All eyes have been on the Iowa Hawkeyes and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz this season. There is a stipulation in his contract that he needs to average 25 points per game in order to be retained following the season.
Some have called this “The Drive to 325”. No matter what you call it, this stipulation could put an end to nepotism within the Hawkeyes program and force his father, Kirk, to fire his son at the season’s end.
2023 Results:
| Opponent | Points |
| Utah State | 24 |
| Iowa State | 20 |
| Western Michigan | 41 |
| Penn State | 0 |
| Michigan State | 26 |
| Purdue | 20 |
| Wisconsin | 15 |
The first seven games of the season put the average at 20.9, which ranks No. 115 of 133 teams in FBS. Right on pace with last year’s team that finished No. 123 at 17.7 points per game.
Remaining Schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| Oct. 21 | vs Minnesota |
| Nov. 4 | vs Northwestern (Wrigley Field) |
| Nov. 11 | vs Rutgers |
| Nov. 18 | vs Illinois |
| Nov. 24 | at Nebraska |
Based on the number of points already scored this season, the team needs to average 30 points per game the rest of the way to achieve the mark of 325 total points. The loss of Cade McNamara was a tough blow but they weren’t exactly lighting it up with him either.
The other stipulation in Brian Ferentz’s contract was to win seven games and with a record of 6-1, that seems like a foregone conclusion at this point. The remaining schedule isn’t exactly murderer’s row.
The Hawkeyes currently have the inside track to advance to the Big Ten title game out of the West Division. Wisconsin, the team they just beat, was right on their heels but Iowa now holds the tie-breaker.
Iowa would face Michigan, Ohio State, or Penn State in the Big Ten championship game. Those teams are a combined 19-0 and 10-0 in conference play. Ohio State and Penn State will headline Week 8 in college football.