Kirk Ferentz expresses concern about direction of college football at Big Ten Media Days

INDIANAPOLIS — Physically, Kirk Ferentz wasn’t far from NCAA leadership on Tuesday.

The stages he spoke on at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis — one was in the northeast end zone and the other on the opposite side of the field — were only about a mile from the NCAA’s corporate offices.

In the time Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren made his opening statement, someone could probably walk from one place to the other.

But philosophically, especially when talking about the future of college football, he might as well be a time zone away.

“I’ve said jokingly that I don’t know how the NCAA works,” Ferentz, the Iowa coach, said. “I’m in the home city of it. After 23 years, I'm totally confused how legislation gets passed.”

It’s part of his overall concern about the direction of college football, which Ferentz was not shy about in his three media availabilities Tuesday.

“I probably wouldn't be the only person to say I'm really concerned about the path that college football is on right now and eager to see where it heads and what direction we end up taking,” Ferentz said in the formal news conference.

Ferentz’s worries stem from more than just one issue. He pointed to NIL and “free transfers” as particular areas of concern.

The longest-tenured FBS coach “conceptually” sees athletes profiting off their name, image and likeness as a “great initiative.” But he sees a danger in how it can play out with the transfer portal.

“There’s always that temptation for people to maybe consider tampering and things like that,” Ferentz said. “Not saying that happens, but I’m not saying it doesn’t happen either.”

College athletics is undergoing a “perpetual state of change,” Warren said earlier in the day.

The Big Ten already has expanded with the additions of USC and UCLA, and the four-team College Football Playoff will likely expand eventually.

Ferentz was at Iowa as an assistant coach when the Big Ten had 10 teams. Soon, it will have 16 schools, ranging geographically from Los Angeles to Piscataway, N.J.

“The clear message to me is that geography and tradition don’t mean nearly as much as some other things,” Ferentz said. “TV would probably be at the front of that list.”

Ferentz historically hasn’t been a fan of playing on the West Coast outside of bowl games.

“I thought I was” done with those games, Ferentz said.

Now, he has to be OK with it.

“That’s where we’re going, so embrace it,” Ferentz said. “Enjoy it.”

As for the size of the College Football Playoff, Ferentz’s desired number of playoff teams in a perfect world is not high.

“I think we go back to two, which is not going to happen,” Ferentz said. “There’s absolutely no chance, so you might as well expand it. At least get more people in the equation.”

How much of an expansion? “Twelve, 16, 50,” Ferentz said. “Not 50, that’s too many.”

The specific part Ferentz isn’t crazy about is the lack of relevance of teams outside CFP contention in November and December.

“Really, if you’re not in that top eight, you’re nobody,” Ferentz said. “That’s OK with me, but I think the sports world misses out on some really neat stuff about college football.”

Ferentz, who is a few days away from his 67th birthday, likely doesn’t have to deal with the long-term implications as much as some of his Big Ten peers who are earlier in their coaching careers.

“There’s really no sense worrying about it,” Ferentz said. “Probably doesn’t make much sense for somebody my age to think about UCLA and USC being one of our Big Ten rivals.”

Ferentz isn’t resistant to all the changes, though. He expressed support for an improved governance structure in the sport and has been in favor of it since “10-plus years ago.”

“Not so much removed from the NCAA, but have a separate entity, if you will, with the commissioner, enforcement and consistency,” Ferentz said. “Everybody agree on the rules. … I don't think we have that in college football. I think we'd be better if we did.”

He also believes athletes should be “included” in revenue-sharing, citing the success of some employee-owned businesses in Iowa.

“To me, that’s a good concept,” Ferentz said. “Everybody should benefit when things are good. Conversely, when they’re not so good, the rewards aren’t there. It’s just called real life.”

It’s a mindset that’s metaphorically another time zone from the NCAA, indeed — maybe two time zones away now that USC and UCLA will be joining the conference.

Comments: (319) 398-8394; john.steppe@thegazette.com