Saturday's loss to Iowa State was disappointing on many different levels.
The Iowa offense failed to show up for the second consecutive game. Despite an "improved" passing attack, the Hawkeyes could only muster 83 total passing yards, bringing their season total to 127.
Coupled with the poor passing attack, starting quarterback Mark Gronowski is setting records no one ever wants to set.
In two games, Gronowski has tallied only 127 total passing yards, the worst all-time by a quarterback in their first few games, shattering the previous record of 177.
The Iowa coaching staff, led by Kirk Ferentz, is adamant that the team entered its first two games extremely prepared, but the results did not show up on Saturday.
Ferentz is on the verge of history, but should he also be on the hot seat? Here are three reasons why Kirk's job should not be as comfortable as it probably is at this stage.
Record against ranked teams
Ranked teams are in the rankings for a reason, but as a Power Five program, you cannot have a horrendous record against ranked teams and expect to be taken seriously.
After losing to No. 16 Iowa State, albeit in a close game, the Hawkeyes have fallen to 0-10 in their last 10 matchups against ranked teams.
Iowa does not have a plethora of five-star recruits, but there is no reason to have such a bad record against ranked teams.
In the new college sports landscape, with revenue-sharing programs and expanded NIL capabilities, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten, has no excuses to use its income stream to become more competitive.
Ferentz needs to adapt to the changes and start beating ranked teams more regularly if the Iowa program wants to thrive.
Iowa has become too comfortable with a winning record
You might be thinking, well isn't it the goal to have a winning record? It is, but the Iowa program has become to comfortable with sustaining their streak of winning seasons by pumping out 8-4 or 7-5 records and making a Bowl game.
The goal is always to have a winning season, but when you look closer, you want to see improvement and not just accept the program will be 8-4 every season and not win any big games or push for a playoff spot.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) continues to evolve and expand, but Iowa has been on the outside looking in during every postseason.
While it is nice to make a bowl game most seasons, it would be a step in the right direction and a positive sign for sustained future sucess if Iowa would make a push to be a CFP team.
Stop being ok with average finishes and push for a top spot in the Big Ten conference.
Failure to sign top talent through the transfer portal
Ferentz has always been a large proponent building thr program through recruitment instead of using the transfer portal.
In the new age of college football where players can freely transfer without penalty, Ferentz has yet to embrace the portal as a resource.
Iowa has plucked a few players from the portal over the years, but the players have yet to yield any significant results.
Ferentz has always wanted to recruit the players he wants and develop them, which is a fine strategy at its core, but the program needs to start using the transfer portal more effctively.
There is plenty of talent lurking in the portal every year, and Iowa ignores most of it.
Successful college football programs have the ability to use the transfer portal, while recruiting and retaining the players they want to have on the roster, so there are no reasons why Iowa cannot do both.
Iowa Hawkeye football fans are fed up with the status quo and need to be given a reason to stay on board with the current direction of the program.
While the grass is not always greener on the other side, and Ferentz's job appears to be safe for now, something must change to keep Iowa Football relevant in an ever-changing college football landscape.