant changes, particularly around player movement and compensation. Despite his success and experience, Ferentz is struggling to adapt to the lack of clarity and consistency in the evolving landscape of college football.