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Kirk Ferentz sets Big Ten football bowl wins record vs. Vanderbilt
Kirk Ferentz has always been a study in Midwestern consistency, a coach whose tenure at the University of Iowa has been defined by a stubborn, grinding brand of football that often defies the flashier trends of the modern game. So, it was fitting that his record-setting moment arrived not with a seismic upset, but with a hard-nosed, 34-27 ReliaQuest Bowl victory over a gritty Vanderbilt squad.With that win, Ferentz notched his 11th postseason triumph at Iowa, officially passing the legendary Joe Paterno of Penn State to stand alone as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in bowl victories. The statistic is a monumental one, a testament to longevity and sustained competence in an era of coaching carousels and instant gratification.Paterno’s shadow looms large over college football history, his 10 bowl wins accumulated over a storied 46-year reign in Happy Valley. For Ferentz, now in his 27th season in Iowa City, to eclipse that mark speaks to a career built not on fleeting national championships, but on a relentless, decade-spanning project of building and re-building a program in his own image.The analytics of his success are compelling: 11 bowl wins out of 21 appearances, a. 524 postseason winning percentage that underscores his team’s preparedness when the calendar turns to December or January.This victory was particularly sweet as it snapped a 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents dating back to 2021, proving his Hawkeyes could still punch above their weight class. Ferentz’s post-game comments were classic Kirk, deflecting individual praise to highlight the significance of the bowl experience itself and the resilience of his senior class.'This is exactly why bowl games are significant and important,' he stated, framing the event as a reward and a final test for a group of 27 seniors who had endured their share of tough losses. His praise for Vanderbilt was effusive, acknowledging the Commodores’ competitive fire, which only made the record-breaking win feel more earned.The broader context here is the evolving landscape of Big Ten football, where Ferentz now stands as a bulwark of tradition. While other programs chase offensive revolution with spread schemes and high-flying quarterbacks, Iowa under Ferentz has doubled down on defense, special teams, and field position—a formula that, while sometimes maligned, has produced remarkable consistency.His announced return for the 2026 season suggests this record is merely a milestone, not a finale. The potential to add to this tally looms, posing the question of how high the bar can be set for future Big Ten coaches.Expert commentary would likely point to the sheer difficulty of maintaining a program at a consistent bowl level for nearly three decades, especially at a school without the inherent recruiting advantages of an Ohio State or Michigan. Ferentz’s achievement is less about a single magical season and more about the compound interest of good, solid football year after year.
#Kirk Ferentz
#Iowa Hawkeyes
#ReliaQuest Bowl
#Big Ten record
#bowl wins
#Vanderbilt
#college football
#featured
