USA TODAY Sports tabs Brian Ferentz as Week 3 ‘winner’
After a 2022 season where the Hawkeyes’ offense morphed into a national laughingstock, Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz inked a reworked contract that featured designated performance objectives.
By now, most in the nation know the terms of the deal: The Hawkeyes must average 25 points per game as a team and win at least seven games or Brian Ferentz’s contractual agreement with the University of Iowa will terminate on June 30, 2024.
As part of the amended contract, Ferentz’s 2023 salary was reduced from $900,000 to $850,000.
If Iowa meets those designated performance objectives, though, Ferentz receives a one-time lump sum bonus of $112,500, bringing his annual pay to $962,500. Ferentz would also return to his prior two-year rolling contractual agreement.
Across 13 games, a 25 points per game average equals out to 325 points. Hence, the “Drive for 325” trackers across the country.
Naturally, given the quirkiness of this contractual amendment and just the general failures of Iowa’s offense over the past several seasons, plenty of eyes have been squarely focused on Ferentz and on what’s happening in Iowa City.
After Iowa failed to reach that magical 25 points figure against Utah State in Week 1, USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg included Brian Ferentz among his Week 1 college football losers.
Now, after Iowa’s offense registered its largest rushing total since tallying 206 rushing yards in a 30-7 win over Kent State back in 2021, Brian Ferentz is getting a little love from Myerberg. Ferentz was included among USA TODAY Sports’ Week 3 college football winners.
After scoring 44 points through two games, both wins, Iowa tacked on a meaningless score with 33 seconds left to beat Western Michigan 41-10, the program’s highest point total since dropping 51 points on Maryland in 2021. This leaves the Hawkeyes at 85 points on the year, or 28.3 points per game, and things are looking up for Ferentz. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports.
For those that want to dump on the end-of-game touchdown to sophomore walk-on running back Max White, look into his path to the Iowa Hawkeyes. And keep in mind that Iowa knelt the clock out from the Utah State 15-yard line in its opener when it could’ve lined sophomore Drew Stevens up for a 32-yard field goal try at the buzzer to eclipse that 25 points mark.
But, that’s neither here nor there. The important piece for the Hawkeyes is that they did indeed figure some things out running the football.
Obviously, the passing game is still a work in progress after senior quarterback Cade McNamara finished just 9-of-19 passing for 103 yards with two touchdowns against two interceptions.
Overall, Iowa will take the 3-0 start and look to shock some folks nationally at Penn State this upcoming Saturday, Sept. 23, when it kicks off from Happy Valley at 6:30 p.m. on CBS.
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