The 2025 season might go down as one of the most turbulent years in recent college football history, when every Sunday seemed to claim another coach. Despite guiding the Hawkeyes to a 6-2 record, Kirk Ferentz, the 29th highest-paid coach in the country at $7.175 million, admits that even steady hands aren’t immune to the tension. Especially as massive contracts like James Franklin’s $72.7 million buyout dominate headlines. For Ferentz, the pressure extends beyond himself; he is now concerned about his family’s future in the profession.

On the November 6th episode of The Rich Eisen Show , the Iowa head coach said, “I’ve got three kids in the profession, and I worry about that. Three of my sons are all coaching, and I do worry about that. Obviously, you know NIL and revenue share, all

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