(BCSNN | UPI) -- Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, the longest‑tenured head coach in the FBS, has adapted to every era of college football — from scholarship limits to the transfer portal to NIL. But as he prepares for his 28th season leading the Hawkeyes, Ferentz issued one of his strongest warnings yet Tuesday at Big Ten media days: college sports are drifting toward a financial imbalance that could reshape the competitive landscape.
Ferentz pointed to history as a cautionary tale. “When we went to the Rose Bowl in 1981, the 13 years prior to that there were two teams that went to the Rose Bowl from the Big Ten,” he told ESPN. “Basically, everybody was lining up in August for third place. If we’re not careful, we’re going to get that kind of imbalance in college football.”
The numbers back up his concern. Multiple Big Ten general managers have been vocal in their concerns that every program in the conference to spend at least $25 million this year on roster retention and player compensation. Some believe the league’s top contenders have already surpassed $40 million.
Ferentz said the sport is tilting toward a small group of ultra‑funded programs — a trend he believes could undermine the competitive foundation of college football.
“If we’re not careful, we’re going to get back to the ’70s where there’s going to be eight, 10, 15 teams that are really well funded,” he said. “My guess is there’s going to be a little bit of a tilt in that direction to who’s going to be in the playoffs. If that’s what we want, great. But I’m not sure that’s what everybody wants.”
Ferentz supports revenue sharing and believes reform was overdue. But he said the lack of transparency around compensation — and the absence of uniform rules — has created chaos.
He contrasted the current landscape with his time in the NFL. “One thing I miss from the NFL is the salary cap, the contracts and the structure,” Ferentz said. “All 32 teams operated by the same rules, and they were enforced the same way. That’s one good thing about the NFL that I do miss — an equal chance for everybody.”
The 2025 House settlement established a revenue‑sharing cap for athletic departments, but top programs are already pushing to raise it. The proposed Protect College Sports Act could allow schools to spend an additional $20 million on roster retention — further widening the gap between the haves and have‑nots.
For Ferentz and other Big Ten coaches trying to keep pace, the escalating costs have become a daily battle.
“What we’re living with now is a byproduct of a system that got out of control a little bit,” he said. “I’m 100% for revenue sharing. Set the number, and if you can’t raise it then you can’t raise it, but at least set a consistent number.”
Ferentz noted that from 1968 to 1980, Ohio State or Michigan represented the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl every year until Iowa broke through in 1981 under Hayden Fry. For most of his tenure, Ferentz believed every program in the league had a chance to reach those heights.
Now, he’s not so sure.
“Just look at last year and who was in the playoffs,” Ferentz said. “If you can just go out and buy a team — if that’s what we want, then that’s great. But I’m not sure that’s what the majority of people want.”
