Kirk Ferentz, the longest‑tenured head coach in Division I football, has once again found himself among the conversation’s elite, landing at No. 20 on CBS Sports’ 2026 Power Four coach rankings.
A career defined by endurance
Over nearly three decades at the helm of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Ferentz has cultivated a reputation for consistency, guiding his team to at least eight wins in every season since 2015, a streak that endured even during the pandemic‑shortened 2020 campaign.
His defensive units have long been praised for discipline and effectiveness, often ranking among the nation’s best, while the offense has shown marked improvement in recent seasons, reflecting a willingness to adapt his play‑calling.
Ferentz also holds the distinction of being the all‑time winningest head coach in Big Ten history, a testament to his sustained success, and he currently sits seventh among conference coaches on the CBS list, behind names such as Curt Cignetti, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Kyle Whittingham, Matt Campbell and Lincoln Riley.
Tom Fornelli, the analyst behind the rankings, highlighted that Ferentz’s ability to achieve sustained competitiveness despite resource constraints continues to earn admiration across the college football landscape.