Iowa football’s Brian Ferentz out after season, plus a new Heisman Trophy front-runner

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Happy Halloween! Today I’m joined by Iowa writer Scott Dochterman to discuss yesterday’s news out of Iowa City.

Here’s what’s happening in college football Until Saturday …

Brian Ferentz Out

OC to finish Iowa season but not return

The Drive for 325 at Iowa has come to a halt at 156 points (less than halfway to its goal after eight games).

Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, whose contract was altered in February to include a scoring objective of 25 points per game (in 13 games), will not return to the Hawkeyes next season. Interim athletic director Beth Goetz made the announcement yesterday, and she deserves major props for being the one to finally make the move to salvage the program’s reputation. Just take a look at a few stats from Iowa’s offensive production in 2023:

• The Hawkeyes rank last nationally in total offense with 232.4 yards per game. That’s 26.4 yards below the next-ranked offense and 20 yards fewer than Iowa’s production in 2022 (which prompted this whole scoring incentive mess in the first place).
• Against Purdue this month, Iowa failed to complete a pass to a wide receiver for the first time since 1978. Iowa receivers have combined for just two touchdown catches.
• Iowa has failed to record a first down on an FBS-worst 50.9 percent of its drives. Per TruMedia, the Hawkeyes have had nearly as many drives that lost yardage (FBS-high 23) as they have that ended in points (27).

The news prompted an Until Saturday emergency podcast, in which the crew suggests this could be the light at the end of the tunnel for Iowa fans.

Where do Hawkeyes turn?

Scott Dochterman has been all over the Brian Ferentz storyline in Iowa City. Yesterday, he wrote that it’s time for the Hawkeyes to dig themselves out of the new-level rock bottom.

I brought in Scott today to ask the next pivotal question: Will head coach Kirk Ferentz, Brian’s father, make the right move to change the trajectory of this offense?

Here’s what Scott said:

“Eyes will focus on Kirk Ferentz this afternoon for his weekly news conference to see how he discusses his son’s departure following the season. Without a comment from either Kirk or Brian, the situation comes across as a firing from Goetz rather than a mutually beneficial exit.

“As far as the program is concerned, the longtime head coach will look this offseason for his fourth offensive coordinator, and it’s a critical hire. The Hawkeyes will return to a division-less Big Ten beginning next year, including offensive juggernauts in newcomers Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA. With a competent offense, Iowa is capable of keeping up as it has shown. Without one, Iowa will stumble quickly.

“The biggest question for Kirk Ferentz, who took over the program in 1999, comes with offensive evolution. It makes sense for Iowa to play ground-acquisition football. Is there a way to enhance the tenets of that system while revamping the offensive structure? That’s what needs to happen for Iowa to remain an upper-half Big Ten program with the potential for a championship appearance every three to four years. The program asks its players to be comfortable being uncomfortable. The same should apply to its head coach.”

Marvin Harrison Jr. had 123 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s win over Wisconsin on Saturday. (John Fisher / Getty Images)

New Heisman Front-runner

And it’s not a QB!

There’s a new Heisman Trophy front-runner in this week’s straw poll voted on by The Athletic staff. And it’s the first week the leader hasn’t been a QB. After appearing on just one ballot two weeks ago, Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. jumped to the top of the poll with 15 first-place votes. Here are the rest of the top five:

2. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

3. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

4. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

5. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Harrison’s surge comes after a 123-yard, two-touchdown performance against Wisconsin on Saturday. As the top draft-eligible receiver in the country, Harrison ranks sixth nationally in receiving yards (889).

The poll had another big change this week with five players (Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel, Alabama LB Dallas Turner, Iowa DB Cooper DeJean, Georgia TE Brock Bowers and Utah RB/S Sione Vaki) dropping off the ballots. But there was one player we hadn’t seen before: Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II. Gordon received four points to become this week’s Outcast Vote of the Week.

Case from a Gordon voter, Justin Williams: “I realize he’s not a quarterback on a Playoff contender, but it’s impossible to argue against the impact Gordon has had on Oklahoma State. After three uninspiring nonconference games, Oklahoma State has won four of its last five and is tied for first in the Big 12 thanks in large part to handing Gordon the ball.

“He’s averaging 24.4 carries for 195.6 yards per game for a ridiculous 8 yards per carry during that stretch, including 282 yards and four touchdowns against West Virginia and 271 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati.

“I don’t expect Gordon to win the Heisman or the Cowboys to win the Big 12, but the program’s season has turned around completely, and Gordon is the biggest reason why. He deserves to be recognized for that.”