Can't Wait For Saturday Friendly schedule should pay off for Big Ten's all-time winningest coach
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Jul. 21—
Once again, I will represent the state of Illinois on The Associated Press AP Top 25 panel. It is an honor and one of my favorite parts of the job I have been doing for 38 years.
Of course, some of you won't like how I rank the teams each week and that's cool. We are all entitled to our opinions. I will take any criticism you want to deliver. If you make a convincing argument, I will change my mind.
The poll starts with a preseason Top 25 that will be released Aug. 17. To get the poll talk going, I'm going to use this space over the next month and a half to count down my Top 40.
Why 40? Because that is number of teams I usually track closely during the year, give or take a team or two.
Who is unveiled today …
— The gentleman with the big whistle. one Kirk Ferentz, has more wins (221) than any coach in Big Ten history. More than Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes and Hayden Fry, the guy he replaced in Iowa City.
Ferentz turns 71 and definitely does not look his age. Maybe coaching football is good for you.
Well-respected nationally and mostly beloved in Iowa, Ferentz has been the dean of FBS coaches for almost 10 years.
Ferentz got off to a rough start at Iowa, going 4-19 his first two seasons. Since then, he has had two losing seasons and won 10 or more games seven times. Iowa seems to be in no rush to see him ride off into the sunset.
— Defensive coordinator Phil Parker is one of the all-time great assistant coaches. He makes more than $2 million annually and is worth every dime. Many have wondered why he hasn't been pulled away for a head coaching position but he seems content with helping the Hawkeyes win big every year. With only three starters back from a stellar unit, he has a major rebuild on his hands.
— Yes, Iowa lost three starters on the offensive line, but the two who return are stars: center Kade Pieper and tackle Trevor Lauck.
Oct. 3 vs. Ohio State. Hard to believe, but it has been nine years since the Buckeyes last visited Kinnick Stadium, And that one didn't go well for Ohio State, which got blown out in 2017. It is the only matchup for Iowa against the Big Ten's Big Three. Indiana and Oregon are off the schedule.
25. Tennessee, SEC
26. Boise State, Pac-12
27. TCU, Big 12
28. Clemson, ACC
29. Florida, SEC
30. Illinois, Big Ten
31. South Carolina, SEC
32. Arizona, Big 12
33. Virginia Tech, ACC
34. Auburn, SEC
35. Kansaas State, Big 12
36. Georgia Tech, ACC
37. Pitt, ACC
38. Arizona State, Big 12
39. Virginia, ACC
40. UCLA, Big Ten
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