Kirk Ferentz Jokes Iowa Will Miss CFP Rankings Due to TV Network

University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz made a sarcastic remark to reporters during his weekly press conference ahead of the first College Football Playoff rankings reveal. Asked if he intended to watch the selection committee's initial rankings broadcast on Tuesday night, Ferentz joked that Iowa would not make the rankings on ESPN because the team plays on Fox. Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports both reported on his comments regarding the broadcast. [1][2]

The inaugural rankings show of the season airs Tuesday night on ESPN. Sports Illustrated reported that ESPN holds exclusive broadcast rights for the College Football Playoff, creating a close financial relationship between the network and the postseason system. Yahoo Sports added that Ferentz expressed little ceremony regarding the upcoming rankings announcement. [1][2][4]

Ferentz has served as the head football coach at the University of Iowa since the 1999 season. He previously worked as an assistant coach in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Since 2017, he has been the longest-tenured Football Bowl Subdivision head coach with a single program, and he holds the record for all-time wins and losses in the Big Ten Conference. [8]

The College Football Playoff rankings are released weekly during the second half of the season to establish the teams that qualify for the postseason bracket. ESPN is set to broadcast the initial selection committee rankings as college football media outlets evaluate team schedules and strength of record across major conferences. [1][2][4][10]