I 100% can believe that a plan was being worked on. (And I'm fine with that. Actually happy about it, not for the coaching change per se, but just that it would have been a thought out plan, not a reactionary one)
But at this point...
I about 89% believe that the something in the plan changed. Someone (any number of possible someones) changed their mind or got hesitant. Or some timing window to settle the plan closed. And Kirk will be at the helm in the fall of 2026.
Which again, I'm happy about. Not because Kirk is sticking around per se. Not because a preconceived, non-reactionary plan didn't happen. But because something changed and it would have become a reactionary plan executed on variables that were not part of the plan.
And it's clear that the people in charge (OCs, Kirk, Goetz, money movers) have responded (finally) in producing a more viable offense and interesting team to watch than we have seen in some while.
If I'm a recruit or a looking for an upgrade through the portal (especially as an offensive player), Iowa's 2025 showing stacks up well higher against the 'competitors' (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan St.) than the 2024 squad. Or the 2023 squad. And so on. Maybe Indiana has just sorta taken over as a 'competitor' for Wisconsin. And while it's a shiny edge now, we'll see how it lasts. Even ISU. I know they love how to talk about how they're more relevant than Iowa and all that. They keep saying it. And while, yeah....they beat Iowa sometimes. They're also not ranked at the end of regular conference play. Iowa is.
It's not like Iowa and Ferentz haven't been able to navigate this new world. They have. Not perfectly. But as good as anyone. And if you could actually guarantee future results on past performance, Ferentz will deliver a top 10 finish as early as 2026.
