A heated debate among Iowa football fans is how to measure the success of Kirk Ferentz and the program.
The Hawkeyes haven't had a losing season since 2012 and have won five bowl games during that span, the most recent against Vanderbilt last season. As the 2026-2027 season approaches quickly, fans are still torn on Ferentz's overall tenure, pointing out that while the program has been extremely consistent and sends multiple players to the NFL every year, they haven't won the big games. Now, that argument has been thrust into the spotlight again as the Hawkeyes earned a unique honor that they definitely don't want.
Iowa was named as one of the best overall programs to never win a National Championship
Sometimes, you need the right coach and the perfect mix of players who are playing their best football at the right time to make a push for the National Championship. Indiana and Curt Cignetti proved that with an improbable two-year run in which they made the College Football Playoff in his first season (2024) and won it all last season (2025). After decades of mediocre football, Indiana has become a football powerhouse in a short time, and that begs the question: why not Iowa?
The Hawkeyes have been consistently good, but not good enough to make the College Football Playoff, let alone contend for a National Championship. Kirk Ferentz is the current wins leader among all active CFB coaches, and with multiple talented players on the roster each season, it is odd that they haven't notched one or both of those rare achievements during his tenure. The Hawkeyes have always been on the outside looking in, and have now been given a distinction you don't want to have.
What is the best CFB program that hasn’t won a national title?@AntonioCMorales crunched some numbers and came up with a list. pic.twitter.com/rkNwXglplU
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 21, 2026
The Athletic's Antonio Morales named Iowa the No. 7 best overall program that has never won a National Championship, behind three fellow Big Ten programs in Oregon, UCLA, and Wisconsin. Good, not great, has been used to describe Iowa's success, and that is extremely apparent with this list. Iowa fans love their team and have no delusions about contending for a National Championship every season, but some are growing restless with the lack of meaningful results. While it's great that the program has had a losing season in over a decade and still gives us players to watch on Sundays, not even making a CFP is a glaring hole on Ferentz's resume.
Forget winning a National Championship for the moment; Iowa hasn't even made the CFP, which must be addressed. We all know Ferentz will say he is much more focused on developing good men and sending them to the NFL than on winning national championships, but it would go a long way if the program could at least make the CFP bracket.
Iowa's early Big Ten Schedule could make or break their CFP hopes
For Iowa to get off this list, it has to start by making the CFP field, which won't be easy this season, given the early gauntlet it faces. Schedulers did them zero favors by scheduling five consecutive tough games at the start of conference play, including at Michigan, vs. Ohio State, and at Washington to start. If Iowa can knock off one or more of those first three teams and stay perfect for the rest of the season, we could be having a very different conversation in a few months. If Iowa falters during that early stretch, the program could easily be on the outside looking in once again.
Iowa's schedule and an expanded CFP bracket are promising factors in the program making its first CFP appeareance, but they will need multiple breaks along the way. The program traditionally plays better later in the season under Ferentz, and their schedule is significantly easier in the latter part of the season. If they can find a way to go either 10-2 or, at worst, 9-3, there is a chance they could make the field. Anything worse than that will still be a good season, but there is no chance that the CFP Committee allows a four-loss team into the field.
For now, Iowa will be stuck on this list until they can overcome their inability to make the CFP, and hopefully that will change sooner rather than later.
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