Fry's Forecast Fizzled: KF Confirms He Will Be Back in '26.





But, it made this board a lot more interesting over the last few weeks, and it probably drove up page hits multi-fold. So, I am glad he passed along the second-hand information, and that he had the balls to make a prediction from it. Keep up the good work, @Fryowa !
 






I'm glad, not sure a coaching change is what the team needs. They were SO close this year and I do like the improvements they made on the offensive side of the ball.
 


Just talked to a buddy, and is friends with the Luke Brewer, the tight end commit from Norwalk, and allegedly KF told he and his family he anticipates being there "at least for the next couple of years" which would be the end of his contract in 2027. Granted it could be a recruiting speech, but I don't see KF going into a kid's home and lying to him or his family.
 


I guess Kirk just really, really, really enjoys coaching because I can't think of any reasonable milestone he has left to achieve.

Sure it would be nice to win an outright Big Ten championship, make it into the playoffs and win a national title, but let's be realistic. In the new Big Ten, Kirk's ceiling is probably a 4th place finish and then make it to the quarterfinals (final 8) of the CFP

As far as overall wins, Kirk is not going to catch Paterno, even if he averages 8 wins a year until he is 90.

As for that elusive overall .600 winning percentage that a coach needs for hall of fame induction, Kirk is barely above .600 right now. All it would take is a 4-8 final season and he would back below .600 again. Of course the hall of fame made an exception for Mike Leach, but Leach was much more entertaining and groundbreaking than Kirk is.

I think somebody had the idea that Kirk should just hang up his head coaching duties and become the assistant OL coach or something like that. Nobody is going to kick Kirk Ferentz out of the building. But in the end, I guess Ferentz has earned the right to go out on his own terms, whatever he decides.
 


I guess Kirk just really, really, really enjoys coaching because I can't think of any reasonable milestone he has left to achieve.

Sure it would be nice to win an outright Big Ten championship, make it into the playoffs and win a national title, but let's be realistic. In the new Big Ten, Kirk's ceiling is probably a 4th place finish and then make it to the quarterfinals (final 8) of the CFP

As far as overall wins, Kirk is not going to catch Paterno, even if he averages 8 wins a year until he is 90.

As for that elusive overall .600 winning percentage that a coach needs for hall of fame induction, Kirk is barely above .600 right now. All it would take is a 4-8 final season and he would back below .600 again. Of course the hall of fame made an exception for Mike Leach, but Leach was much more entertaining and groundbreaking than Kirk is.

I think somebody had the idea that Kirk should just hang up his head coaching duties and become the assistant OL coach or something like that. Nobody is going to kick Kirk Ferentz out of the building. But in the end, I guess Ferentz has earned the right to go out on his own terms, whatever he decides.
I see no reason to believe next season will be under .500. The schedule lightens up. Yes, we will lose a lot to graduation and early NFL entry, but there is a really good core returning on defense and there are pieces to build around on the offense. We will grab 5 starters/rotation guys out of the portal, and the incoming class is Top 25. KF has adjusted to the new era pretty well for an old fella, and I don't see any reason to believe that the 8-4ish train derails in the next couple years.
 


Appreciate that Fry passed along what he heard, but hard to believe something wasn't lost in translation (at the very least).

May as well float that mystery candidate name for us now.
 


I think recruiting had an uptick this year. Granted with the NIL, you never know, but if he leaves after 2027, this class would be juniors and if they are intact and continue to develop, that doesn't leave the cupboard bare like he inherited.

We piece together an offensive line, we still have quite a few weapons on offense. The defense will have few question marks but I trust that Phil will get his squad ready. I think there is room for optimism.
 




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