BIG roster payroll ranking

Hawkangler

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
1,959
4,362
113
Iowa definitely punches above their weight class, that's for sure. Makes you appreciate the culture that Kirk has instilled in the program, carrying on Coach Fry's scrappy, winning culture and evolving it into a rock solid consistent program.
Kirk and company have been successful for years without the pay-for-play dollars or the geographical advantages of population, weather and football prospects.

They do more with less and are one heck of a developmental program.
 

paednoch23

All-Conference
Oct 23, 2009
470
1,055
93
Kirk and company have been successful for years without the pay-for-play dollars or the geographical advantages of population, weather and football prospects.

They do more with less and are one heck of a developmental program.
What is your definition of success?
 

Palmerhawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,133
4,245
113
Looked at a site called NIL- NCAA.
They had oregon at 28 million in nil for FB with Iowa at 8 million.
Iowa is in the bottom 5 tier for nil.
Not an even playing field for Iowa vs,mich,OSU,oregon,wash,usc,psu ect.

This years schedule we will be nil underdogs to Michigan,OSU,wash,wis.,neb,illinois, but favorites vs NW, Purdue,minny.

Could be a long year.
Our operating net last year was a - 36 million
That was the 5th smallest deficit.
Everyone in the BIG took operating losses last year.
So .much for the schools reaping " billions" ....the athletes are the only ones making money...jeremiah smith of OSU is at 4.2 million

This is unsustainable.
 
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Reactions: Torgeroni

HawksRule73

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
648
1,757
93
What is your definition of success?
Success as it relates to player development - Multiple consensus all americans. I think we are 1 of 1 when it comes to consecutive years of multiple consensus all americans. When you couple that with the fact that the majority of the players we get are 3 star, that's wildly successful. NFL draft picks. KF has had over 100 in his tenure. Also wildly successful.

Success as it relates to W's and L's - we are in pretty select company when it comes to P4 teams with consecutive seasons of 8 or more wins. I think it's us, OSU, Georgia, and Alabama. I'd say that's wildly successful as well. Again, especially considering recruiting, geographic location, population, etc.

The one thing missing from our resume, of course, is a playoff appearance. I'd like to think that's coming in the next couple of years.
 

paednoch23

All-Conference
Oct 23, 2009
470
1,055
93
Success as it relates to player development - Multiple consensus all americans. I think we are 1 of 1 when it comes to consecutive years of multiple consensus all americans. When you couple that with the fact that the majority of the players we get are 3 star, that's wildly successful. NFL draft picks. KF has had over 100 in his tenure. Also wildly successful.

Success as it relates to W's and L's - we are in pretty select company when it comes to P4 teams with consecutive seasons of 8 or more wins. I think it's us, OSU, Georgia, and Alabama. I'd say that's wildly successful as well. Again, especially considering recruiting, geographic location, population, etc.

The one thing missing from our resume, of course, is a playoff appearance. I'd like to think that's coming in the next couple of years.
Success to me means winning as many games as possible. KF is 8-4 on average at Iowa.
 

paednoch23

All-Conference
Oct 23, 2009
470
1,055
93
That's a win % of 67%. Do you know how many P4 teams have a better winning % over that span of time?
The “P4” is basically a P2 now. And remind me: how many of those supposedly inferior P2 programs have made the playoff?
Iowa: 0.
Eight wins and a nice bowl game every year isn’t success. It’s reruns. Same movie, same ending—just a different December.
 

Burghawk87

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2023
817
1,448
93
The “P4” is basically a P2 now. And remind me: how many of those supposedly inferior P2 programs have made the playoff?
Iowa: 0.
Eight wins and a nice bowl game every year isn’t success. It’s reruns. Same movie, same ending—just a different December.
And? Outside of Indiana the last 2 seasons, what other schools have risen up to change the status quo? Talking Heads, take it from here...
 

Burghawk87

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2023
817
1,448
93
Ole Miss? Texas Tech? Miami?
Ole miss and Texas tech qualified this past season for their first playoffs, Miami is an old coke fueled champion. I wouldn't say any of them have changed anything about the perennial top teams. With the expanded playoffs I think Iowa makes one before Kirk leaves.
 

Hawkeye1984

Senior
Jul 29, 2022
438
816
93
Anyone expecting the offense to suddenly look different this year probably hasn’t been watching Kirkball for the last 27 years. The philosophy has always been pretty simple: control the ball, limit mistakes, win field position, and let the defense and special teams do the heavy lifting. It’s not flashy, and it never will be.

The problem is that this style only works when you have an elite defense, a serviceable defensive line, and special teams that consistently tilt the field in your favor. I’m not convinced we have all of those pieces this year.

Call me pessimistic, but with this many question marks, I think 7–5 is the ceiling. I see losses to Michigan, Ohio State, Washington, Illinois, and then one more somewhere along the way, likely Minnesota or another toss-up game. Until proven otherwise, expecting Kirkball to suddenly become something it hasn’t been for nearly three decades feels like wishful thinking (Tim Lester, Brian Ferentz or Ken O’Keefe it doesn’t matter the philosophy is the same).
 
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