It's the penultimate rankings for the 2023 season and that means it's time to look at those teams that had excellent seasons but couldn't crack the top 25. Surprisingly, four teams will need a new head coach. Wyoming and New Mexico State had their coaches retire, while Duke and Oregon State had their coaches snatched by bigger fish. Also surprising, at least to me, were six teams that overperformed in 2023. Based on my expectations, James Madison was plus seven in the win column, while UNLV and West Virginia were +6, Northwestern was +5, and Texas State and Jacksonville State were +4. Here's a full list and where one of those teams falls right away.
50. Texas State (8-5, 87.6 WAA, 51 LAA)
The Bobcats picked up their first bowl win in school history.
Preseason Rank: 124
Prediction: 3-9
Best Player: TJ Finley-QB (279-414, 3,439 yards*, 24 TD, 8 INT, 5 Rush TD) *5th in Sun Belt
Season Recap: The Texas State Bobcat offense was humming in 2023. Averaging more than 450 yards per game (best in the Sun Belt), they had the conference's fifth-best passer (TJ Finley), an Auburn transfer, and third-best running back (Ismail Mahdi), who ran for over 1,300 yards. They even had Ben Bell, whose 10 sacks were tied for third-best. They scored at least 42 points in six of their games this season, including their season opener to upset Baylor in Waco. They also managed to score 77 (against an FCS school) and then give up 77 (Arkansas State). They ended the regular season with a 52-44 win over South Alabama to earn a trip to the First Responders Bowl against Rice. Texas State was not interested in Rice achieving a winning season for the first time since 2014 and dropped the Owls 45-21 in G.J. Kinne's first season as the Bobcats head coach.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2022
49. Coastal Carolina (8-5, 83.1, 40.8)
Tim Beck got a bowl win in Hawaii in his first season at Coastal Carolina.
Preseason Rank: 27
Prediction: 9-3
Best Player: Sam Pinckney-WR (72 receptions, 1,027 yards*, 8 TD) *4th in Sun Belt
Season Recap: Tim Beck had a tough task replacing Jamey Chadwell as the head coach of the Chanticleers. He didn't get them back to the Sun Belt title but did get them to a winning season and a bowl game. Not only that, but he got to do it in Hawaii. Things were rough in the early going as Coastal actually had a .500 record halfway through the season. They rattled off five straight before losing, surprisingly, to Army and then James Madison, which cost them their shot at the title game. Instead, they settled for a 24-14 win over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl to make it four straight seasons of at least 8 wins.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2019
48. USC (8-5, 77.8, 24.8)
The Trojans didn't even need Heisman winner Caleb Williams for their Holiday Bowl win.
Preseason Rank: 10
Prediction: 10-2
Best Player: Caleb Williams-QB (266-388, 3,633 yards*, 30 TD, 5 INT, 11 Rush TD) *4th in Pac-12
Season Recap: The Trojans were a bit of a disappointment considering that they had the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in Caleb Williams. He wasn't the issue, instead, it was the defense that was the lightning rod for criticism. They went on a six-game stretch where they allowed 34 points or more, yet somehow went 3-3 thanks to Williams and the offense. They piled up too many losses to return to the Pac-12 Championship, so they settled for the Holiday Bowl instead. Williams opted out of the bowl and Miller Moss took over in a big way. He ended up throwing for 372 yards and a Holiday Bowl-record 6 touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a 42-28 win over Louisville. USC will now get ready for long plane rides and colder weather as they join the Big Ten in 2024.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2021
47. Northwestern (8-5, 76.3, 43.4)
David Braun seemingly did the impossible in his first year at Northwestern.
Preseason Rank: 106
Prediction: 2-10
Best Player: Xander Mueller-LB (110 tackles*, 55 solo, 5 sacks, FF, 3 INT) *4th in Big Ten
Season Recap: The season began with a hazing scandal that cost Pat Fitzgerald, the school's winningest coach, his job after 17 seasons. The Wildcats were also coming off a 1-win season and had UC/EMU/UC transfer Ben Bryant as their QB. The season looked bleak. It took them six weeks but they were able to beat my prediction for them, despite nearly losing to Howard (FCS). Then they beat Maryland for a fourth, and after a setback against Iowa, the Wildcats ended up winning three straight to guarantee a winning season, their first since 2020. Northwestern earned a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl against the Utah Utes and was able to win a defensive battle to pick up a 14-7 victory to defend the Big Ten's honor. David Braun was rewarded for his success during his interim coaching role and he was officially named the new head coach.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2022
46. Duke (8-5, 74.4, 38.6)
Duke's defense helped lock down Troy in the Birmingham Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 24
Prediction: 8-4
Best Player: Tre Freeman-LB (106 tackles*, 55 solo, 1.5 sacks, FF, INT)
Season Recap: The Blue Devils had high expectations and got everyone excited with an opening-week win over No.9 Clemson. They jumped out to a 4-0 start but hit a rough patch with three losses in four games against ranked opponents. The big blow came when QB Riley Leonard injured his leg against Louisville in the third of those three losses and was lost for the remainder of the season. In their final four games, the Blue Devils went 2-2. Before they made it to their bowl game, Leonard announced he was leaving for Notre Dame and head coach Mike Elko, who left for Texas A&M after just two seasons. He went 17-9 in those two years and will be replaced by Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. As for their bowl game, they drew a tough task in Troy, who brought one of the top rushers and had just won the Sun Belt Championship. However, an illness left them without their top two QBs and the Blue Devils defense swarmed the Trojans for a 17-10 win.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2021
45. Utah (8-5, 68.9, 27.8)
The Utes were the Iowa of the Pac-12 when it came to offense.
Preseason Rank: 18
Prediction: 9-3
Best Player: Jonah Elliss-DE (37 tackles, 12 sacks*, FF) *2nd in Pac-12
Season Recap: The Utes desperately missed QB Cam Rising, who ended up missing the whole season after suffering an injury in last year's Rose Bowl. Utah's offense was never the same, though they did open the season with a win over Florida. They would hit a rough patch at the end of the season losing 3 of their final 5 games, as they still managed to own USC, but had no answer for the top three schools, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon. They earned a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl against the surprise Northwestern Wildcats. The Utes only accumulated 211 yards and turned the ball over three times in their 14-7 loss. Now they will join the Big 12 in 2024.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
44. Oregon State (8-5, 65.3, 23.2)
QB D.J. Uiagalelei and coach Jonathan Smith are seen likely discussing their plans to leave Corvallis.
Preseason Rank: 15
Prediction: 7-5
Best Player: Damien Martinez-RB (194 carries, 1,185 yards*, 9 TD) *3rd in Pac-12
Season Recap: The Beavers came in with high expectations and then found themselves as one of two teams not invited to the mass exodus. This left Oregon State with a chip on its shoulder and they played like it in the early going jumping out to an 8-2 start. They had a chance to really show the Pac-12 fleers what they really thought and nearly did so in a 22-20 loss to Washington. In their final match-up as Pac-12 foes, the Oregon Ducks rolled past the Bevers easily. To make matters worse, head coach Jonathan Smith was hired away by the Big Ten as well (Michigan State), and starting QB D.J. Uiagalelei announced he was transferring for the third time. This mess left them helpless against Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl as the Irish exorcised their Oregon State bowl demon with a 40-8 win. The Beavers will be very similar to the Irish in the fact that they won't truly have a conference but will play their games predominately against one conference. Oregon State and Washington State will play each other and then eight games against Mountain West schools but they will not be eligible for the conference championship.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
43. UCLA (8-5, 63.9, 56.6)
The Bruins rallied to win the L.A. Bowl despite missing some key pieces.
Preseason Rank: 21
Prediction: 8-4
Best Player: Laiatu Latu-DL (49 tackles, 13 sacks*, 2 FF, 2 INT) *4th in FBS
Season Recap: The Bruins were rolling into bowl season on a bad note. After getting to six wins the Bruins could only defeat USC in their final four games as they suffered bad losses to Arizona State and Cal. UCLA also didn't look like much of a factor in their bowl game as QB Dante Moore announced he was transferring to Oregon and DL Laiatu Latu announced he was going to the NFL Draft. Luckily, Ethan Garbers had still been lingering on the bench and was able to lead the Bruins to a comeback win over the Boise State Broncos in the L.A. Bowl. Like USC, they will be joining the Big Ten in 2024.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2021
42. UNC (8-5, 60, 63.4)
Drake Maye (10) led the Tar Heels to another underwhelming season.
Preseason Rank: 23
Prediction: 9-3
Best Player: Omarion Hampton-RB (253 carries, 1,504 yards*, 15 total TD) *5th in FBS
Season Recap: With Omarion Hampton running wild and Drake Maye throwing the pigskin around the field, the Tar Heels were poised for a big run in the ACC. Maye and Hampton both led the conference in passing and rushing respectively, so they did their part, but the defense was a nightmare. UNC allowed 30 points or more in eight of their contests and needed double overtime to beat Appalachian State and a Duke team without Riley Leonard. Maye sat out the bowl game to focus on the draft which greatly hampered the offense. West Virginia took it to the Tar Heels in the Duke's Mayo Bowl to win 30-10.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2018
41. UNLV (9-5, 88.2, 35.2)
Barry Odom did wonders in his first season at UNLV.
Preseason Rank: 114
Prediction: 3-9
Best Player: Ricky White-WR (88 receptions, 1,483 yards*, 8 TD) *3rd in FBS
Season Recap: Barry Odom grabbed everyone's attention when he got the Rebels bowl-eligible in just seven weeks. UNLV's lone loss came at Michigan and they even had a win over an SEC team (ok it was Vanderbilt). They picked up three more conference wins and were a lock to make the Mountain West Championship, something they had never done, if they won their final game. Instead, they lost to San Jose State, and Boise State joined them and the Spartans in a three-way tie. The conference placed UNLV and Boise State in the championship, and the experience mattered. The Broncos had appeared in last year's championship and had won three previous conference titles. They cruised to a 44-20 win and sent UNLV to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Kansas. Freshman QB Jayden Maiava had a nice game with three touchdowns, but Kansas got six from their quarterback to win 49-36. It's still great for UNLV to find some momentum, and Maiava will have Ricky White after White announced he was returning for his Senior year. It was the first time they reached eight wins since 2000 and the most since they won 11 in 1984.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2022
40. Appalachian State (9-5, 71.1, 55)
Appalachian State survived Miami and the rain to win a sloppy Cure Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 80
Prediction: 7-5
Best Player: Joey Aguilar-QB (293-460, 3,757 yards*, 33 TD, 10 INT, 3 Rush TD) *2nd in Sun Belt
Season Recap: The Mountaineers had a crazy first half of the season as they nearly stunned North Carolina in double overtime, nearly lost to Louisiana Monroe, and then lost three of four to sit at 3-4. Something clicked and App State rattled off five consecutive victories, including an overtime win to end James Madison's perfect season. That earned them a trip back to the Sun Belt Championship where they faced off against Troy. The Trojans took it to the Mountaineers to claim the win but the season wasn't over because they had a date with Miami (OH) in the Cure Bowl. If you loved fumbles, this game featured 13, though only six were lost. The rain altered both teams' gameplans, and it was App State who was able to slog to a 13-9 victory.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2022
39. New Mexico State (10-5, 94.1, 73.6)
Jerry Kill led the Aggies to one of the biggest shockers in 2023 when they shellacked Auburn.
Preseason Rank: 98
Prediction: 8-5
Best Player: Diego Pavia-QB (221-366, 2,973 yards*, 26 TD, 9 INT, 177 carries, 928 yards*, 7 TD)* 3rd in CUSA
Season Recap: What a wild and wacky year for the Aggies in 2023. They began the year 2-3, including a week 1 loss to UMass. Then they closed out the regular season on an 8-game winning streak which featured a beatdown of Auburn at Jordan Hare. That win streak earned them a trip to the CUSA Championship in their first season. The Aggies haven't been in a conference since they were booted from the Sun Belt at the end of the 2017 season. There they faced a fellow CUSA newbie in Liberty, but they were not able to avenge their loss to Liberty. They did make it to back-to-back bowls in Jerry Kill's first two seasons. They were placed in the New Mexico Bowl against Fresno State, but based on Kill's comments, they were not welcomed by their host, the New Mexico Lobos, whose field the game is played on. The Bulldogs won the game easily, and Kill insisted that it was because they were not made comfortable by their instate rival as retaliation for an incident when Pavia urinated on the New Mexico field during the summer. Kill then said that he didn't care how people felt and that he could "...go down to Mexico tomorrow. Drink margaritas and let you enjoy your life..." He then announced a week later that he was stepping down from the head coaching role and Tony Sanchez, the former UNLV head coach, would be taking over. Under Kill, the Aggies were 17-11.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2021
38. Jacksonville State (9-4, 100.4, 47.5)
Forget James Madison, the Gamecocks won a bowl game in their first season in the FBS.
Preseason Rank: 131
Prediction: 5-7
Best Player: Malik Jackson-RB (146 carries, 897 yards*, 7 TD) *4th in CUSA
Season Recap: The Gamecocks transition to the FBS was overshadowed by James Madison's dominance of the Sun Belt, but they were no slouches in their first season. Jacksonville State, led by Rich Rodriguez, jumped out to a 5-1 start and eventually picked up eight wins in their first FBS season. In a normal season, the Gamecocks would not have been bowl-eligible, but with three spots still available, the NCAA granted waivers for JVST and JMU. The Gamecocks earned a trip to the R+L Carriers Bowl which was essentially a home game for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Jville State tried to give the game away thanks to three turnovers that were returned for touchdowns. Fortunately for Rodriguez and company, the Gamecocks were able to win in overtime for their first-ever bowl win.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2022
37. UTSA (9-4, 95.7, 61)
UTSA nabbed a comeback win in the Frisco Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 17
Prediction: 10-2
Best Player: Trey Moore-LB (45 tackles, 14 sacks*, FF, FR, INT) *3rd in FBS
Season Recap: The Roadrunners also joined a new conference in 2023 as they moved from CUSA to the AAC where things were a little more difficult to navigate. Despite having super Senior Frank Harris at quarterback, UTSA stumbled out to a 1-3 start. They were finally able to put things together with seven straight wins to force a defacto semi-final matchup for the AAC Championship with Tulane in the final week, with the winner facing SMU. The Green Wave was able to hold on thanks to 5 UTSA turnovers. They still earned a trip to the Frisco Bowl against Marshall, but Harris was not able to play in his final game. UTSA found themselves down early but rallied past the Thundering Herd, 35-17.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2019
36. Air Force (9-4, 87.3, 78.5)
Air Force kept James Madison from winning a bowl on its first try.
Preseason Rank: 31
Prediction: 10-2
Best Player: Emmanuel Michel-RB (204 carries, 950 yards, 11 TD)
Season Recap: The Falcons rolled out to an 8-0 start that included a win over Navy, but they soon lost to Army to snap their winning ways. Then, QB Zac Larrier was injured in a loss to Hawaii to blemish their Mountain West record and finally, they dropped four straight to miss their shot at the Mountain West Championship. Larrier returned for their bowl game against James Madison and the Falcons ran all over the depleted Dukes, 31-21, to win the Armed Forces Bowl.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
35. West Virginian (9-4, 86.4, 40.8)
Neal Brown immediately regretted winning the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 83
Prediction: 2-10
Best Player: Garrett Greene-QB (147-278, 2,406 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT)
Season Recap: A beatdown by Penn State was expected in the opener, but the Mountaineers immediately exceeded my expectations by winning their next four. They kept winning and picked up four more wins in the Big 12 for their best finish since 2018. The Mountaineers earned a trip to the Duke's Mayo Bowl and bathed in a glorious 30-10 win over UNC.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2022
34. Tennessee (9-4, 85.7, 30.5)
Tennessee was the perfect fit to win the Cheez-It Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 8
Prediction: 9-3
Best Player: Jaylen Wright-RB (137 carries, 1,013 yards*, 4 TD) *5th in SEC
Season Recap: The Tennessee season went about as I expected it to go. They beat almost all the teams that they should have and lost the games they were supposed to (Alabama and Georgia). They also added losses to Florida and the surprise Missouri Tigers but they were still well above a .500 record. They were fortunate to get the offensively inept Iowa Hawkeyes in the Cheez-It Bowl to coast to a 35-0 win. That was even without QB Joe Milton, who declared for the NFL Draft.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
33. Fresno State (9-4, 82.4, 84.8)
Tim Skipper filled in nicely for Jeff Tedford in the New Mexico Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 36
Prediction: 9-3
Best Player: Mikey Keene-QB (283-422, 2,976 yards*, 24 TD, 10 INT) *4th in MWC
Season Recap: Like Air Force, the Bulldogs got out to a fast start and looked poised to win the Mountain West. They beat Purdue and Arizona State for Power 5 wins, but they also nearly lost to Eastern Washington (FCS) in double overtime. Still, they managed an 8-1 start before unraveling against San Jose State and inexcusable losses to New Mexico and San Diego State. They settled for the New Mexico Bowl and it was announced that head coach Jeff Tedford would not be making the trip as he was, once again, dealing with health issues. Tim Skipper filled in and delivered a 37-10 win over New Mexico State thanks to Mikey Keene's 380 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
32. Wyoming (9-4, 75.7, 35.5)
A late field goal sent Craig Bohl out a winner in the Arizona Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 73
Prediction: 7-5
Best Player: Easton Gibbs-LB (109 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FF, FR, INT)
Season Recap: The Cowboys made a big statement with a win over Texas Tech in the opener and then were tied at ten heading into the fourth quarter against Texas. The Longhorns dropped 21 in the fourth quarter to win but they followed it up with a tough win against Appalachian State. They would eliminate themselves from conference championship talk after losses to Air Force, Boise State, and UNLV, who all sat ahead of them. They wound up being placed in the Arizona Bowl for the second year in a row and looked to avoid a last-second loss to a MAC school (Ohio) like they did in 2022. Longtime coach Craig Bohl announced he was retiring after 10 years with the team and sat at a record of 60-60. The Cowboys trailed late in the fourth quarter but this year they were the ones to spoil the party and kicked a game-winning field goal to knock off Toledo 16-15. That gave Bohl a winning record at Wyoming, a stint that followed three-straight FCS National Championships at North Dakota State. In 2024, defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel will be promoted to head coach for the Cowboys.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
31. NCST (9-4, 70.4, 26.5)
Dave Doeren is not a fan of anyone, especially Steve Smith, calling NCST a basketball school.
Preseason Rank: 33
Prediction: 7-5
Best Player: Payton Wilson-LB (138 tackles*, 69 solo, 6 sacks, FF, 2 FR, 3 INT, TD) *Led ACC
Season Recap: The Wolfpack were wavering at the beginning of the season getting out to a 4-3 start before their bye week. Out of the bye week, they gave their most impressive performance of the season with a 24-17 win over Clemson. That started a five-game winning streak for NCST as they headed into bowl season. They got a chance to eat a live mascot but instead fell short to Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, 28-19.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2019
30. Kansas (9-4, 68.5, 43)
Jason Bean accounted for 6 TD in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Preseason Rank: 65
Prediction: 7-5
Best Player: Devin Neal-RB (203 carries, 1,280 yards, 17 total TD)
Season Recap: It only took the Jayhawks eight games to become bowl-eligible and they got their sixth win in the sweetest fashion possible. They sent Oklahoma off into the SEC with a loss in their final meeting as conference foes. After that big win, they had a sort of letdown, going 2-2 down the stretch. They met the surprise UNLV Rebels in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl but even more surprising was the 6 touchdown performance by the Jayhawks QB, Jason Bean. Bean's performance was good enough to give Kansas a 49-36 victory.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2021
29. Kansas State (9-4, 59.9, 38.3)
The Pop-Tarts
Bowl Mascot serves himself as a gift to Kansas State after defeating NCST.Preseason Rank: 16
Prediction: 10-2
Best Player: DJ Giddens-RB (223 carries, 1,226 yards, 13 total TD)
Season Recap: The Wildcats were 21 points away from being undefeated. That's how many points they lost in their four games to very competitive teams in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State. Their last loss to Iowa State was a snowy shootout that ended up being Will Howard's last game as QB for Kansas State as he will be playing for Ohio State in 2024. Without their QB, it was no issue in the Pop-Tarts Bowl as they first defeated NCST, and then relished in the tasty insides of the Pop-Tart mascot. What a time to be alive!
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
28. Clemson (9-4, 56.1, 34)
The Tigers survived a Gator Bowl scare from Kentucky.
Preseason Rank: 11
Prediction: 11-1
Best Player: Cade Klubnik-QB (290-454, 2,844 yards, 19 TD, 9 INT, 4 Rush TD)
Season Recap: The Clemson Tigers were kicked early when they lost to Duke in Week 1 and then a few weeks later were touchdown shy of beating Florida State in overtime. A loss to Miami and NCST in back-to-back weeks had people giving Dabo Swinney a hard time on his radio show, but the veteran coach never wavered. Instead, he led the Tigers to a win over Notre Dame, then Georgia Tech, UNC, and finally South Carolina, to avenge last year's loss to the Gamecocks. They earned a trip to the Gator Bowl where Kentucky had the advantage for most of the game, but Clemson rallied to win 38-35.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2004
27. Louisville (10-4, 76.2, 59.8)
Louisville was a surprise participant in the ACC Championship.
Preseason Rank: 35
Prediction: 8-4
Best Player: Jack Plummer-QB (256-395, 3,204 yards*, 21 TD, 12 INT) *2nd in ACC
Season Recap: The Cardinals made one of the early statement wins when they knocked off Notre Dame to begin the season 5-0. They followed that with a head-scratching loss to Pitt the next week. Then it was back to winning with four consecutive before being thumped in the Governor's Cup game by Kentucky. Another thumping came in the ACC Championship, their first-ever appearance, this time by a Florida State team without Jordan Travis. They were favored in the Holiday Bowl against USC, but the Trojans threw the ball at will to coast to a 42-28 victory over the Cardinals. It was the Cardinals' first 10-win season since Teddy Bridgewater led UL to a 12-1 season in 2013. Head Coach Jeff Brohm was also part of a 10-win Louisville squad when he was the backup QB on the 1990 roster, a team coached by the legendary Howard Schnellenberger.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
26. Iowa (10-4, 74.1, 33.3)
Iowa used a backup kicker to hit a game-winner and secure their 10th win.
Preseason Rank: 25
Prediction: 9-3
Best Player: Jay Higgins-LB (171 tackles*, 79 solo, 2 sacks, FF, 2 FR, INT) *Led the FBS
Season Recap: The Iowa Hawkeyes offense was so offensive that Tory Taylor ran away with the Ray Guy Award for best punter. Taylor had 93 punts for a total of 4,479 yards (that's an NCAA Record) to average 319 yards per game. The Iowa offense averaged 235 yards, which was good for dead last in the Big Ten. Yet, they were able to get by thanks to a defense that yielded only 13.2 points placing them third behind Ohio State and Michigan. They scored 20 points or fewer in 10 games and went 6-4. That stretch was good enough for them the last version of the Big Ten West and they were rewarded with a 26-0 defeat by Michigan. Still, they earned a trip to the Cheez-It Bowl where they promptly scored 0 points in a 35-0 rout by Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz was fired. It'll be interesting to see how Iowa does with four new teams joining the Big Ten and the divisions disappearing to eliminate the softer schedule. What is certainly admirable is how Kirk Ferentz since 1999 has just four losing seasons. In his previous job, he had losing seasons all three years while at Maine. He needs just 4 wins in 2024 to reach 200 at Iowa.
Last Time They Didn't Go Bowling: 2020
